The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-14
Sentiment to Provide for Unfor-
tunate Women Gains Strength
In France.
LAW OF ASSISTANCE PASSED.
Aged and Infrm Persons to Re
ceiye Pensions From the State
Term of Military Service Re
duced to Two Years.
ny 7 CORNELY.

HERALD AND The ST. Lofts RBPuBLfc.
Paris. Juno I3-tCopyright, LeG.)--A
striking proof that the Ministry and the
majortty-the Block" as the opposition
calls it-ere, despite their mistakes. still in
harmony with public opinion. is furnished
by almost all the by-elections which follow
each other almost every Sunday. and In
which the candidates OF the majority almost
always win They had this luck last Sun
cay. when five districts elected Deputies.
It must be inferred that political opinion
n this country bears no grudge against ii.
Combes for his brutal application of the law
against the congregations. The Ministry.
therefore. profits by this to pursue its work
II has laid before the bureau OF tho cham
Der eighty-one bills, concerning an equal
Number OF Misunderstanding congregations
and preceded by a single explanation OF the
reasons why the chamber should reject In
a lump all their demands for authorization.
In consequence, here are several thousand
female teachers, belonging to these consre-
cations, who must soon abandon their con-
vents. There Will be certain considerations
If humanity, which do not appear TO have
been thought of. The law does not take into
account the cases where these women Will
have no one to receive them and will have
no fUSdIlS OF uNIUB, ONCE bcp6IdlcO
their committeeS
Law OF ASSISTANCE
This Is a mistake The legislator should
insert IN the law appropriations for the peh-
sioning OF the nuns. which II will reduce TO
poverty, at least a part Of the proceeds Of
the sale of the premises occupied by the
nuns For the men. public opinion has not
been stirred. because a man ought always
TO be able to get along. But for women It
viii not perhaps be unfeeIing. This reform
would be- for that matter. in accord with
the feeling OF the moment. which is all for
aiding the old. the infirm and the sick.
The chamber Is reaching the end Of the
law Of assistance. II has settled Article
XVIII. which is fundamental. In virtue of
this article old people. incurable and In
firm. aided in their homes. will have the
right TO receive a sum of not less than 81
per month, to be voted by the Municipal
Council. and paid. one-third each. by the
commune, the department ard the nation.
In order to encourage savings and private
charity. which there was danger Of impair
ing. 1t has been decided that money &C.
quired by those aided. through their saw.
ings or by private charitable associations.
will only be counted against State aid TO
the extent Of half the sum granted by the
law.
This is a new and daring reform, which
is going TO cost very dearly. but which will
do honor to this country and will be a title
Of glory to Its two promoters. n. Henry
Monod. Director Of Public Assistance, who
has been working at it for fifteen years.
and III. Miilerand. who pres!des. with his
whole heart in II. over the Parliamentary
Committee charged with framing the Law.
MILITARY SERVICE.
While the chamber has been finishing the
benefcent law, the Senate has passed the
law for two years military service. Un-
der the Empire military service for French
men lasted several years. The Republic
lowered 1t the first time to five years. the
second time to three years. Now II puts It
eftwo. 1t will not stop there, and we shall
hive military service OF one year soon, pre-
etsely because the two-year service does
pit admit of any exemption or privilege.
ehd the French citizen will never suffer his
children to be kept two years in barracks
Eaaali.y viii accomplish Its work Of re-
form.
Ian that does not constitute an unpIeas-
Apt situation and does not Justify the more
6f less sincere alarm Of NJ. Goblet. who Is
trying to upset 81. Combs by writing arti-
fIes under this terrifying heading. width
tf Are We GoingT' His article lacks au-
tAotity. NJ. Goblet has been the precursor
u n. Combes. whom he very strikingly re-
sembles Besides. 1t Is the fashion with US
to complain with bitterness and to perpetu-
ally predict disasters.
The "Patrie FTancaise." which has Just
been having convention. has not done
anything else and General MERCER has gone
so far as to paraphrase saying Of Nelson
about Trafalgar in announcing "insur
mountable'' events. This General thinks
himself in Servia, where tie army has Just
shot the King. the Queen and the Minis
tiers. and. by changing the dynasty. has
thus completed the chaos which reigns In
the peninsula
In spite Of the bad humor of some off,
GERS who are making common cause with
the political exploits of the religious war
the trip OF President Loubet to London has
been fixed for July. That Of the King of
Italy to Paris will take place on July L.
From both international and internal points
of view. the Republic Is passing through
one OF its best periods