German Empire 187 



Government has no control over private or municipal property 

 whatever. No subscriber is connected to the exchange unless he 

 undertakes to give (or, if the property is not his own, obtain) 

 permission to erect on his building fixtures and wires for the 

 common use of the exchange as well as his own. That is an 

 inflexible rule, which is acted upon, and naturally produces good 

 results. The National Telephone Company compels its sub- 

 scribers to sign a similar agreement, but does not press for its 

 observance if any reluctance to comply with it is shown ; the results 

 obtained are consequently inferior to the German. A new Tele- 

 graph Act was passed as recently as April 6, 1892, by which the 

 Government was given various additional powers in connection with 

 telegraphs and telephones. The last clause of this Act declares, 

 ' The Imperial Government does not acquire through this law 

 any powers in excess of those presently existing with regard to 

 private lands or public roads and streets.' The Administration 

 has to take property owners and public authorities along with it in 

 everything it does. The author has been informed by German 

 subscribers that once telephonic communication has been esta- 

 blished a subscriber cannot be deprived of it, even if he gives 

 notice to take away any standard or wires that have been erected 

 on his property other than for his own accommodation, unless the 

 Government can show to the satisfaction of the proper tribunal 

 that no other means exist of getting his wire in. Subscribers 

 have been known, it is said, to consent to the Government way- 

 leave clause, get in their telephones, and as soon as practicable 

 thereafter to give the stipulated notice to take away all fixtures 

 but their own, and to have, nevertheless, succeeded in retaining 

 their connections. The German Government is stated (in Great 

 Britain) to make a practice of coercing property owners who 

 refuse the use of their roofs by planting enormous poles opposite 

 their doors, or by suddenly discovering that their drains are faulty 

 and must be renewed ! The author could not succeed in hearing 

 of such a case in Germany. Apart from the unlikelihood of such 

 undignified proceedings being permitted by the Government, 

 such poles could not be erected under the Act without the co- 

 operation of the local authorities, who would scarcely connive at 

 an outrage on a townsman. In the matter of way-leaves Imperial 



