The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-17

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$ SCANDINAVIAN NEWS. &
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The Norwegian storthing adjourned on
the 10Th ultmo after one of the most event
ful sessions on record. Ii enacted gen.
erai suffrage BIZ, thereby disposing for
ever OF a question which for the last thirty
years has been advocated by the Liberals
and antagonized by the Conservatives As
the bill carried with it a constitutional
amendment, Il required a two-thirds vote
for its passage. This two-thirds ma jority
the Liberals succeeded in getting at the
last election. The storthing shortly before
its adjournment passed a bill providing
for spring and fall sessions. This measure
met with considerable support on the part
OF the Conservatives. owing 10 the fact
that OF recent years the session has been
proiracted from February until the middle
OF the summer. The result has been that
men of ability and knowledge OF public
affairs have refused 10 sit in the national
assembly, because a continuous session Of
from four 10 five months duration would
interfere entirely with their private bust
ness affairs. and the remuneration of a
member OF the storthing would not make
up for the losses their business would suf-
fer by neglect during their absence. on
the other hand. If the session Is divided
into short spring and a fall session. they
will be able 10 take care of their business
affairs duriIg & the Intervening periods with
out any great losses. A large percentage
Of the members consists of farmers, and To
them this change Is most welcome. as II
permits them to stay at home during the
busy summer season until after he rvesting
time
The appropriations made by this s:orth-
Ing were extraordinarily large This was
due 10 the desire OF the members TO estab
lish a navy. large enough for all defensive
purposes. Two flrs;-ciass battieships were
delivered 20 the government in the spring.
and appropriations were asked for the inn
med ate construction OF two additional
flrst-class batteships and several coast de-
Tense gunhoa;s- Liberal appropriations
were also made for fortiiications.
OF great national importance was the
resolution to construct railway from
chrisiiania 20 Bergen. and another TO run
from the seaboard through ofaten 10 con-
meet with n Swedish railway from the i'm
meuse iron fields IN Norrland The session
was void OF The usual ciashy debates. and
the members seemed animated more by
patriot Ism shan parfisanship Bat the pic
ture has back view. II cannot be denied
tha; the budget has reached an alarming
size An annual budget Of s. 30 DO crowns
does net stand In proportion 10 the popu-
iatioa and present resources Of Norway.
The boom which of recen: years has swept
across fhe lar4. advanced values, opened
up new industries. In short. galvanized all
kinds % business as ~ an electric current
seems 20 have also affected the members
OF the national assembly SO that hey have
votea appropriations with iiberaiify ntth-
er1o uukEowa IL a reaction should set in
TIE budget would prove a heavy burden 10
carry.
The reeen; departure ot the polar expeii-
tiers under ne leadership o. OTTO ssyert-
rup. Prof Nathorzt and Mr. w wellman
has aroused renewed Interest IN TIE fate
OF pr AnSTee. ~ special interes; II trfs
CORRECTION an article ny the Russia.
sc3entls, and explorer. Or S.koaag Con
tat.i. wac II The Russian Journal $ovos
NFemya discusses The fate of the Sweslsh
taIgeontst 80 fellows
" rat wou]I De fhs fate % Andfee ard
his cosrrsnsors Z air currents hsve driven
them 10 tAe northeast coast ~ Siberia
- give definite answer - This question