El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-05
THE studnt of municipal affairs who
aims To imnort all the good fea-

VIE Studnt of municipal affairs who
aims to import all the good fea-
lures of European city rule from
the old world, never. overlooks Ger
many. While there are many condi-
lions in that country which could not
be transplanted to American SOIL there
are others which do offer suggestions
toward the solution of American prob
lens Prior TO 1908 the national gov
eminent claimed the right to rule the
cities of Prussia and the offices were
apportioned among WORKOUT military
military pensions In the reform of
that year, however, the cities broke the
power Of the state in the control of To-
cal affairs, and an era of misrule was
ended.
Although the enactr=ent of 1908 was
modified and amended in 1858, in the
main Prussian cities are governed under
the same general plan that has obtain
ed for more than a century. and all the
other German states have followed the
example Of the municipalities of domi-
nant Prussia The city is public cor
poration with all the rights and powers
ordinarily appertaining to such bodies
There are no limits to what it can do,
except that the powers higher up retain
the right to veto any special action.
In the United States municipality may
in Germany It may do ything the law
or the higher powers do not forbid
Municipal ownership of public utilities
is permitted, and even municipal saw
ings banks, pawnshops, employment Of
fees, theatres, concert halls. and tene-
ment houses are sanctioned. The state
reserves partial control of the police
system. and general supervisory con-
troll through the ministry of the in
terror.
The Geman Electorate.
The electorate of German cities is
made up of all Independent German
male citizens of "A years or more, who
have, for a full year, fulfilled three
conditions-residence in the city; pay
ment Of municipal taxes; ownership of
a dwelling house within the municipal
ity, or the pursuance of some subStan-
tial trade or vocation which produces
taxable income. In cities of more than
10000 population a trade must employ
at least two helpers to be deemed sub
stantial and taxable income is usual
" about s216 year Nonresident
tax payers and corporations also are al
lowed to vote. BY these qualifications
very few are excluded who would be
entitled to vote under manhood suf-
frage provision, except the criminal
and the pauper With the age limit
three years higher than that of New
York, Berlin's voting class represents
is percent of the population, while
New York's is 16 percent The ratio OF
voters in the average Prussian city is
higher than it is in England. and not
materially lower than in the United
States
Voters List Is Unique.
The voters list in German cities is
peculiarly made up The election be-
reau of the city ascertains the amount
of all direct state, district and munich
pal taxes. From this is deducted the
amount of taxes paid by citizens who
do not pay a national income tax The
balance is divided by the number OF
tax payers, SO as to get the percapita
tax All those who pay less than this
average are placed in one class of yot-
ers. The total taxes paid by this class
is deducted from the entire total, aEo
the balance, in turn, is divided into two
equal parts.
The largest taxpayers in the munich
pality, in the order of the amount or
taxes paid, are then selected from the
general list until enough have been
chosen to take up one Of these TWO
equal parts. They are then made TO
constitute the first group Of electors,
while the remaining list makes up the
second class. To illustrate: A given
city has a voting population of 10000.
The percapita tax is found to be S25-s
All who pay less than that amount
are placed in one class of voters and it
is found that their aggregate payments
amount 10 $4,000 The remaining
100000 is divided into two parts OF
$685. 00 each. Enough of the highest
tax payers on the list to make up this
500, 900 are grouped together and con-
stitute the first voters, while the re-
naming number pay the other 100000
and constitute the second class voters
Three Glasses of Voters.
This system gives each OF the three
classes of voters one third of the entire
in the city council In
one election at Essen, where the Krupp
gas factories are located, there were !.
only three voters of the first class, 401 4
of the second class. and $4,000 OF. the /
third class. In a recent election IN
Berlin there were 1857 voters of the
first class, 29711 Of the second class,
and $4,000 of the third class, each
class choosing a third OF the council
Thus the people who have to support
the city government vote according TO
the support they give it. 1t makes for
thrifty municipal housekeeping, &C
cording TO most authorities, but also
has many drawbacks. Bismarck once
called it the most miserable and alb
surd election law ever formulated by
any country.
1t is asserted by some authorities
that the German council is made up of
the very best men in the community |
and that they serve it we'll, although
the progressive element continually as
serts that narrow mindedness and ul-
a-conservatism characterize the at +
titude of the majority Of councillors.
When the council is elected 1t organ
ICES, with a chairman and Vice-chair-
man and a clerk. All other officers
are appointed by the Magistrat. and
hence are regular municipal employ
ees.
The "Magistrat.'
The Magistrat is a body of admins
trative authority made up Of one or
sometimes, two burgomasters, and
of members. usually about one
third as many as there are councillors.
These officials are appointed by the
council, but can be removed only by
the higher authorities, wfc also must
confirm their appointment. Some OF
these are saIaried positions and those
who fill them are experts in their re-