The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-05
Building Another Nation.


of the United States, excluding Alaska.
1t is $500 miles in width from east 10
west and 1850 from north to south.
The population in 1891 was 3,O36, $40,
about that of the thirteen colonies that
formed the United States Five colo
NAL governments divide the area of the
island continent, Victoria, New South
Wales, Queensland and South and West
Australia. For over year representa-
tives from these colonies have been
framing articles of confederation, and
the measure will be submitted to a
vote of the electors on the 4th and
9th days of next month. The style
of the confederation is to be the Com
monWealth of Australia. More fortu-
nate than were the trainers of our con-
stitution, who had only the precedents
of the futile efforts for the formation
of republics in Greece and Rome. the
Vagaries of French theorists and the
advance made by England in repre-
sentative government, the Australian
fathers have the practical examples of
the different machines developed by
the United States, Great Britain and
Canada.
They have borrowed features from
all three. The executive is to be
governor general appointed by the
crown, as in Canada, and England's
parliamentary government is secured
by the provision that the cabinet of
ficers are to be members of the senate
or house. The senate is built on our
model, each colony electing six senators
for term Of six years, instead of
being appointed for life by the crown
as In Canada; but, unlike our method
they are chosen by a direct vote Of the
people. deadlock and the jobbing
of conference committees. with which
we are afflicted, is ingeniously obviated
by a provision that the senate itself
may be dissolved and a new election
held in case of a disagreement with
the house. The new senate sits, if nee
essary, in joint session with the house
on the matter in difference, and. If
three-fourths Of all agree, the meas
ure becomes law. Again, the powers
Of the congress of the Commonwealth
are, as with us, delegated powers, the
states, as they are to be called, resery-
ing all not expressly granted, reversing
the Canadian formation. In It's judici-
airy our plan has been followed.
Thirty-nine articles set forth the now
ers delegated to parliament Most of
these powers are similar to those given
our congress. Among the differences
is that relating to banking. The Com
monwealth Is to control banking, other
than that authorized by the states
and also has power to regulate the is
sues of state banks extending beyond
the limits Of the state concerned. This
provides local and national form of
currency; what we would have were
the act taxing state bank issues re-
pea1ed. The advance of the social de-
mocracy is seen in the powers given
to regulate insurance, invalid and old
age pensions, the acquisition of state
railways. railway construction and ex-
tension in any state with the consent
of the state. and the Cancellation of in
dustrial disputes. If the voters of the
colonies accept the constitution. and
the colonial parliaments then ratify it
and the imperial government find in it
nothing that trenches upon imperial
power, students of governments will
watch with curious eyes the workings
Of this latest experiment in govern
mental methods.