Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06

VIENNA, April 26. 1906.
WY EITH the Introduction of univer-
w ; ;::.; :.: :: a5 4: ri
unequal electoral systems in
Europe. Many Of its features recall the
DAYS of rotten boroughs'' and political
corruption in Great Britain before the re-
form bill of 1892. But now almost in an
instant these conditions of Anticipated feu-
dial injustice are brought to an end and the
Austrian people inter into heritage OF
a free. universal and equal franchise. The
socialists hail it as a great victory won
after twenty years ceaseless agitation.
Perhaps the best illustration OF the ex-
traordinary inequalities Of the old franchise
was afforded by the inscriptions on the
banners carried in the immense socialist
suffrage reform demonstration held in Vi
emma in November last. These, translated
run rs follows:
Nine arlstocratic loafers elect one dep
uty. Representative.
Twenty capitallstic freebooters elect one
deputy.
II 100 city inhabitants elect one deputy.
IL. 300 peasants can elect one deputy.
10000 workmen are permitted the char
ay Of electing one representative"
These banners showed the five "curlae~
81 classes into which the electorate is di-
vided and which together return 425 mem
aers of the reichsrath lower house of
s1e Austrian parliament. First comes the
landed propretors' class electing IS depu-
fIes, second. chambers of commerce with
q deputies: third, residents of cities and
Dwns with us deputies; fourth, rural dis
aricts with 10 deputies, and lastly, a fifth
pass. created by the law OF 1896, and hav-
fg ~ deputies.
The greatest abuses and rankest injus-
tlce from the elective standpoint ar to be
found In the first curie of landed pro-
prletors." 5000 of whom elect IS members.
or exactly fifth OF the lower house. The
voting qualifications OF landed proprietor
vary somewhat in the different provinces
OF Austria. but as n rule they have little
10 do with the extent or value of the prop
crty. In most cases the franchise is a his
toric right belonging to all estates inscribed
IN the "Landtafei' or official register. The
constituencies OF this class also vary great
" in size. In one instance In Bohemia seven
great mobiles. including Prince SchwarZen-
berg ard Prince Jobkoyttz. elect one
deputy all TO themselves. In another case
in the Tyrol a great convent and church
estate controlled by twelve prelates elects
representative. But in other cases the
landlords constituency may number any,
where from 20 10 80 or 400
Comparing this state of things with the
fifth class OF electors where. for example,
tn krain. 100000 workmen have but one
representative, gave the socialists a strik-
Ing argument In carrying on their agfta-
tiOn for universal suffrage. The second
curia. composed Of chambers OF commerce,
also contained many abuses, as the depu-
ties were not elected by the general body
Of members in the chamber, but by the
small body OF councillors numbering some
times less than a score
The third and fourth curiae that Is the
voters In the towns and rural districts,
approach much more nearly the general
Suffrage, the qualification for voters be-
les the annual payment of eight kronen
tSlGO) In direct taxes. such as income.
trade or house tax. The fifth curia really
embraced a universal franchise, as II
Imposes no tax-paying conditions what
ever. But IL is fun of inequalities as re-
gard the proportionate size of the con-
Htttuencies. varying from the province of
main, as before mentioned. with half a
million voters, to districts In lower AUS
tria with less than a tenth OK that num-
Der.
And now all these privileged and ex-
ceFuonai classes are to be abolished by
the Dill which is at present before par
lament. Its provisions are long and
complicated as regards the apportion-
ment or representation among the Diff
iefent provinces and conflicting nation