The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-15

ee, for in Spain anyone can obtain ex- emption from military service by paying 2,0OO pesetas, which is about $500 in our money. Now the young men can stay at home and contribute to the prosperity Of the country Furthermore, it cost the government more than $50. 900 a year to hold it's colonies, and the outgo was so much greater than the income that an enormous debt has been pied up. It is no longer necessary to borrow money to meet the deficit, although taxes are no less than they used to be.
 The financial condition of Spain is good MT. villaverde, the present Prime Minis ter, who was Secretary of the Treasury for several years after the war, reogan- ized the finances with great ability. and won the confidence of the creditors of the nation and the bankers of the money centers in London. Paris, Frankfort and Berlin The surplus this year, MT. Vil- laverde says, will be $6O,0O0.000 which he proposes to use in reducing the floating debt. although the King and the other leaders of his party want to spend the money an rebuilding the navy. During the last Parliament the Minister of Marine, at the request of the King. submitted a plan to expend a billion pesetas-s150, ,0OO, ,0OO during the next ten years in the purchase
  CTS Mr. Maura, the Minister of State, an ex-Liberal. who aspires to be leader of the conservative party and the suc- cessor of Silvela, who has announced his retirement from that responsibility, pro- claimed the adherence of the Government to the policy of the church.
 The church and the navy were to be the war cry of the conservative party, but notwithstanding the indorsement of the King, a majority of the Cabinet opposed both propositions and then forced a crisis. They argued that the church enjoyed too many privileges already and intimated their intention to support the anti-cler- ical policy which had been inaugurated by the liberals under the late Senor Sa- gasta. They opposed the naval appropri- ation on the ground that Spain does not need navy and that if 1t had one it would be a very expensive white ele. phant. One of the ministers declared that the people had no money to build ships and no money to maintain them even if they received a first-class fleet as a present. According to custom the Cabinet resigned, and MT. Villaverde, who, as I have just told you, had made a great reputation as Minister of Finance, was asked to form g. new Cabinet ands pro- claim new policy, which was economy in the public service and reduction in the national expenditures.
 This was very welcome proposition to the people, but unfortunately Mir. Villa verde has not been able to carry it out He has done nothing whatever toward a reduction of expenses and will be compelled. at the approaching meeting of Parliament, to submit the same budget that was rejected at the last meeting, because every effort he has made at retrenchment has been success fully checked by his associates in the gov ernment and other politicians of influence. Therefore he dare not do what he prom fsed the cortes and the people he would do, and his cabinet will have to fall like its predecessors as soon as the cortes meets. He is determined to carry 1t over the approaching municipal elections, how ever, for they are extremely important