New-York tribune., 1906-12-24
THE AUSTRIAN REVOLUTION.

The beginning of the ifty-nlnth year Of Fran
els Joseph's reign has just been marked with
revolution more sweeping and significant than
many which have attracted far more attention
and created far more violent disturbance.
Amounting to nothing less than a complete
transformation of the electoral system of the
empire II seems certain TO result In a consider
able shifting of parliamentary power, and prob
ably in some changes Of status among the
rOus races, tribes and classes which compose
that heterogeneous realm. The change in the
franchise is far greater than any hitherto made
in the history OF Austria and is comparable
with. though it probably surpasses, the greatest
of the reform bills in English history. We might,
indeed, compare it with combination Of the
reform bills of Lord Grey, Lord Derby and Mr..
Gladstone
Under the old system. which prevailed with
slight changes from 1861 TO 1878, the Austrian
Deputies were chosen from among the members
of the provincial legislatures. In the latter year
the first great reform made by severing the
connection with the provincial legislatures and
making the Deputies directly elective by the
nation, or rather by classes OF the nation, for
there was as yet universal and equal suf-
frage. Electors were divided into four cate
gories. to wit: The great landlords the cities
the chambers Of commerce and industrial cor
poratons, and the rural communes Under that
system a minority Of the population elected
majority Of the Deputies, and there was no
universal suffrage. the payment Of a tax Of at
least 81 a year being a necessary qualification.
Ten years ago n notable reform was made In
the reduction of the qualification to a tax of
81 30 and the establishment Of uew category
of seventy-two seats, or One-sixth of the whole
TO be filled by universal suffrage But the un-
equal representation and the plural voting still
remained-eectors Of the first four catpgOries
/ being pprnlitfpd % over AGAIN in +ba 6ftl,
The law which has gone into effect this month
aboliShes those four old categories and puts
all the Deputies and all the electors into the
single category of universal suffrage. Nor IS
The latter phrase n missioner. Hereafter every
7 man who Is twenty-fOur years old, who has lived
: In his electoral district for wear and who IS
under no legal disability will be entitled to cast
one vote and no mere. ana the voting will be
direct and secret. The number Of seats I'm the
Chamber is Increased from 425 to 49, and thev
are apportiOned upon the bnsis of pOpulation A
Wis" provision Is made. however for raciol
minority representation. in order that no rice
whose numbers entitle II to representation shall
/ he deprived thereof through the dominancy Of
more numeroua race. Thus In Bohemia where
Germans and Hzerhs mingled n certain pro-
portion Of thp seats will he allotted to ench
race. on basis Of population and taxatiOn. and
'Prmins viii vote ONLY for the filing of the
German seats. and Czechs only for the filling of
Czech seats. and there viii be no contest what
soeyer between the two races
IT was doubtless largely because OF this pru-
dent arrangement that Deputies Of all races.
save only the RuthenIans. supported the new
measure The Ruthenans did not vote against
II. but hbsented themselves from the Chamber
wheh the vote was taken their objection being
not Indeed to the principle of the bill. hut to
What 'heE proteSSed 10 regard as an inadequate
allotment Of seats TO their race In tbo 5iStr,n,,
tiOn. As for the rest-Germans ana eIavs
italians and RumanlRns. Social Democrats and
those jew baiters who for euphony call them
selves christian Socialists"-all voted for the
new law. This fact is nuspicious promising
some subsldence OF racial anImosities II NAV
indeed he that In this enactment of what we
must fear are the closing years OF his long
reign rahclS Joseph has secured for his some
times distracted empire a unifying bond which