Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17

cemeteries it is impossible for any one to
bury a body without the consent of the
police.
Six Glasses Of Funerals.
There are six classes of funerals, which
are described in printed circulars, each
being more or less expensive. The circu-
lar tells how an applications should be
filled out.
A frst-class funeral includes draping the
drawing room, or some other apartment in
the house, with black, and the attendance
Of footmen in mourning livery 1t calls
for the most elaborate hearse and states
the number of plumes that shall decorate
that vehicle: the number of carriages
which shall be attended by footmen as
we'll as coachmen in mourning livery.
If the service is held at a church the
cost is higher than If it were held at a
house. Extras increase the charge.
The sixth-class funeral calls for a plain
coffin and a plain hearse. without car
riages or attendants. The charge Is
as low as possible, for the benefit Of the
poor. In cases where the family are un-
able to pay anything the city performs
the mcurnful service free of charge.
But in order that such situations shall
not occur any oftener than possible there
is q bureau at the city hall where poor
people can insure proper burial by pay
ing so much a week during their lifetime.
contract with the municipality to provide
decent funeral Of whichever class they
may desire.
When they have paid in an amount suf-
f1cient to cover the lawful cost they are
given certificate which calls for the
services of the undertaking department
on demand. The arrangement Is much
like the burial societies we have in the
United States.
The city government runs the tombstone
1,,u{ leo oil oh, Aro
private firms which furnish more elabo-
rate and artistic monuments. There is
another bureau. In which person can
purchase his tombstone during his life
time and obtain certificate which in
sures him a stone of certain size and
value whenever he needs 1t. The working
people generally take advantage Of these
paternAl provisions.
Municipal Insurance.
There is a municipal insurance system,
where any citizen, by the payment of the
regular premium, can obtain policy
for any amount-accident, sickness and
death. The rates and terms are about the
same as those of ordinary insurance COM
panies. There is a fire insurance depart
ment. managed in the same way, with
similar premiums.
The municipal insurance companies are
said to have been started as political
measures. in order to strengthen the party
in power by adding a large number of
names to the municipal pay roll. In vi
emma the administration does not hesitate
ployes.
Although the merit system prevails in
promotion and appointments to ONCE are
made after competitive examinations, 1t
cepts a job under the government Is q
part Of that government and sustains 1t
at the polls.
The city Of Vienna owns all the street
car lines, which are well managed and
are kept In excellent condition. The reg
ular fare before 8 am. Is 2 cents for any
distance for the benefit Of the laborine
classes who are going to their work.
After o'clock 1t is cents mile or a
fraction of a mile. according to distance.
expected to tip the conductor. This is the
custom throughout all Austria and Ger
many. and is practiced openly. Twenty
hellers is equal to cents in our money.
forty hellers is 4 cents, and when you pay
a twenty-heller fare you are expected to
when you pay a forty.heller fare you pay
him fifty hellers.
The gross receipts Of the street car
lines have increased very much since the
government took control. but the ex-
penses have advanced more rapidly, SO
that the profits of the service are COM
paratively small. and do not add much
to the public revenues. Nearly the en-
tire profits are expended in extending and
improving the service.
The burgomaster told me that he did
not think it just for the city to make a
profit out Of the street trafic or any
other public utilities. He believes they
should be managed for the best interest
of the citizens without deficit.
Brewery Owned by City.
In 1905 the city of Vienna bought a
large brewery. which was started q few
years previous in opposition to the brew
ers' trust known as the Brauherren-
verin. The motive was to furnish the
public with pure beer at a reasonable
price. The delivery wagons OF the munic-
tpal brewery make their regular rounds
every day in competition with the private
breweries.
was not able to ascertain the effect
upon the revenues Of the trust. The gen.
eral impression seems to be that it is
making as much money as 1t did before
he city went into the business.
The government not only supplies hotels
restaurants and saloons, but maintain:
one of the finest rathSkellers in the world
with accommodations for 1000 customers
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