Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-10

the population in the middle Of last year
was 1882, $40 less than it was seventy
eight years ago, and IL the estimated popu-
lation in the middle of the present year
4,425, 000-be' compared with that of the
maximum year. the diminution in ffty-six
years will be found to reach the astonish-
ing figure of 3,S7O,oe1.
saS
The imperial German government has is
sued a semi oficial explanation Of the bar
gain with the clericals by which a Roman
Catholic theological faculty In to be es-
tablished in the University Of Strasburg.
This declares that the concession was made
exclusively for state reasons, since the
nonexistence Of such a faculty in the an
nexed provinces of Alsace and Lorraine and
the consequent education Of Roman Cath
Ollie priests in the Episcopal seminary has
tended to keep alive the Francophile spirit
among the Alsatian priesthood. who natur-
ally showed a prediction for France,
where Roman Catholicism is prevalent and
no obstacles are put in the way OF state
theological faculties. This declaration,
however, has in no way affected the gen.
eral conviction that the privilege is the
political reward for the help extended to
Chancellor Won Buelow in the tariff mat
ter. The agreement corresponds in de-
tail with the regulations for the similar
faculties at the Prussian state universities
at Bonn and Breslau, which vest all power
in the ecclesiastical authority. The new
regulations for S~trasburg expressly slip
| ulate that no professor can be appointed
to the new faculty by the government
without the previous consent of the bishop,
while at Breslau and Bonn the bishop bad
not to be asked beforehand, but wss only
| allowed afterwards to raise objections.
The members Of the French senate num-
her 300, of whom 225 we're originally chosen
from the departments for terms OF nine
years duration and seventy-fve elected
for life by the two chambers In joint SEES
sions. These life senatorships have, how
ever, been abolished and now the whole 300
are chosen by the departments. One-third
Of them retire every three years. The cleo
tive body IL peculiar. 1t consists OF two
distinct elements Of delegates chosen by the
municipal council of each commune in pro-
portion to the population of such COM
mune, and Of the senator's, deputies, coun-
cillors- general and district councillors Of
the department. AS the municipal councils
TO a certain extent and the councils-general
absolutely are controlled by the projects
and as the latter are appointed and at any
time removable by the minister of the In
terror. that is by M. Combes, 1t will b.
understood that the actions of these bodies
is only a distorted reflection of public sen
timent. For this reason, although the ar
bitrary closing of the religious schools hai
deprived 500, 900 children Of the means O
securing the education which the law say
they must have, it is probable that the sen
ators elected will for the most part b.
Combes men. The system OF government
is highly centralized in France, which /
not an unmixed blessing.
sss
The annual financial statement submittet
to Parliament the other day by the Italial
financial minister shows that the improve
ment of recent years is maintained. Tn
budget Of 19O1-19O2 left a net surplus o
20, ss9, 40S lire. The heavy deductions whic
had to be made from this sum for the Chin
expedition and other expenses were NOR
than compensated for by the increase in tn
yield Of customs and other sources OF in
come, leaving a final net balance Of NOR
h so, 900, 900 lire. Inasmuch as mol
than II, 900, 900 lire were expended durin
the same period in railway construction an
So, 500, 900 IN reducing the debt, the resu.
is very satisfactory. The budget Of 1901
1908 exhibited a surplus Of $4,000, 900, bu
! from this amount must be deducted certai
, unforeseen expenditures, leaving a net SUI
plus Of II 5000, 900. That Of 19OS-19O4, whic
had to deal with the loss OF revenue cause
: by reduced taxation. shows a surplus
. more than $500, 900 lire. The metal r.
. serves held by the state and banks Of emil
sion to cover circulation have increased
$50, 900, 900 lire, or more than 81 per eel
OF the whole circulation-or IL per eel
= more than the proportion legally neeesssr
I It is TO be remembered, however, that the
I latest figures do not include any expend
lures for the relief OF southern Italy. tt
o budget will wear a very different sppea
b ance II the announced plans VI the goverl
d ment are executed without modification.
: Local Taxation of Telegraph Poles.