Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-04
OTHER LANDS THAN ours.


the problems Of local taxation, and the first
ject has just been published The crux Is
to be found in the system of valuing prop
erty for taxation, and any plan that provides
uniformity, equality, simplicity and economy
would be acceptable Under existing meth
ods 1t is possible, outside of the metropolis
for five Independent valuations for the pur-
pose of raising rates and taxes to exist con-
temporaneously in the same area. In Eng
land and Wales alone there are more than
1000 valuation authorities. With such a
multitude OF agents IL is useless to look for
satisfactory results, and the differences in
other lines greatly increase the confusion,
There is no fixed or necessary time for max
ing the valuation lists; no uniform system
of, or scale for, making deductions for ar
irving at the ratabe values CT certain
classes of property; exemptions and allow
ances are said to be allowed unduly through
pressure brought to bear on the assessing
authorities, and the assessment committees
have no statutory power to ascertain from
owners or occupiers the rent paid and other
particulars. Added to these is the common
action of authorities in keeping the valua-
tion low so as to reduce their contribution
toward common expenditure.
The continental correspondence of the
London newspapers continues to be filled
with rumors of impending trouble in the
Balkans. One of the latest symptoms of the
general unrest prevailing in that region was
the serious encounter which occurred the
other day near Mitovitza between a tribe of
Albanians and the Mohammedan inhabitants.
The emphatic warning addressed some time
ago TO Servia and Bulgaria by Austria and
- Qtt-afn III, l., ~
tends toward a preservation of the peace
but there is said to be a growing conviction
among the Balkan states that the agreement
between st. Petersburg and Vienna is not
proof against all eventualities. There seems
to be no doubt that the Turks are expecting
trouble. Persistent reports say that they are
steadily increasing their ornaments in that
region, and that of late they have been
making extensive purchases of horses from
abroad. Their forces within reach of the
disturbed region are already considerable
and are ready to be moved at a moment S
notice. A report from Bucharest declares
that the peasants who took part in the re-
cent disturbances had intended to proclaim
a revolution at Islacz, following the example
of 1S4S, but that the government authorities
acted too promptly for them.
The duke Of orleans has played his cards
very badly. BY his impatience he has
brought down the heavy hand of the French
government on his friends and followers,
many Of whom are under arrest, while 9TH
ers are under suspicion and closely watched.
And it is evident from the developments Of
the Oreanist plot that nothing was ready,
nothing was prepared and everything that
was done was executed in a hasty, ill-con-
ceived manner. The young gentleman who
poses as the heir to the throne of France
has attempted to resurrect that throne by
force, without having one ota of public
sentiment behind him. The few deputies
and senators who remain loyal to the royal
ist program have been bad advisers and
have fallen into the trap laid for them by
President Loubet and the loyal officers OF
the republic. But this is nothing new.
From the time the Citizen King went out Of
office Orleansts have been dreamy agita-
tors, who have won nothing at the game and
who have been divided amongst themselves
when there should have been union and who
have been united when action was impossl-
BILE. Moreover, the uncle of the present
pretender drove the first nail into the Or
leanist coffin by adopting the lilies and
white for his flag instead of sticking to the
tri-color which is the ensign of the French
people, The pretender has now ended the
dream by the utter fiasco to which he is a
party.
The public safety bill proposed by the
Italian government is a stringent measure
which is expected to excite lively discussion
in the country and inf the Chambers 1t
contains four divisions: Division / empow-
ers the police to forbid open air meetings,
for reasons of public order or of public
haalth SpditiOnS rripS manifestations
may be punished by three months impris-
onment. Division authorizes the police,
upon the request of the judicial authority,
to dissolve associations intended to encour-
age acts subversive of social order or of the
constitution of the state. Societies once
dissolved cannot be reconstructed even un-
der another name. Resistance to the disso-
luton Of a society is made punishable with
three months Imprisonment or EGO fine
Division 3 provides imprisonment from one
to two years for persons employed in pub
lie service administered by the state who
in numbers of three or more, strike work.
or, by previous arrangement, hinder the
regular working of the service. The fourth
division deals with the press. After two
convictions of public offenses newspapers
may be compelled to deposit 5000 under
penalty of suppression. Upon a third Of
fense this deposit may be confiscated. After
two convictions a journal may be subjected
to preventive censorship, its sale or distri-
button being made illegal until two hours
after the first copy, signed by the responsl-
BILE manager, has been placed in the hands
of the censor. Newspapers subject to
financial guaranty may after each subse-
quent conviction be suspended for period
not exceeding three months the suspension
to take effect Immediately. There are other
provisions imposing fines for the publication
OF false news or libels.
We do not often get important news, or,
for that matter any news, from Patagonia,
but by way of London comes the announce
ment of trouble between the Welsh set
tiers of Patagonia, some G,OOO strong, and
their political rulers OF the Argentine re-
public that may possibly lead TO interesting
international complications. The Welsh set
Element at Chopat Patagonia, was made in
1865, at a time when the country belonged
to anybody, or nobody If we leave the abor-
igines out of consideration. At the time
of the war between Chile and Peru the Ar
gentine republic took possession OF this part
of Patagonia, and her possession was sub
sequently confirmed by treaty with C'ile.
The Welshmen themselves are said to have
acknowledged the sovereignty of Argentina
and registered at Buenos Ayres, but they
are now objecting to the enforcement of the