The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-12


the 9Th uitimo after the longest and most
important session recorded in the annals
Of the country. The session lasted more
than six months but the measures
passed justified the length Of the session
Among the laws enacted may be men
toned the Iapp Law. the agricultural
high school law the LAW allowing clti-
gems who are abroad 20 register their vote
before a Norwegian consul. military law.
law regulating and fixing the compensa-
ton and salaries OF ministers. the libel
law. check law. new game laws. and two
appropriation laws IN addition 10 the reg-
niar routine business Of the storthin-.
Several constitutional amendments were
proposed. but failed To pass. excepting
one. permitting brotheThoods Of monks 10
operate in the realm. a privilege hitherto
denied by the constitution. The stoT-
thing has also adopted arbitration me-
MORALS empowering the king and cabi-
net 10 enter into treaties with all foreign
powers. whereby all matters in dispute
between Norway and such powers shall
be settled by board OF arbitrator. has
concluded an advantageous commercial
treaty with Japan. revised the tariff. en-
acting a protective tariff measure and
recognized the civil official department.
The law allowing Norwegian citizens
abroad TO vote before Norwegian consuis
Of the liberal party. The law Will al
most exclusively affect sailors. % per
cent. of whom are liberals and when IL
is remembered that Norwavs merchant
marine is the second in the world the
magnitude and timelness of this law viii
be understood. In close districts the
election will be decided by sailors who
are probably thousands of miles away,
but whose vote will be unbiased by any
s..ss. a 81 -.
ployers. Every citizen who has been alb
sent not more than three years is under
the provisions of this law allowed 10
vote. The ballot must have been filled
In not more than three months prior TO
the day Of the election. which occurs on
different days in different districts: the
ballot must be of white paper. without
signature or any marks. The voter may
in his ballot designate the names of the
electors he desires to vote for. or Re
may vote the straight party ticket. The
ballot is placed i'm a sealed letter and
forwarded to the election board by the
consul at the expense of the Norwegian
government. If any person who has so
voted before consul should die prior 10
the day of the election. il becomes the
duty of the consul TO at once telegraph
the fact that such voter il dead to the
election board. The consuls receive no
are not permitted to charge the voter for
afixing seal of consulate or forwarding
ballots. but all actual expenses incurred
are paid by the Norwegian government.
Mr. A Chilberg the Norwegian vice
consul of Seattle. has received blank
ballots. circular letters and instructions
To voters.
Elisa Bjornson's funeral took place the
9th ultimo from Our Savior's church, in
Christiania. Rev lunde officiated. and
Prof. Schonberg and O. Arvesen. a mem
Der of the storthing. acted as marshals
Among the mourners were the noted Hen
rik Ibsen. Prof. Fridthof hansen. leading
liberal journalists and artists, and the
French actor. Lugne Poe. from the The
alter Franchise. The coffin was complete
ly buried by floral offerings from the wo-
men suffragists of Norway. DR.. Henrik
Ibsen, Christiania Royal theater, 'Verdens
Gang" ''Dugbladet." the storthing. Mrs.
Bjornson's grandchildren and their hus-
bands and wives in Italy. Germany.
France and China. John Selmer. Mrs.
Bjornson's at-grandchildren. the Free
Masons. the liberal Press Bureau, and a
beautiful flower piece from Cand. Arstal
bearing the inscription: ITO a great mans
mother"
Mrs. Bjornson was strong woman and
remarkably youthful in appearance up TO
the time of her death. She had a full but
long face, blue-gray eyes. and reddish
brown hair. which never turned fully gray.
Her manner was cordial. but full of dig
nifty. She remained a devout Christian
to her death. The religious disputes which
her son, who is an admirr of Ingersoll
waged with the clergy troubled her great
ly but she never wavered in her loyalty
to him. 1T is a matter of conscience with
Bjornst jerne." she would say with some
pride. but you must not expect, my son,
however many converts you make that
your mother can be among them" she
said TO him one day. "Oh, mother. /
don't hatter myself with that" he laughed,
as he drew her head over on his shoulder.
Mrs. Rjornson was married very early 10
a clergyman and was only % years old
when the poet was horn. When he wrote
Synnore Solhakken. his first peasant novel.
which gained him a lasting reputation,
she was only 20 years old.
When Bjornstjernc was years old the
parents removed to Romsdalen one OF the
most picturesque valleys of Norway
Bjornstjerne was of a dreamy nature. and
to all outward appearances n dun. drowsy
lad who would sit for hours idly gazing
az the riffs IN the skies and clouds between
the mountain peaks or over the greeu-blue
waters Of the ford. This would tax the
patience Of the father, who exclaim0, IF
only our Biornstterne Were as bright as
the sexton's boyr' And the wife would
answer: "Oh. very well: we must wait.
Everything win turn out right in the end
Mrs Riornson left two sons and one
daughter surviving her. The daughter is
married 30 well-known clergyman. and
the second son Ills high official govern
ment position.
The fate Of the "Samlag" the liquor
establishments operated under govern
r1ent control under the Gothenburr syS-
tarn !n7pr0ves viii be decided az the