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falling so low； still descends in a certain degree； and through
changes which keep on increasing： politicians install themselves there
and make use of their place as a stepping…stone to mount higher； it
also； with larger powers and prolonged during its vacations by its
committee； is tempted to regard itself as the legitimate sovereign of
the extensive and scattered community which it represents。 … Thus
recruited and composed； enlarged and deteriorated； the local
authorities become difficult to manage； and from now on； to carry on
the administration； the prefect must come to some understanding with
them。
VII。 Local society in 1880。
Present state of local society。 … Considered as an organism； it is
stillborn。 … Considered as a mechanism； it gets out of order。 … Two
successive and false conceptions of local government。 … In theory； one
excludes the other。 … Practically； their union ends in the actual
system。 … Powers of the prefect。 … Restrictions on these through
subsequent changes。 … Give and take。 … Bargaining。 … Supported by the
government and cost to the State。
Before 1870； when he appointed the mayors and when the council general
held its sessions only fifteen days in the year； the prefect was
almost omnipotent； still； at the present day； （1889）； 〃his powers are
immense；〃＇32＇ and his power remains preponderant。 He has the right to
suspend the municipal council and the mayor； and to propose their
dismissal to the head of the state。 Without resorting to this
extremity； he holds them with a strong hand； and always uplifted over
the commune； for he can veto the acts of the municipal police and of
the road committee； annul the regulations of the mayor； and； through a
skillful use of his prerogative； impose his own。 He holds in hand；
removes； appoints or helps appoint； not alone the clerks in his
office； but likewise every kind and degree of clerk who； outside his
office； serves the commune or department；＇33＇ from the archivist；
keeper of the museum； architect； director； and teachers of the
municipal drawing…schools； from the directors and collectors of
charity establishments； directors and accountants of almshouses；
doctors of the mineral springs； doctors and accountants of the insane
asylums and for epidemics； head…overseers of octrois； wolf…bounty
guards； commissioners of the urban police； inspectors of weights and
measures； town collectors； whose receipts do not exceed thirty
thousand francs； down to and comprising the lowest employees； such as
forest guards of the department and commune； lock…keepers and
navigation guards； overseers of the quays and of commercial ports；
toll…gatherers on bridges and highways； field…guards of the smallest
village； policemen posted on the corner of a street； and stone…
breakers on the public highway。 When things and not persons are
concerned； it is he； again； who； in every project； enterprise； or
proceeding； is charged with the preliminary examination and final
execution of it； who proposes the department budget and presents it；
regularly drawn up； to the council general； who draws up the communal
budget and presents that to the municipal council； and who； after the
council general or municipal council have voted on it； remains on the
spot the sole executor； director； and master of the operation to which
they have assented。 Their total； effective part in this operation is
very insignificant； it being reduced to a bare act of the will； in
reaching a vote they have had in their hands scarcely any other
documents than those furnished and arranged by him； in gradually
reaching their decision step by step； they have had no help but his；
that of an independent collaborator who； governed by his own views and
interests； never becomes the mere instrument。 They lack for their
decision direct； personal； and full information； and； beyond this；
complete； efficient power； it is simply a dry Yes； interposed between
insufficient resources； or else cut off； and the fruit of which is
abortive or only half ripens。 The persistent will of the prefect
alone； informed； and who acts； must and does generally prevail against
this ill…supported and ill…furnished will。 At bottom； and as he
stands； he is； in his mental and official capacity； always the prefect
of the year VIII。
Nevertheless； after the laws lately passed； his hands are not so free。
The competency of local assemblies is extended and comprises not only
new cases but； again； of a new species； while the number of their
executive decisions has increased five…fold。 The municipal council；
instead of holding one session a year； holds four； and of longer
duration。 The council general； instead of one session a year； holds
two； and maintains itself in the interim by its delegation which meets
every month。 With these increased authorities and generally present；
the prefect has to reckon； and what is still more serious； he must
reckon with local opinion； he can no longer rule with closed doors；
the proceedings of the municipal council； the smallest one； are duly
posted； in the towns； they are published and commented on by the
newspapers of the locality； the general council furnishes reports of
its deliberations。 … Thus； behind elected powers； and weighing with
these on the same side of the scales； here is a new power； opinion； as
this grows in a country leveled by equalized centralization； in
heaving or stagnant crowd of disintegrated individuals lacking any
spontaneous； central； rallying point； and who； failing natural
leaders； simply push and jostle each other or stand still； each
according to personal； blind； and haphazard impressions … a hasty；
improvident； inconsistent； superficial opinion； caught on the wing；
based on vague rumors； on four or five minutes of attention given each
week； and chiefly to big words imperfectly understood； two or three
sonorous； commonplace phrases； of which the listeners fail to catch
the sense； but the sound which； by din of frequent repetition； becomes
for them a recognized signal； the blast of a horn or a shrieking
whistle which assembles the herd and arrests or drives it on。 No
opposition can make head against this herd as it rushes along in too
compact and too heavy masses。 … The prefect； on the contrary； is
obliged to cajole it； yield to it； and satisfy it； for under the
system of universal suffrage； this same herd； besides local
representatives； elects the central powers； the deputies； the
government； and when the government sends a prefect from Paris into
the provinces； it is after the fashion of a large commercial
establishment； with a view to keep and increase the number of its
customers； to stay there； maintain its credit； and act permanently as
its traveling…clerk； or； in other terms； as its electoral agent； and；
still more precisely； as the campaign manager of coming elections for
the dominant party and for the ministers in office who have
commissioned and appointed him； and who； from top to bottom；
constantly stimulate him to hold on to the voters already secured and
to gain fresh ones。 … Undoubtedly； the interests of the state；
department； and commune must be seriously considered； but； first and
above all； he is the recruiting officer for voters。 By virtue of this
position and on this he treats with the council general and the
standing committee； with the municipal councilors and mayors； with
influential electors； but especially with the small active committee
which； in each commune； supports the prevailing policy and offers its
zeal to the government。
Give and take。 These indispensable auxiliaries must obtain nearly all
they ask for； and they ask a great deal。 Instinctively； as well as by
doctrine and tradition； the Jacobins are exacting； disposed to regard
themselves as the representatives of the real and the ideal people；
that is to say； as sovereigns by right； above the law； entitled to
make it and therefore to unmake it； or； at least； strain it and
interpret it as they please。 Always in the general council； in the
municipal council； and in the mayoralty； they are tempted to usurp it；
the prefect has as much as he can do to keep them within the local
bounds； to keep them from meddling with state matters and the general
policy； he is often obliged to accept their lack of consideration； to
be patient with them； to talk to them mildly； for they talk and want
the administration to reckon with them as a clerk with his master； if
they vote money for any service it is on condition that they take part
in the use of the funds and in the details of the service； in the
choice of contractors and in hiring the workmen； on condition that
their authority be extended and their hands applied to the consecutive
execution of what does not belong to them but which belongs to the
prefect。＇34＇ Bargaining； consequently； goes on between them
incessantly and they come to terms。 … The prefect； it must be noted；
who is bound to pay