Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-08
OTHER LANDS THAN oURs.

| AH PREMIER hiQttk~NANhttNhu truly ~
marked to the Parliamentary commission
which is charged with investigation Of the
causes OF the depopulation Of France. the
question is one OF the most vast and COM
piieated that could be conceived. A gem
GRAFTON ago the population Of France was
about equal to that OF Germany; at the
present time that Of the empire has reached
57,0O0.0 600, while the people Of the repub-
lie number but IS, 1000, 900. For many years
the birth and death rates in France were
nearly balanced, but Of late there has been
an annual excess Of deaths. This is not
tie result OF a particularly high death
rate in France ION the contrary, the per-
centage Of deaths in that country Is com
paratlvely moderately, but OF an abnormaily
small number OF births.
The decrease OF the birth rate has been
progressive in France. Between 1911 and
1920 the annual surplus Of births over
deaths was nearly six per 1000 OF the pop
~ulation; between 1851 and 1860 1t was less
than three per 1000; between 1881 and
1885 about one and a half per 1000, and
now the relation hetweea births and deaths
has been reversed. The number Of chill
dren per marriage was about three dur
Ing the Ave years ended 1885; In the sue
ceeding I'VE years the number had declined
to two per marriage, and since then has
been reduced to a fraction under two. But
for the growth Of population In the depart
ments Of France adjoining Italy, Germany
and Belgium, an actual decline in numbers
would have become apparent many years
ago. The influx Of Italians and Flemings,
however, no longer sunless to Offset the de-
hciency OF births in France.
zee
Although, &C statistics show. It is not
difncult to induce Italians to leave the
peninsula for Tripoli, 1t Is hard to get
them to settle in the East African pos
sessions OF italy, where their presence ia
particularly desired by the government In
Rome. At length private enterprise has
been invoked by the government to de-
velop the Italian territory contiguous TO
the empire Of the Negus. According to
recent advices from Rome, the railway
from Massowah will shortly be extended
to Asmara. The preliminary operations for
testing the richness Of the gold mines in
Eritrea have already given very satisfac-
tory results, and In the course OF this year
SUFFICIENT data will have been obtained to
afford some idea of their value. 1t Is con-
hdently anticipated in Rome that the
knowledge thus gained will give an impetus
to further prospecting, as there Is every
reason to believe that gold exists through
out Eritrea. The cultivation OF cotton has
also given very good results and the In
dustry is to be largely extended. The
Benadir company, In cooperation with the
government, is preparing the way for the
further opening up OF Italian Somaliland.
A steamer is to be placed on the Webb
shebeyli and certain tracks are to be so
improved as to make them available for
wagon trafho.
/ H
An animated and significant debate was
caused in the German Reichstag the other
day by an Interpolation introduced by the
national liberal deputy, Count Oriola, on
the subject Of the law concerning military
pensions. The Interpolation directed at
tention to the fact that the necessity OF
some revision had been repeatedly admitted
by the government, and asked whether the
ministers were prepared with a scheme
which would be laid before the House IN
the course OF the present session. In
reply It was stated on behalf Of the min
istry of war that the regulations on the
subject Of pensions Undoubtedly involved
haydsbips. and that the unfavorable hnan-
otal aituation was alone responsible Tor
the fact that the government was not In q
present position to proceed with the mat
ter. This reply was sharply criticised from
various parts of the House, the radical
member. Herr Lenzmann, remarking that II
was astonishing that no place could De
found for a sum Of at most 24,OOO,OOO In
estimate where thousands OF millions
were in question. He expressed the opinion
that II provision for the private soldiers
could not otherwise be made, the state
might easily be able to settle the dificulty
hv emitting of the necessary amount from
the appropriations for the pensions Of ON
GERS.
The approaching visit of President Loubet
10 Russia is already the subject OF much
discussion In the French press. 1t cannot
take Mace much before the end Of April, as
the ice will not have broken up. The naval
arrangements are being made by Captain
Huguet Of the Elysse household. and by
Count de Montebello. French ambassador
at 81. Petersburg. The president VIII en-
bark upon Massena, which VIII be ntted
in p~alatial fashion, and accompanied by two
cruisers Montcalm and Guichen. The naval
escort will be under the NINA OF Vice
Admiral Gourdon Of the Northern squadron.
and not Admiral de Courthille, who escorted
M Felix Faure. There is no disposition
in Paris to minimize the political I'M
~portance Of the coming meeting. The most
enthusiastic expect the absorption OF Italy
into a new triple alliance, but the more
sober-minded talk of mutual agreement
concerning AFFAIRS in China, SYRIA OF
TrIpoIis. Undoubtedly the French presi-
! dent will be the center Of a splendid and
lavish hospitality. In no whit less costly, II
perhaps less artistic. than the Partisan
RussophIle demonstrations. Some splendid
court functions will be held in his honor
and he viii ride side by side with the car
at a vast ipI.itary review.
~ SO
According 10 the returns of the British