Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1013

 LOCAL GOVERNMENT G57

3. Minister of Public Works. — Heir Thielen, born 1831 : appointed June 22, 1891.

4. Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Instruction, and Medical Affairs. — Dr. Julius Kobert Bosscy born July 12, 1832 ; appointed March 24, 1892.

5. Minister of Agriculture, Domains, and Forests. — Freiherr von Ham- mcrstein-Loxtcn, born October 6, 1827 ; appointed October, 1894.

6. Minister of Justice. — Dr. Schonstedt ; born January 6, 1833; appointed October, 1894.

7. Minister for Interior. — Freiherr von der Recke, born 1847 ; appointed December 9, 1895.

8. Minister of Commerce. — Herr Brefeld, born 1839 ; appointed June 27, 1896.

9. Minister of War. — General-Lieutenant von Gossler, born September 29, 1841 ; appointed August 14, 1896,

10. Imperial Secretary of State for the Interior. — Graf von Posadowsky- Wehncr ; born 1845 ; ai>i)ointed Minister September 1, 1893.

The salary of the President of the Council is 54,000 marks, and that of each of the other ministers 36,000 marks.

Local Government.

Each of the provinces of the Kingdom is placed under the superintendence of an ' Oberprasident,' or governor, who has a salary of 21,000 marks. Each province has also a military commandant, a superior court of justice, a director of indirect taxes, and a consistory, all appointed by the king. The provinces are subdivided into Regierungsbezirke, or counties, and these again into ' Kreise ' or circles, and the latter into Amtsbezirke or Biirgermeistereien, these again into towns and Gemeinden or Gutsbezirke. Each county has a president and an administrative board or council ; and the further sub- divisions have also their local authorities. The councils and principal functionaries are all elective, the system of voting being that of the three, class franchise which secures the predominance of the wealthier electors. The principal officials must, moreover, be confirmed by the Government. The local councils deal with such matters as primary instruction, poor- relief, road-making, police, and local finance.

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