nd 200 or 300 francs a year to keep it in order, it would
easily suffice for all their requirements. I speak of regions relatively
rich, much better off than the majority of communes in France."]

[Footnote 4226: In French villages, on one of the walls of a public
building on the square are notices of all kinds, of interest to the
inhabitants, and among these, in a frame behind a wire netting, the
latest copy of the government official newspaper, giving authentic
political items, those which it thinks best for the people to read.
(Tr.)]

[Footnote 4227: On the communal system in France, and on the reforms
which, following the example of other nations, might be introduced
into it, cf. Joseph Ferrand (formerly a prefect), "Les Institutions
administratives en France et a l'etranger"; Rudolph Gneist, "Les
Reformes administratives en Prusse accomplies par la legislation de
1872," (especially the institution of Amtsvorsteher, for the union of
communes or circumscriptions of about 1500 souls); the Duc de Broglie,
"Vues sur le gouvernement de la France" (especially on the reforms that
should be made in the administration of the commune and canton), p.
21.--"Deprive communal magistrates of their quality as government
agents; separate the two orders of functions; have the public
functionary whose duty it is to see that the laws are executed in
the communes, the execution of general laws and the decisions of the
superior authority carried out, placed at the county town."]

[Footnote 4228: De Foville, ibid., p. 16.--The remarks here made
apply to towns of the foregoing category (from 5000 to 10,000 souls),
numbering 312. A last category comprises towns from 2000 to 5000 souls,
numbering 2160, and forming the last class of urban populations;
these, through their mixed character, assimilate to the 1817 communes
containing from 1500 to 2000 inhabitants, forming the first category of
the rural populations.]

[Footnote 4229: Max Leclerc, "La Vie municipale en Prusse," p 17.--In
Prussia, this directing mind is called "the magistrate," as in our
northern and northeastern communes. In eastern Prussia, the "magistrate"
is a collective body; for example, at Berlin, it comprises 34 persons,
of which 17 are specialists, paid and engaged for twelve years, and
17 without pay. In western Prussia, the municipal management consists
generally of an individual, the burgomaster, salaried and engaged for
twelve years.]

[Footnote 4230: Max Lecler