Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18

10 II AuACAg NV u Noh = wa ~ JN
he gets out of it. 1 only know that its
government revenues now amount to not
quite Sc, ZOO, 600 a year, and that the ex-
penditures are greater than that. Whether
Leopold has any private property there or
not I do not know.
His majesty has been accused
of not being a very good guard
ian Of the wealth of his own
family, and especially of that Of his sister,
who was the wife of the unfortunate
Macmillan Of Mexico. Her name was
Carlotta, and, as the story goes, when
Macmillan was executed he left her a vast
estate, of which King Leopold was trustee.
Then Carlotta became insane and her estate
was almost absolutely in the power OF her
brother. It Is gossiped that the most OF
this property has been ~squandered in various
speculations and that a large part Of 1t has
gone into certain enterprises along the
Congo river. In the meantime the enemies
of Leopold say Carlotta has recovered her
reason, but that his majesty does not dare
to take her out of the asylum for fear OF
being held to an accounting.
King Leopold has no son to succeed him.
He has had three children, but they are all
girls. Princess Louise, who is now A, was
born before he assembled the throne, as was
also Princess ~Stephanie, who Is now 80.
Both OF these princesses are married. The
third daughter is Princess Clementine, who
was born July 80, 1872, and who is conse-
quently 80 years Of age. BY the constitu-
ton, however, the succession can only go
in the direct male line of the family, and
the girls have no chance. II the king
should die today his brother, who is two
years his junior. would take his place, and
T., zee, - HE aoaNh fho o4raoadofon mould
go to his son, Prince Albert, who is now
27. and who has a baby boy named Leopold.
about 2 years old, ready to succeed him in
case he dies.
The government Of Belgium is somewhat
different from those of the other European
monarehies. The king has little more power
than the king of England. the most Of the
governing being carried on through the
congress and ministers. All the royal acts
must be countersigned by one Of the min
listers, who thus becomes responsible for
them. The congress consists of a senate
and house OF representatives, elected by
the people, and 1t Is a curious thing that
some men have as much as three votes.
Every citizen over 25 years Of age has one
vote and those over 35 who pay at least 81
a year In house tax and have had children
have each an additional vote, as has also
every citizen of over 25 who owns property
to the amount of $500 or who for two years
has received $40 annually from his govern
ment bonds or funds in the savings banks.
Graduates OF high colleges have two extra
votes. but no man can have more than three
votes. Another regulation provides that
every man must vote and that II he does
not he may be arrested and punished.
Thus, you see, the government e~nforces
voting and gives premiums Of extra votes
to such who have children. property and
higher education.
In Belgium, as In most Of the countries
OF Europe, the government owns the tele
graphs and telephones, and to a large ex,
tent the railroads. Each OF these branches
is worked at a profit. and they add ma
terially to the government revenues. Thu
: revenue from the railways last year was
about $50, 1000. 900 and that from the tele-
z graph $4,000, 900. The railroads are man,
] aged in the interests Of the people, and
3 more especially for the lower classes. tn,
; different roads have workingmen's tickets
|. by which a laborer may go to his factory
and back II II is within fifteen miles fol
D 81 cents a week every day by train. Their
Q are also reduced tickets for school children