El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-16

lies which have adopted that
form of government possessed
by the United States, also have federal
districts which correspond TO the Dis
trict of Columbia These republics are
Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Argen-
tina The federal district of Venezue-
Ia is the largest, while that of the
United States is the smallest. In the
main none of the. other federal dis
tr1cts has such a complete olsen
frapchisement of the people of the
capital city as Washington. They pro-
vide for some share in the control of
the municipal affairs by the local pop
ulation, and while this is frequently
! but nominal it does reserve some
actual control to the tax payers
The federal district of Mexico is
about eight times as large as the Dis
tr1ct of Columbia, 80 miles long at the
longest point and % miles wide at the
widest, with total area of SIS square
miles. The population of the district
is about 500, 900. It is divided into
Is municipalities. each suburb and the
City OF Mexico having a separate local
council The government of the fed
eral distrtct-or district federal, as the
Mexfcans call it-so far as the ma
tional interests are concerned. is in the
hands Of what is known as the supe-
r1or council, consisting of the govern
or OF the district, the president of the
superior board of health. and the d.
rector general of public works Each
OF these three officials is in full con-
troll of all matters in his respective
jurisdiction. except that the three,
acting as body, may reverse the ac-
ton of any individual member How
ever, they seldom act in conjunction,
while the commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia always DO In Wash
ington the prerogatives of legislation
are exercised by congress. In Mexico
the president performs this function
Councils Control Municipalities.
The power of the people in the fed
eral district is exercised through the
council of the municipality in which
they reside. Mexico City has a council
Of FL members; Tacubaya. the princi-
pal suburb, has II, while the other
towns have seven The council can
veto an order of the higher officials
by a two-third vote. The matter SUBJ
jected to veto is brought up again
at the end of four months and. il
three-fourths Of the council oppose it.
it is carried to the president of the
republic for final determination as to
whether the action Of the superior of
ficers shall go into effect or be re-
versed. The right of the council to
veto the action of the higher authori-
ties extends to the matter of appro
priations, which call for a total OF
$4,000 or an annual expenditure of
s12,500 In all matters of municipal
concern the council may place a check
upon the federal authorities as far up
as the ultimate appeal to the president,
but in practice this is not often done.
Independence on the part, of council
men seldom accomplishes its purpose
Mexico Well P0Iiced.
Mexico is a well policed city. The
force is neatly uniformed and well
drilled. On Sundays a touch is added
to their appearance by the regulation
! white spats they add in honor Of the
day The police are a most exacting
body. When complaint is made they
| usually arrest the complainant as we'll
as the person complained against. for
they desire to have all sides represent
ed at the station house At night they
use lanterns which they set in the
middle Of the street, ard they an
nounce the fact that they are on duty
by hourly signals from their police
whistles
The BuenOs Aires Plan.
Buenos Aires is both a municipality
ard the capital Of the Argentine Re
public, and as such has a. distinct or
ganization as a city as well as an in
innate federal connection as a capital
The federal authority over the city is
exercised by the appointment by the
president Of an official known as the
| intendente. His duties correspond gem
orally with those of a mayor in
United States city. He holds office for
four years and draws good salary.
His appointment is subject TO the
confirmation Of the national senate,
and through the minister of the inte-
rio ho Of oil npTfaInin0
| to the city to the national legislature,
and presents to the municipality all
! matters coming from the congress.
| The police and fire departments OF
| the city are under national control,
and some parts Of the educational sys-
tenn are similarly controlled as are also
certain phases of public sanitation
The city is divided into 20 parishes
or wards From these parishes repre-
| sentatives are sent to a general body
known as the Concejo Diliberante. cor
! responding in many respects to the
| American common council. selection
being by popular elections. The MEM
| bers of this body serve without pay
| for a period of four years
Is Progressive City.
No city is more progressive than
| Buenos Aires. and in its deliberations
| the Concejo DELIBERATE shows a pub
4
| that well might be emulated by many
| a progressive city in our own country
| Every year a gold medal and diploma
| is given for the best designed struc-
ture built in the city. This reward
goes to the architect. but the owner
also gets some consideration for his
| enterprise His building is exempted
! from the payment of taxes
The revenues of the city are derived
| from direct taxes, fees for admission
to the municipality owned geological
gardens, fees for permits for advertis-
| ing, payments for admission to the
race courses, revenues from the ma
| tional lottery. and from other usual
sources There are no heavy saloon
| licenses in Buenos Aires, for the simple
reason that the saloon business as
! Americans know it does not exist in
| Argentina. Except in the eongested
] portions of the city these institutions
| do not abound. as the native prefers q
! glass of pastuerized milk to glass Of
beer. Taxes are levied upon telephone
| and telegraph messages and on the
| use of spaces beneath the city streets