The Washington herald., 1912-01-20
DISTRICT HEADS
HEAR BERNsT0RFF
Explains Municipal Govern
ment in Germany at Board
of Trade Meeting.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT
@oaioial Washington Turns Out in
Body to Learn How Cities Are
Run in the Fathsrland.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT


Representatives OF practically every de-
partment of the District government were
present at the New Willard last night to
hear an address on municipal govern
ment in Germany, delivered by the Ger
man Ambassador. Count Won Bernstorff.
ings in the history OF the Board OF
Trade.
Realizing that they would have an op-
portunity to listen TO the observations OF
an expert regarding the management Of
what are considered by many as the best
governed cities in the world, ''ofhcial
Washington" turned out in body 10
attend the meeting Many came as reg
ularly enrolled members Of the Board OF
Trade. while others, anxious to hear
invited guests. or the Board of Com
missioners. Mr.. Rudolph and Maj. Jud-
son were present. The assessors Office,
the office Of the municipal architect. the
surveyors ONCE, and several other i'm
portant departments were represented.
Before beginning his address Count Won
Bernstorn paid high compliment to the
beauty OF Washington, and said that as
the result Of his four years residence
here he had learned to love this city,
and that he now considers It his home.
He then began his talk by tracing the
development OF municipal government 10
Germany from the time OF its great re-
institution. in lSo6 He took Frankfort
as a representative German city about
which TO tell.
Tells of City PIannInE.
What was OF greatest interest in the
Ambassadors address were his observa-
tions regarding the manner in which
German cities are planned. and also the
manner in which the municipalities of
that country handle the labor problem.
He told of the regulations governing the
laying out Of streets and parkways and
of the areas set aside for residences, fac
tories, ana OF mixed localities containing
both business houses and homes. Mu-
nicfpal labor bureaus, he said have been
Of great help to Germany, in that the
cities make IL a point to seek out en-
ployment for their citizens. In times of
business depression, when many work
men are without employment, German
municipalities furnish them with so-caIled
distress work" Count Won Bernstorff
declared. Such work. he said, Is given
during the winter months. when suffer
Ing would otherwise be the greatest 1t
includes street paving work. the laying
out OF parks, excavations. and similar
work
Development Is Traced.
InN telling OF the establishment 81 the
present form of municipal government in
Germany, Count Won Bernstorff said:
THE old historic self-government of
our cities, OF which we are very proud.
was relHs stituted on modern principles by
of 81
Stein. after the collapse Of the old Prus-
STA in 1906. The city reform was particu-
larly STEMS own idea. The peculiar
manner of carrying It into effect was
his work alone. Its corner stone was tho
right of the people TO think and act upon
their own local interests
The reform, which has been fruitful
in blessing ever since STEMS time began
at the base. giving self-government 70
the towns, schooling them in managing
their own affairs. In checking their own
functionaries. and in taking their own
responsibilities. While keeping the cen
tral monarchy strong. his great exertion
was to restore fitness for public life In
the country 1T large. He therefore sought
TO exercise the city population in public
affairs.
Since the days of Stein, time has, OF
course, brought about some changes in
the municipal government of Germany,
which has been largely developed TO
meet new needs. but the system is still
the same. 1t has been said that the Eys-
TEN has been shaped by the conviction
that the work Of governing a town is so
important and so dificult that II requires
the whole working time and all the pow
ers and thought Of able men who have
acquired special knowledge of the prob
lens OF town administration by long ex-
perience in the work and who know that
IL they are guilty OF neglect of duty or
act dishonesty. they are ruined for life,
by losing their positions. the salaries on
which they live, and the confidence OF
the public, without which they cannot
obtain other appointments"
The attendance at the meeting was by
far the largest ever present at a meet
ing of the Board. Usually such meetings
are held in a small room on the first
floor Of the New Willard, but anticipating
a larger crowd than usual, last nights
meeting was held in the smaller OF the
two bathrooms. Before the meeting had
hardly gotten under way every available
chair space was occupied and many peo-
pie were standing.
TruesdeII Makes Report.
The first portion OF the programme Of
the meeting was devoted 10 the reading
of a report defending the half-and-half
agreement for the District by Col. George
TruesdeI, chairman Of the committee on
municipal finance. The report, which
was quite lengthy. covered every phase
of the question and set forth many rea-
sons why the so-called organic act should
never be repealed. It was agreed that
the report should be printed and copies
sent to every member Of Congress-
The Board also adopted resolution
offered by ]. II. Small urging the chang
ing Of the date for the Presidential inau-
guration from March to the last Thurs
day in April. The Board has already
gone on record as fsvoring the change
and the action last night was merely the
raa aaSoufion NJ a former resolution