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MR. A. W. FLUX, M.A., ON CITY GOVERNMENT AND

This executive body, the cabinet council of the city govem- ment, is composed of eight members besides the President. Four of the members are qnpaid members of the general body of popular representatives. These four councillors hold office for six years, but neither law nor custom prevent their re-election to repeated terms of service. The whole body of representatives elects from its own members to the office of councillor. In a sense, one might compare these councillors to our chairmen of committees, but that the committees are wanting. The other four members, and the most important part of the executive body in the city govemment, are the four Burgomasters (Borg­ mestrene), whose appointments are tenable for life, and who are elected by the representative body, the appointment requiring to be confirmed by the Crown. These four gentlemen bear, practically, the whole responsibility for all the departments of the administration of the city. Each has charge of a certain group of matters, a separate department, and has power to decide as to what shall be done, in ' about the same degree as our Cabinet Ministers can decide for their respective depart­ ments. Some questions need to be considercd by the whole magistracy, President, Burgomasters, and Councillors, while over financial matters the popular representatives have entire control. The Budget must be approved by them, and money-votes can only be had with their sanction. For minor adjustments in regard to unforeseen changes in expenditure, a Standing Com- mittee exists, and has power to act in conjunction with the magistracy. Not only questions of taxation, but also all ques­ tions of raising loans, need the approval of the popular body, and hence, apart from other powers assigned them, as I need not point out, they have an effective control over all the departments of city govemment. All the advantages of special knowledge and skiil, permanency of policy, and entire devotion to the work of the city are afforded by the assignment of the direction of aflairs to the four heads of departments. The modest salary of £500 per annum* is found sufficient to command

Inereased last year to £550.