New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
DEBT RIDDEN ITALY.
CHURCH PROPERTY IN DANGER OF CON-
FISCATION.

oicantic act Of spoliation. Toward the middle OF
the coming month a bill will be submitted 70 tne
Chambers for the confscation and sale OF the
immense possessions in Italy OF the various
monastic and religious orders known by one name
OF "Opere Pfc The value of this property Is
estimated at $500, 100000, yielding an annual
revenue of $50 900, 600. There is hardly country
in the world which has not contributed TO swell
this vast total. the American donations, IN par
ticular, being among the most generous Inc
money was given TO be devoted to religious and
charitable uses in all parts of the world ana It's
arbitrary appropriation by King humoerts 0ov-
ernment for purely secular and ltanan onlects is
a matter of international importance Inc eN-
cnse nut forward by the Prime minister is thab the
money has been diverted by the Church from the
rurnoses which the donors had in view. OF the
YEARLY income Of $780, 600, 600, he complains that
over 1000 900 disappears in the expenses OF the
management and that the remaining 81 100000
is devoted to propaganda by the Vatican against
the Government
Tht truth of the matter is that the National
Treasury is empty, and there is no other method
of replenishing IL The Ministry finds itself face
10 face with deficit of no less than S7O,OOOOOO.
OF this amount $50 00o 900 is due to the alarming
decrease in revenue, and the balance TO extra eX-
psnditure incurred by the War and Navy De-
rartments. Moreover it has already been de-
cided by Parliament that an additional sum OF
q 90. 900 600 mi st be devoted TO the perfection
Of the National defences during the next three
wears In order TO realize how completely I'M
possible it is for the Treasury to graphic with this
situation by any ordinary methods, IT should DC
stated that the entire revenue does not exceed
$500, 600, 900, a sum utterly inadequate 10 meet
even the ordinary annual expenditure 1t was
owing TO his inability to discover any normal
method OF either balancing his budget or of OBJ
tanning means to meet the extraordinary increase
Of expenditure that Signor Maglani determined
"a resign his seat in the Cabinet as Minister OF
Finance couple of weeks ago. 1t is impossible
70 increase the taxes already in existence, or 10
create new imposts. The burden is already 700
heavy for the people to bear. The arrears are
enormous and the number of seizures and forceu
sales BY the Government for non-payInent OF OAAes
has become very great. In the South OF ltay' 70
pec:ally, whole villages and districts nave oeeh
PUT up for auction by the sheriff. MosC OIL tne
big cities are bankrupt and unable 10 pay 'n'
,nts,rst en- The extensive loans with which they
have saddled themselves. Rear estate mas ae
creased in value The farmer Is no longer ""ie
10 find any sale for his crops or livestock no"
that the tariff war with France has put suop
TO the former extensive export to that country VI
supreme everywhere and in Sardinia it has reached
such n do. rec that the entire body Of Parla-
mentary representatives of the island have decided
70 resign their seats in the Chamber, with view
NJ forcing the Government to adopt serious meas
ures for the relief of their wretched constituents
Matters are equally bad in the cities ana towns
Trade and manufacture are in the midst OF cllsis
mute as acute as that in the agricultural d'strct
Factories are closed and thousands OF artisans are
ou,. Of work. From almost every important cen
ire reports arrive of riots and serious disturbances
of prccessons Of starving men and women clamor-
inc in the public streets for bread and WORK
There appears no prospect of remedy as long as
Italy forms part of the Triple Alliance IL is oue
10 the latter, and to the imperlous mandates To
ceived from Berlin, that the Prime Minister mas
been obliged to rupture Italy's commercial re@-
,;ons with France. and il is the German head
onar.ors s.ag which has insisted on the ex-
rcna,.urc bv King Humbert's Government OF such
Use sums of money in military preparations
srms altorether beyond the resources OF the
oo,rtr,. which have forced the Cabinet to Inn
nose onerous dues even on bread and salt NO
reonle are so heavily taxed as the Italians. Inc
National debt averages SIS per CAPITA 1t Is
scarcely surprising, therefore, that emigration is
nm the increase. Twelve years ago it did not ex-
eeed 90. 900 per annum, whereas during the past
v,ar il has reached 300 000--a terrible loss to the
country.
The Lombardia,. one of the most important
papers OF Northern Italy, abiding to this situa-
ton. speaks as follows: An improvident and
spendthrift financial policy, ruinous coloniai
policy. without definite place or programme and
foreign policy which, under the pretext oil peace
involves the Nation in all the disadvantages OF
war have contributed to wreck the economic sltua-
ton of the country"
An extraordinary incident occurred when the
military supplies were being voted by Parliament
last week Just before the final VOTE General
Mattel one of the most distinguished officers Of the
Italian Army. arose from his seat in the Chamber
of Denuties and declared amidst profound silence,
that he should vote against the measure on the
pronnd that he had no confidence in the integrity
~ the Minister of War or of his department!
Within an hour special supplement of the OF
fetal Gazette" announced the dismissal OF Ten
era Mattel from His post of Inspector-General OF
artillery, and his removal from the active 70 ohe
retired list for an act Of INSTRUMENTATION hoStIuy
and disrespect committed against his superior On
being questioned by the editors OF several lnuu-
entail papers as the grounds for his action zen
eral Mattel stated that serious scandals were rlie
in the War Department, aud that the mose us
honest relations existed between tne Chiefs Vi Ve
latter and the principal army contractors Whab
is the use" he exclaimed, Of obtaining grant Oh
siO 600, 600 for the purchase and Manufacture oil
,ihes when there are in the Government stores ana
srsenals more than enough to equip the entire
Italian Army on war footing? Why are con
tracts allotted for the manufacture of Peterl rites
when IL is well known that they will shortly be
obsolete by the adoption on the part OF
France and Germany Of arms Of small cabbre and
discharged by means Of smokeless powder
Wherefore the constant and useless changes In the
uniforms and accoutrements? All these things
enly 90 to enrich the army contractors and their
friends in the War Department. at the expense oil
the unfortunate faxpayers. am convinced that
the whole of the sum voted for the acquisition OF
small arms will be diverted 10 other and improper
purposes None Of the contracts allotted by the
War and Navy Departments are ever submitted