Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-18
New Measure introduced by Austrian Gov
srnment Step in that Direction
PEOPLE GIVEN WIDER RANGE OF POWER
Voting Under New Plan Will Be Direct BY
All Voters.
cURA SYSTEM IS TOTALLY ABOLISHED
Only Bar to Manhood Representation Pro-
vision for Racial Differences,
;UaA SYSTEM IS TOTALLY ABOLISHED
GERMANS WILL Be IN THE MINORITY
AIavu VIII Have Majority, but
Warmers OF All Glasses Are Dis
satisfied, ss cities Are
Favored.

Favored.
VIENNA. March 17-Cspecial Cablegram
to The Bee )-The governments position
on the franchise bill, which provides for
general equal and direct suffrage for
Austria, which was introduced several
weeks ago and which Is now going through
the throes OF parliamentary travail, is not
generally understood either here or abroad.
The fundamental Austrian law on parlia-
rnentary representation was enacted on
December a. 1867. II was amended in 1858
and again in 1872. the principle remaining
unchanged that the Chamber Of Deputies
should be recruited from the members OF
the provincial Diets The deputies num-
bered 2OS. In April, 1873, radical change
OF principle was effected by severing the
connection between the Reichsrath and the
provincial Diets and by constituting four
categories OF reichsrath electors. These
categories were: First. the big landlords;
second, the cities; third the chambers OF
commerce and industry, and fourth, the
rural oommunes. To each category a GER
tain number Of seats or legislative man
dates were assigned. The number OF depu-
ties was increased to 1853. In 1882 the fran
chise in all the cities and rural communes
was extended to all male citizens assessed
at 81 for direct taxation. In 1896 Count
Badeni reduced this qualification 20 $3.50
when carrying out his great franchise re-
form. He held fast to the category or curia
system, but created a curia Of universal
suffrage. to which he assigned seventy-two
new seats. This expedient introduced the
principle OF universal suffrage, but allowed
Il to AFFECT barely one-sixth of the chamber
and checked its operation by allowing all
the voters OF the other categories TO vote
IN In ha NJ mi sal
suffrage.
Curia system Abolished.
The present reform proposes TO sweep
away the whole category or curia system
and to place all elections on the same foot
Ing except where racial considerations ne
oessitate special arrangements The num-
Der OF seats IL raised from 425 to 455. the
new seats, together with many of the old,
being redlstributed according TO population.
taxation and r. some extent educational
acuuiren1ents =
The chief changes are in lower Austria,
including Vienna, which gains mine seats;
IN Bohemia, which gains eight seats. and
IN Galicis, which gains ten seats The
Germans keep the 2o5 seats they have
hitherto possessed. whereas the Czechs
gain eleven OF the new seats. besides nine
teen OF the seats hitherto heId by the 30.
hemian conservative landed proprietors
The Poles gain two seats in Austrian
Sllesia and together with the Ruthsnlan,
ten seats in Galieia. The Italians and
ROumanians lose one seat each while tn,
southern slavs gain six. In a new cham
her. elected according to the proposed
reform there would be SO5 Germans ans
ninety-nine Czechs.
Altogether. according to the bill, the hous
will scat 2so slavs. so that the Germans
even reckoning in the sixteen Italians an,
four Roumanians. will always remain in ;
minority. All the agrarians OF whateve
party are dissatisfied with the new allot
rnent claiming that the towns have hee
favored at the expense OF the agriculture
districts.
Every male citizen who has completed hi
twenty-fourth year and is not under an
legal disability is entitled to be registere
as voter after having resided for one yea
IN an electoral district. Every male VIII
has possessed Austrian citizenship for a
least three years and has completed tn
thirtieth year Of his age, Is eligible fo
election as deputy Voting is direct in a
the provinces.
Minority Representative.
In Galieia, however. there are to be Nv
deputies for every constituency. so as
permit OF the representation OF racial m
norties a voter can vote for only one ,
these deputies. In Moravia. where the Ge
mans and the czechs recently agreed to d
vide the electorate according to race Il
constituencies will be constructed upon tn
principle OF separations and the same prii
oiple viii be introduced into other pro-
inces as soon as the local parties have con
TO an agreement
In connection with the franchise refor
bill Baron Gautsch also Presented bills
assure the freedom. purity and secrecy
the ballot; 70 amend the existing provision
concerning the immunity OF deputies ar
TO modify the standing orders OF the Chan
ber In such a manner as TO protect urge
government measures against wanton o
struetion.
The pan-Germans alone are showing q
- real opposition 10 the bills It is believe
however, that other parties will Join ther
The Poles are IN reality hostile. for ur
versal suffrage threatens the privileges
Polish gentlemen. and the number of ne
mandates offered to them is considered
sufficient, The Christian socialists are al
pleased on account OF the distribution
Vienna, where. after many years, the CT
man liberals have again a prospect OF W!
ming seats They also disapprove OF 4
clause allowing vote after one years co
tinued residence. Further grounds Of d
content among the Christian socialists a
provisions In the bill ordeTirig stricter Gu
troll over the elections and also an exa
examination OF the electoral list,
The newspapers. commenting upon I
bill. say that It's most interesting feature
that Il marks another great step In
transformation Of the Austrian empire IN
q German 70 a slav state.
Moroccan Pretender busy.
oRAN, Algeria, March 1.-THE forces
the pretender 20 the throne OF MoroC
have had another skirmish with the Nor
can troops, the former losing two m
killed and seven wounded. II Is report
that the pretender Is preparing to ma
= an attack upon FeE. the capital
Military Trains Develop speed.
KEEL. March 1.-THE trials here OF
military train armed with machine I
and quick-nrers and intended for uss
ostnfff.ra ernedffloua ara eafA 10 har-a