The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-05-16
POLICE OF BERLIN.
Each One Is a Sort of Gar on
His Own Limited Beat.
EVERY PERSON IS WATCHED.
Where Man Works, How He Amuses
Himself and the Way He Behaves It
Is the oiiicer's Business to Know.

"When you arrive at a railway sta
tion in Berlin" said professional mar
: who spent a year in Berlin, you are
not surrounded by a clamoring crowd
of cab drivers, some of whom stran
ger would be foolish to trust. You tell
policeman what you want-whether
cab or a porter-and he gives you a
number. When you emerge from the
station uniformed governmental en-
ployee, either cab driver or porter,
stands at attention and Salutes you in
military manner. He has been or
dered for you by the policeman inside,
and when he presents his number. cor
responding to the one the policeman
gave you, you can trust him to take
you or your luggage wherever it is to
90. The government is responsible for
the safe arrival Of yourself and your
luggage at hotel or other destination
II the porter should run away with
your belongings the government would
reimburse you.
The police system is wonderful
The officers carry no revolvers or clubs,
only swords Each one has only
small beat to cover-a couple Of blocks
or so-that he has time to be the moni-
tor of the moral conduct of every per-
son in his district, He knows exactly
what each person is doing, where he is
working, how he is spending his leisure
time and whether he is behaving him-
self. There is very little crime and
the police courts have little business.
If you commit an offense you are
not dragged off to police station. In
stead, your name and address are TAX
en- by the officer in the district, and the
next day letter informs you that you
have been fined an amount in keeping
with the character of your offense
You are told that you either can send
the money by messenger or appear at
the projects office for trial at q certain
time. 1t doesn't pay to give a police
man wrong address either,< because
the system Is so perfect that they will
find you anyway and fine you more
The policemen are instructed to
prevent infractions Of the law. not to
wait for persons to get into trouble and
then arrest them. Each policeman has
such small district to cover that you
can find one whenever you want one
He sees that his district is kept clean,
that each house in it is sanitary and
that each resident gets fair treatment
from his neighbor. Disputes are settled
with no thought of appeal before they
ever get to the police station.
Soon after ! arrived was on my
way to the university one morning and
saw a policeman at cab stand ex-
amining the hoofs and backs of the
horses, the harness and the cushions |
and wheels of the cabs.
What are you doing?' asked him
politely.
LAS representative Of my govern
ment.' be replied, I am inspecting to
see that the passengers of these cab
men are assured safe journey with
them. The government is responsible,
you know, and it is my duty to see
that all dangers and possibilities of
1iscomforts are eliminated
His answer was given In most
courteous manner
There are no paupers In Germany.
Everybody pays as he goes You can
see the result in the independent man.
1er OF even the street sweeper He
knows he shall be provided for In case
le encounters adversity.
For instance, suppose a lamplighter
1r a bootblack becomes i'll or suffers
IN accident By the way. the boot
blacks of Berlin do thriving business
because not man, from street sweep
IT up to banker, would think of ap
,earing on the street of a morning
without having his shoes shined. II
uch a lowly worker becomes disabled
he government association Of his dis
rict gives him a certificate to any
physician for whom he may have
reference. 1t Is good for two weeks.
nd the physician is assured. through
he association, that the government
will pay him. II more than two weeks
medical attention Is required the as
Ociation issues n new certificate. The
isabed worker pays for his medicines
n the same way. The physician gives
Inn a certificate on the druggist, and (
he latter Is not allowed to charge
nore than the customers station in
fe JustIHes.
"a ride on the governmental rail
rays assures you absolute comfort
nd safety. They laugh at our spread
" rail- and 'washout' accidents over
ere. The construction OF German rail-
'ays won't permit the rails to spread
nd after a train passes over a certain
iretch Of track a walker follows along
ehind to see that all is safe before
mother train is allowed to use it.
There Is no political graft. The mo
Ieut man goes to work for the gov
'nrlent be is disfranchised. He is
nder civil service, and be has a life
me job If he gives good service. but
Ie others do the voting.
Il met an American LAWYER who re
Dies there and rather marveled at his
'ility to make a living. told him
)out It.
- ] make a good living be explained.
? telling Americans how to keep out
trouble. And ! tell them II they
ke their cases to court they must