The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-27

garbled and distorted version or single
passage. Such are the WITNESSES OF Fame.
Is the Austro-Hungarian Controversy
Ended?
According to q telegram from Budapest,
the long-standing dispute respecting the
contributions to be made by Austria and
Hungary to the collective revenue OF the
dual monarchy has been settled by an
agreement that $50 per cent. shall be paid
by Austria. and 84.4 per cent. by Hungary.
To bring out the Significance OF this ad-
justment, we should recall tho economical
and fiscal features OF the organic compact
between the Cis-Leithan, or Austrian. and
the Trans-Leithan. or Hungarian. division
OF the Hapsburg realm.
After the war that ended at Sadowa, a
compact between the two halves OF the
Hapsburg monarchy, which had been
agreed upon between the Emperor, Baron
voN BEusT and FRANCIS DEkK, was rati-
fed, or rather enacted, by the Hungarian
Parliament in the form OF a statute desig-
mated as Law XII. OF 1857, and by the
Austrian Reichsrath. In an act OF Dec. .
OF the same year. These laws regulate the
structure and functions OF the joint gov
eminent, but they do not form constitu-
ton In the sense Of a single, authoritative
document, for. although alike In substance
they are not Identical In form. In fact
the Hungarian statute begins with sort
OF declaration OF the rights OF Hungary
which has no counterpart In the Austrian
act. The two fundamental statutes were
supplemented by others. Thus an Aus
trian act Of Dec. "a, and corre-
spending Hungarian statute. Law XIV.
OF 1867, determined the quota to be
paid by Hungary on account OF the
interest on the imperial debt. Another
pair Of statutes Austria, Dec. "a, 1857:
Hungary, Law XIV, 1897 regulated for
ten years Hungary's share OF the common
expenses. and still another austria, Dec.
"a, 1857; Hungary. Law XVI, 1867 estab-
lished tariff and trade union for the same
period. These last two pairs OF laws ex-
pIred and were renewed In a more compre-
hensive form by means OF a series OF stat
utes which bear In Austria the date OF
June 27, 1873. They were again renewed
In 1887 In a slightly modified form, and
negotiations for their extension for another
decenn!al period have been carried on for
several years. The Constitution, II 1t may
be 80 called which was thus created can be
amended only In the way In which 1t was
originally made; that 10. by concurrent
action Of the Parliaments OF Austria and
Hungary. sanctioned by the Emperor.
Ono OF the most difficult questions in
volved In the formulation Of compact be-
tween the two divisions OF the Hapsbura
monarchy was concerned with the share Of
interest. on the debt to be paid by each
country. The Hungarlans long refused to
assume any burden that would embarrass
them, and they had a great advantage In
the negotiations because they openly urged
reputation, to which the Austrans
would not then consent. After good deal
of discussion 1t was settled that Hungary
should contribute twenty-nine and half
millions OF forlns year toward the interest
on the then existing debt, and that Austria
should pay the rest, enjoying, how
ever. the benefit OF any reorganiza-
ton or partial reputation she might
make, a privilege OF which she subse-
quently availed herself in the form OF a tax
on the national creditors. II was agreed
that new debts should be contracted only
with the consent OF both Parliaments. and
that the interest thereon should be paid in
proportion to the share OF the common
expenses borne by each country at the time
the loans were made. In regard to the cur
rent expenses Of the joint monarchy II was
arranged that they should be betrayed as
far rs possible out OF the joint revenues
and that any deficit should be made good,
10 per cent. by Austria, and 30 per cent
by Hungary, that being about the ratio Of
the sums then raised by taxation In the two
countries.
This arrangement about current ex-
penses was made as We have said, only
for ten years, In 1873, 1t was slightly
modified; for strip OF land along the
southern frontier of Hungary. which had
been under the direct government OF the
imperial military authorities, was incor-
poratcd in that kingdom. and, in considera-
ton OF the revenue they would receive
from this territory. the Hungarians agreed
to pay an additional per cent. OF the
net cost OF the Joint government. From
the gross expenses OF the dual monarchy,
therefore, were to be deducted first the
joint revenues: then, 2 per cent OF the
remainder OF the deficit was to be made
good by Hungary, and the rest was to DO
GN>"s~rd upon The two countries In
the r"tlo VI I0i and 80 per cent.