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LOCAL TAXATION IN COPBNHAGEN. 19 the city which has not been systematically collected here. The mere average figures of attacks of all epidemic diseases would be further misleading, for they are so greatly affected by such epidemics as that of influenza some years ago, causing extra- ordinary increases. in numbers attacked without a proportionate increase of dangerous disease in the community. C ity G overnment . Having touched on one or two of the most obvious indices of good or bad city govemment, we must now proceed to consider what is the constitution of the govemment whose action is thus indicated. It forms a remarkable contrast witli our own, and thus illustrates a well-known principle, that good or bad govemment may be obtained under the most diverse constitutional arrangements. Our own govemment is essentially democratic. The city lepends on the labours of the gentlemen who voluntarily devote time and energy to its service, in exchange for which the dis- tinction they achieve is duly qualified with no small amount of abuse at times and of criticism pretty constantly. The Man­ chester City Council, with its 104 members and its score of Standing Committees, is concerned, not merely with the general principles of the city administration, but with all its petty details as well. 'Copenhagen has also a body of representatives, elected by its citizens to Control the city govemment, but the painful detail of committee work is replaced by a general control over departments administered by paid experts. One might, perhaps, better compare that govemment with our Imperial Govemment than with the local govemment of our municipali- ties. At the head is placed a President, whose functions are veiy different from those of our Lord Mayor. He is appointed by the King, and serves as representative of the National Govem­ ment, and, in addition, a number of matters which would probably be regarded as of secondary importance by us, are attended to in the offices of his department. He has the right of presiding at meetings of the magistracy, the executive body in the city govemment, and a casting vote in its deliberations.