Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-20
OTHER LANDS THAN ours.

OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.
The method OF voting in the British Par
lament is cumbersome 20 the extreme. IL
Is different from that OF any legislative
body In this country. When a division is
called for and a vote is ordered, the mem
bers rise solemnly from their seats, and in
stead Of remaining standing until counted,
either for or against a motion. they file
out into the lobby, where they range
themselves on one side or the other and
are counted by the whips OF the oppos-
ing parties appointed for that purpose.
Then the members walk back to their seats
and the vote is announced by the whips
and repeated by the speaker. who declares
the motion carried or lost, as the case may
be. Thus, on the educational bill, which
has been before Parliament since June 3.
a legislative sharp estimate that fifty
hours have been wasted in walking 10 and
from the Hobbies. There have been in all
246 divisions, and II is found that each one
Of them consumes twelve minutes. A work.
ing week in Parliament provides for four
and a half hours in the afternoon and three
hours in the evening for debate on Mon
day. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and
seven hours on Friday, or thirty-seven
hours altogether. Hence a solid week and
a NV hhn e tApNuutu III UltTb DtueS=
trianism. At no time have the opponents
Of the bill found the government mapping,
and the average majorities have been
maintained at over 100.
aas
Egypt has an area OF 400, 900 square miles,
but only about 13,O 900 square miles
Of fertile land. The Egypt Of history and
Of today has been compared in shape
to a long stemmed water lily laid fiat on
the sand, with a single leaf in the Fayum
oasis and a bud at the Nile delta. The
country that in ali ages has been called
the granary OF the world has been Just a
strip OF land a few miles wide along either
bank OF the Nile. Assuan adds another leaf
to the lily plant, and a mighty one. 1t in
creases the area OF habitable Egypt more
than 20 per cent. No other engineering
work Of modern times, achieved so quickly
and at so moderate a cost, promises so
much. The British pique themselves at
times on the resemblance Of the mission
they have undertaken in the world to the
mission accomplished by the Romans. One
is reminded in the presence Of their dam
on the Nile Of the ancient people who's
great military roads through Europe are
used to this day.
Signor Giolotti, the Italian minister Of
the interior, is the political sponsor Of a
bill. now before Parliament, which pro-
vides for a wholesale multiplication OF
different trades and occupations. II even
directs that the municipal authorities shall
take charge of the bakeries in the event
OF there being any rise In the cost Of
bread. All forms OF locomotion and Of
transport are to be in the hands Of the
municipality, and even funerals are to be
under the direction Of the local uthori-
ties. The Popolo Romano and other news
papers are pointing out that the govern
ment will make a great mistake II 1t
thinks that enterprises Of this kind will
prove as profitable under public as under
private management, and the proposed sys-
tenn Of the compensation Of private owners
is also criticised sharply. Tradesmen com
panies, and others who businesses are TO
be absorbed, are to receive the value Of
their plant, and an additional amount for
loss or profit, to be calculated upon the av-
erage receipts in five years. It is pointed
out that such procedure would be mani
testify unjust to newly established enter
prises, promising great future returns, but
run temporarily at a loss.
In response to Lord Miners appeal for
women emigrants to South Africa, the
South African expansion committee has
sent out in the last four months 500 girls
from London, and this is only 40 per cent
Of those who have applied. All candidates
must be passed as physically At, not only
by q local, but by a government doctor,
the standard of bodily health being that
which would entitle the applicant to a
hrst-class life insurance policy. When the
form has been filled up and the references
as to character and capability have been
examined and found to be perfectly salts
factory, the would-be emigrant is notified
that she is accepted and is told the ship
by which she is to sail, and her anxieties
are at an end. Such girls as are selected
from the country districts are collected IN
a house in London, whence they are dis
patched, generally in good spirits, for the
cape. The fare for them is $50, the re-
mainder being paid by the committee, and,
when necessary, this $50 is also advanced.
The girls go to take positions as servants.
nurses and governesses, and, of course,
with the idea Of getting married, II pos
sible, though no matrimonial arrangements
are made for them In London. The first
great attraction to all Of them Is higher
wages. House servants get from SIS to 500
a month and nursery governesses are also
in demand; but typewriters and 'lady
| CltIhb II NiOhbAy SNNN'N
at present.
The distress among the poor of London,
on account of the high prices OF pro-
visions, coal and clothing, and the scarcity
Of work, is OF a nature to alarm those Of
the authorities who give sincere thought
to such matters. A census that has been
made of actual paupers, shows that the
number receiving relief from the county
OF London at the close of November was
los, 157, or more than ever before for that
month, and not exceeded relatively to the
population since 1857. Most Of the work.
houses are full, and some Of them are
greatly ov~ercrowded, their total population
being 6 1908, while s.s46 persons are re-
ceiving outdoor relief. The restitution Is
scattered throughout the entire metropolis,
even the district which includes the ultra
fashionable st. Georges, Hanover Square,
having 1905 paupers to support. The fear
is that the situation will become much
worse before 1t becomes better, and that
the actual hardships of winter will be