The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14
German aud English Town Govern

Englishmen are not likely at this
of all times to lend a willing ear 10
WILLIAM HARBUTT DAwsoN's praise of
Municipal Life and Government in
Germany Uongmans, Green, ard
neutrals will find this exhaustive and
authoritative survey OF German civ
les much more attractive as an eN-
position than as propaganda Eng
fish criticism OF the German system
is summed in the one word bureau
Cracy." Mr.. Dawson believes that
bureaucracy is not at all an evil
thing. when checked 10y wholesome
public opinion and vigorous public
spirit" and he finds them in Ger
many. External forces affect local
governing bodies in both countries;
but, says he, in England those forces
control" and in Germany they "su-
pervise.'
In view N the differences in the two
national characters in respect of de-
mocracy. ruling or ruled, is it quite
businessike to draw such line of
distinction? In both countries the
theory seems well suited to existing
conditions. Supervision is better
than control, but IN practice super
vision has always a foot in the air
directed across the boundary line into
the territory of control. English mu-
niCipal administrators may have AL
ways in their hearts the fear of the
board above; but German town gov
eminent frequently clashes with the
powers Of the central Government
Could even q nation OF supermen
avoid such conflicts?
But there are fairer fields Of COM
parison, The supreme excellence OF
the German manner, its one undo
niably cnviable characteristic, the pos
session OF a trained class OF local
administrators, is a result of that
passion for scientific ordering OF all
the affairs OF life which in the same
department OF life is responsible also
for many matters that seem to the
"Anglo-S Saxon" excrescent blemishes
on a civic system. II professional
mayors and councilmen, department
heads and clerks win admiration
among peoples whose administrative
offices are filed by appoin tment,
shaken from the political plum tree, a
commodity in political barter, German
municipal ownership and the pater-
nalism that regulates charities. poor
relief. social welfare" amusements,
housing, in their remotest, most init
mately personal phases lin Stuttgart
the municipality will cremate you free
Of charged, conjure In the mind not
subject to 1t nightmares of a uni
! versal. harshly categorical "verbotcn.
Abstract comparison Of these or any
| two styles in the management of
municipal affairs is about as profitable
as debating whether kerosene or ink is
! the. more usefu, without first ascer-
| tanning whether il Is lamp or a foun-
! tain pen that IL TO be filled. Racial
chara Cteristics and national habit and
custom are decisive. 4 thousand peo-
pie, or ten or hundred Thousand, OF
every shade Of individual idiosyncrasy
everv temperament and endlessly va
ried capacity. the social and the uu.
social. with no common absolute .aN
except the natural ono of self-preser.
walton, must have their conflicts anC
their compromises for the creates
good OF the greatest number: human
nature, the one common factor ant
Hldue UP nlne-lehtnS Oh pure cuSSeu
ness" will not run smooth under any
scheme that human wits ever did de
wise or human ingenuity ever car
originate. The more smoothly II run.
the more likelihood Is there Of IN,
people losing its Independence, III
vigorous public spirit Germany
own experience is in point; The Ger
man town" Is q remarkable institu
ton, even more IN the historical, thar