The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
GERMAN CITIES
HOW GOVERNED
CITY Rule In the Father.
land A Study for Stu
dents of Good Gov
eminent
inner
Nv FREDERIC j. HASkIN.

The student Of municipal affairs
Who aims to import all the good feat
,,res Of European city rule from the
O1d World, never OverlOOks Germany.
While there are many conditions in
that country which could not be trans
PLANTED to American soil, there are
others which do offer suggestions to-
nard the solution Of American prob
tems. Prior to 1908 the national gov
rrnment claimed the right to rule the
cities of Prussia, and the Offices were
apportioned among military
officers who accepted them in lieu Of
military pensions. In the reform Of
chat year, however, the cities broke
the power of h state in the control
81 local affairs, and an era of mis-
rule was ended.
Although the enactment OF 1908
Was modified and amended in 1853,
an the main Prussian cities are gov
frned under the same general plan
that has obtained for more than a
century. and all the other German
states have been following the X
ample Of the municipalities of domin-
ant Prussia. The city is a public cor
poration with all the rights and pow
ers ordinarily a~ppertaining to such
bodies. There are no limits to what
it can do, except hat the powers
higher up retain the right to veto any
special action. In the United States
a municipality may do only those
things the law specifies; in Germany
it may do anything the law or the
pal ownership Of public utilities Is
permitted, and even municipal saw
sngs banks. paWnshops, employment
offices, theatres, concert halls, and
tenement houses are sanctioned. The
state reserves a partial control Of the
police system, and a general super
Fisory control through the Ministry Of
the interior.
The electorate of German cities is
made up of all independent German
male citizens of twenty-four years Or
more, who have, for a full year., full
filled three conditions-residence in
the city; payment Of municipal taxes;
ownership Of a dwelling louise within
The municipality, or the pursuance Of
some substantial trade or vocation
which produces a taxable income. In
cities Of more than 10000 population
q trade must employ at least two
helpers to be deemed substantial. and
2 taxable income is usually about 1915
Il Year Nonresident taxpayers n
corporations also are allowed to vote.
ny these qualifications very few are
excluded who would be entitled to
vote under a manhood suffrage pro-
vision, except the criminal and the
taupeT. With the age limit three
Years higher than hat Of New York,
beri1n's voting class represents IS per
cent Of the population, while New
Aofk s is Is per cent. The ratio Of
voters IN the average Prussdan city is
h!gher than it is in England, and not
materially lower than in the United
States.
The voters list in German cities is
peculiarly made up. The election
bureau of the city a~scertains the
amount of all direct state, district, and
municipal taxes. From this is de-
quoted the amount Of taxes paid by
cltlzens who do not pay a national
income ak. The balance is divided
ny the number Of taxpayers, SO as to
get the per capita tax. All those who
pay less than this average are placed
~ one class Of voters. The total taxes
pald by this class is deducted from
the entire total, and the balance, in
I'm is divided into two equal parts.
Inc largest taxpayers in the NUM-
clpality, in the order Of the mou OF
taxes paid, are then selected from the
seheraI list until enough have been
'Hosen 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
":oonu class. 10 illustrates: A given
city has a voting population of TO-
wv. me per capita tax is found to
pe $-3. All who pay less than that
amount are placed in one class Of
voters, and it is found that their ag-
Sregate payments amount to $50, 900.
me remaining 100000 is divided into
Two parts, Of $4,000 each. Enough
81 the highest taxpayers on the list
10 make up this S100, 600 are grouped
tDSetneE and constitute tho frCf-alacS
Voters, While the remaining number
Pay he other $10e, 600 n constitute
the second-class voters.
Ihls system gives each of the three
'iaSSeS Of voters one-third of the en-
IRE representation in the city coun-
~. In one election at Essen. where
the hrupp gas factories are located,
mere We're only three voters Of the