Evening star., 1912-01-20
GERMAN CITY LAWS
Ambassador Won BernSt0rff
Tells of Government System.
TALKS TO TRADE BOARD
Reforms All Intended to Benefit Con-
dition Of the Masses.
CONSERVATISM Is THE RULE
Whole Time Of Able Men Devoted
to Devising Means to Promote
Public Welfare.
TALKS TO TRADE BOARD
CONSERVATISM Is THE RULE

! The German system Of municipal gov.
i ernment was ably described by the Ger
man ambassador. Count Won Bernstorff.
at a meeting of the Board Of Trade In the
New Willard Hotel last night Hundreds
Of members OF tho board crowded the
auditorium, and District Commissioners
Rudolph and Judson and representatives
OF every department OF the local munich
pal government listened to the dis
tinguished ambassadors address.
Count Won Bernstorff. before entering
upon the subject of municipal govern
ment in Germany. thanked the Board of
Trade for its welcome. and expressed his
interest in Washington. which, he said.
years. and which he considered already
one Of the most beautiful cities In the
world. His address was In part as fol-
lows:
Credit Given Baron Stein.
"The old historical self-government of
our cities. Of which We are very proud.
was reinstituted on modern principles by
one Of our greatest statesmen, Baron
Stein, after the collapse of old Prussia in
1906. The city reform was pecul arly
STEMS own idea: the practical measure
Of carrying 1t into effect was his work
alone. Its corner stone was the tight Of
the people to think and act upon their own
local interests. Since the days Of
Stein time has, Of course. brought about
some changes In municipal government
in Germany, which has been largely de-
veloped to meet the new needs but the
bonn, ia Stf h4Av xl-a1l
said that this system has been shaped
by the conviction that the work Of gov
erning a town is SO important and so diff
ficult that it requires the whole working
able men.
Permanent and Elective Officials,
while a considerable number Of per-
sons on the town council are permanent
officials, the majority Of members are
elected by the rate-payers, and it Is the
elected members who appoint the ober-
burgermeister, who has to assist him two
or three burgermeisters and other pe.-
manent officials, invariably men Of high
educational standing and great experience.
THE first burgermeister holds his office
practically for life, but he is subject to
reelection for long terms Of of1ce. The
members of the city councils are re-elect-
ed by sections, SO that the composition Of
municipal body Is never completely
changed.
"One other feature Of the system may
be of especial interest to Americans, as
1t differs fully from the system employed
here. To be q burgher of q city in Ger
many one must have a definite and tangi-
BILE interest in the community. In the
theory and practice of city government in
Europe a community has always been re-
garded as . corporation which has busi-
ness to conduct and property to admins
ter.
Many Public Controlled Utilities.
''The first thing that will strike a for
eigner in German cities is the number
and variety Of the functions with which.
for the benefit of the citizens. the pub
lie authority charges itself. Most town
councils not only supply water. gas and
electric lighting and power, and make a
good profit in relief of local expenditure
but also finance all the hospitals. treat
men of phthfsis, and all the schools, in
cluding colleges for advanced technical
instruction. In most places the munici-
palities own and work the tramways.
with very low fares and very high prof.
its: they maintain fire stations with the
most advanced apparatus; they have alb
attoirs regulated by veterinary science
for the slaughter of animals for human
food; in such cities as Cologne. Frank
fort and Mannheim they manage enor-
nous docks for the accommodation OF
fresh-water navigation: they maintain
for the recreation. of the citizens muse
uns. picture galleries. parks, play
grounds, baths, bands of music and even
theaters.
Control Of City Streets.
There are no restrictions as to the
width of streets or as to their construc-
ton, SO that the town council has full
liberty to consider the requirements OF
different districts. The council decides
in what streets front gardens are to be
permitted and how large they must be,
what streets are to be planted with trees
and where public squares and play
grounds are to be situated.
I'm this way distribution of open
spaces and Fairgrounds all over the
city is secured. The municipal authori-
ties also decide what classes of buildings
are to be erected in the various locali-
ties.
Care of the Workmen.
1.-The workmen's insurance laws have
| had great influence on the German cit
les in giving a strong impetus, which led
to the creation of very many useful mu-
nicipal institutions. Considering that the
| workman is entitled to claim only the
| benefits of the insurance laws in case OF
sickness, accident. invalidity and old age
| il his position is that of workman
from the legal point of view many towns
have taken measures to the effect that
every healthy workman gets occupation
| If possible. and remains insured. For that
purpose labor register Offices have been
| instituted. which. under responsible di-
| rection. form central offices for the la
bor market and assist the workman In
looking for employment. The towns are
| further endeayoring to reduce involun-
tary idleness by providing for work by