Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-01
BRYCE PRAISES CITY
Ambassador Lauds Natural
Beauties of Capital.
ADDRESSES TRADE BOARD
Shows Great Familiarity With the
Country Around Washington.
ENGLISH MUNICIPAL SYSTEM
Executive Officers There Are Select
ed by Legislative Bodies,
It Is Explained.
ADDRESSES TRADE BOARD
ENGLISH MUNICIPAL SYSTEM

Declaring that Washington is already
one Of the most beautiful cities in the
world-in some respects the most beauti-
ful-James Bryce, the British ambassa-
dor. urged on the Board of Trade at its
meeting in the New Willard Hotel last
night the necessity of preserving the
beautiful country about the CITY,, the
beautiful natural features of the Capital
city, which at some time will be within
the city limits. Mr.. Bryce showed an in
innate knowledge of Washington and the
country round about it, gained. he said,
in frequent tramps over every avenue,
road and pathway.
Mr.. Bryce was interrupted again and
again by applause during his address.
and was given an ovation when he closed.
His suggestions, in many instances coin
cided with plans that have been dear to
the heart of many members of the Board
of Trade
President Thomas c. Moves of the
Board of Trade, introducing Mr.. Bryce.
said:
Many countries are sending to the
United States ambassadors and minis
ters, and all are welcome here, but no
nation is ever so welcome as Eng
land and no man was ever sent to this
country by England who is closer to
he'American heart than James Bryce,
the present British ambassador, who
l am introducing to you"
Mr.. Bryce's Address.
Mr.. Bryce said, with smile:
Il was told when discussing my topic
any subject except trade and COM
merce This shows your altruistic
spirit. l thought. therefore, that
would talk on municipal government
as we have it in England. Though you
have no part in municipal govern
ment of your own, still you very
kindly take an interest in municipal
government and it's reforms, as I have
observed. You have here what
might call paternal, or beneficent
I'm the English system of municipal
government we have no elected ex-
ecutive officials Only the legislative
and deliberative bodies are elected.
We are free, therefore, from a subject
which is now troubling the United
States, the recall. The executive off,
GERS are all selected by the legislative
bodies''
Mr.. Bryce described in some detail the
system in the municipalities of England.
The mayor. he said, was purely an orna-
and being addressed as your worship"
He is the only member of the city council
who is paid salary, and that salary is
for the purpose of entertaining distin-
euished visitors who may come to his
city. Frequently, said Mr.. Bryce, the
calls made for such entertainment equal
or exceed the salary paid the mayor.
The executive officials selected by the
council are paid, such as the city engi-
neer the city clerks, etc. The best pro-
fo0Sinno1 roll Liant fo NV, I'll
to fill these positions, about which the
welfare of the city SO closely hinges.
The city engineers in large places are
paid. he said, from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year in order to secure the best men in
the profession Similarly large salaries
are paid the medical and legal officers
of the cities.
There is practically no politics in the
selection of these officials, said Mr.
Bryce, and they keep their places only
as long as the city council considers they
are properly doing their work A GER
tain amount of politics enters into the
election of the city council in some
places, said Mr.. Bryce. but as rule
elections The councillors are selected
rather for their personal qualifications
than their political views.
Works Through Committees.
Mr.. Bryce explained that the city coun-
ell does its work by committees having
in charge various branches of the city
government. The city government OF
England, he said. had worked we'll under
this plan, and corruption had been SO
, rare as to be almost negligible. This
was due largely to historical causes
He said that when city government in
England became popular, men of the
| highest personal and social standing en-
| tered the city governments and tradi-
| tons and standards had been so formed
and main tanned.
| Turning his attention to Washington
| Mr.. Bryce said that he had been told he
| might say a word about what he had
observed in walking about the capital.
My DESIRE" said the ambassador, sis
to see Washington all that a city can