Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-09
OTHER LANDS THAN ouRs.

the tories nail the result as oenlou-
stration OF revulsion Of the national senti-
ment. which returned the liberal party
to power by an overwhelming majority.
Increased local taxation rendered necessary
by vast and varied public improvements
and the usual accusations of extravaganza
embitered the tax paying classes. The
conscience Of the pocketbook was rudely
touched and the tax payers became unit
against the authors OF increased taxation
The election, taken alone, would not war
rant the claim that 1t reflects national
sentiment. Jts significance lies in the fact
that It follows on the heels of two by-elec-
lions for members of Parliament In which
the liberal candidates were defeated In
party strongholds 1t was to be expected
that some reaction would set in after the
liberal tidal wave, but the ebb tide Is
much stronger than the supporters of the
government anticipated. Naturally the eff
feet to strengthen tory opposition to all
important measures sanctioned by the min
lstry and make the tory majority In the
House Of Lords more determined In forcing
the government to appeal to the country
There is little hope. therefore, that any
important ministerial measure will be APP
proved by the peers, while the temper OF
the country squints toward the tories.
The new scheme of national taxation In
France which has been submitted TO the
chambers differs from the present system
chiefly in substituting an income tax for
the personal tax and the tax on doors and
windows The increase in the total
revenue is estimated at 100000 francs
How the income tax scheme will work
out IN practical operation is a perplexing
| question The scheme proposed is com
! plicated one. The rate is progressive, but
| not uniform. II varies in proportion to the
| income and in proportion to the population
OF cities and towns. The larger the city
| the higher is the amount of income ex-
empt, ranging from $500 in communities OF
| 1900 people to $500 in Paris. 1t is more
| than likely the income tax scheme is pur-
| posely complicated and confusing In order
TO prevent serious opposition and enable
| the ministry to secure much needed IN
| crease of revenue without endangering It's
| tenure of office. AS exemplars OF thrift
| the people of France have no superiors.
Saving is a national trait. Wealth Is diff
! fused to a far greater extent than In Eng
land or the United States. Four-fifths of
the capital Of the country is held by people
of moderate circumstances down almost to
the level of poverty Among the working
classes wages range from $1.1O to HsO
day for skilled labor while the cost of food.
according to the American consul at
Nantes, will average up to the American
prices Rents alone are low. The imposi-
ton of additional burdens on producers Of
such limited wage approaches national
crime and transforms thrift into personal
sacrifice for government revenue.
|
| Commenting upon the new law of public
meetings in France, the Paris correspon-
dent OF the London Times writes: After
more than twenty-five years of agitation In
| press and Parliament, Frenchmen have
finally supplemented the liberty of speech
liberty which, in the absence of a good
! libel law, is even excessive-by liberty of
public meetings. Since 1881 the French adj
| ministration has vigorously chung to its
right to grant or withhold authorization
for the gatherings of French citizens. No
dozen people could be convened In public
without the risk of being sent about their
business, unless previously they had made
formal notification to the police. A pri-
mordial right was thus hampered by a reg
ulation which was by no means a mere
matter of administrative red tape. II was
a survival of imperalist methods and part
and parcel of the system of Capitalization
| which is traditional in the French state.
The new bill changes all that. 1t is tri-
umph for Individual liberty at the expense
OF the principle Of state intervention. 1t
marks an almost revolutionary advance In
social reform In France. Even II the
Clemenceau ministry had done nothing else
this measure would suffice to mark its term
of office"
The Italian premier, Sgnor Giolitti, con-
tinues to assure the Chamber that the gov
! Il. off n na0aSsitV of
reform in the national railroad service.
The other day he definitely pledged him
self TO legislation to regulate the service
of the railways and institute permanent
parliamentary commission of surveillance
He declared that the administration rig
orously punished any derelictions of duty
on the part of railway servants, and in
one matter alone. the neglect to warm
carriages had inflicted 306 fines. It was
from no want Of care and will on the part
OF the management, he said. that railway
inconvenience existed. His protestations
however were rather coldly received by the
Chamber, which has had plenty of prom
ises before Meanwhile the service seems
to grow worse every day Complaints
pour in from all parts of the country of
the injury done to commerce In Milan
and Turin industries are seriously hanl-
pered by the difficulty of obtaining coal
Deputies from north Italy describe the sit
uation as intolerable There is a growing
| conviction that the chief cause of trouble
is to be sought in the complete demoraliza-
ton of the whole body OF railroad officials,
great and small, and that there will be no
Improvement in the situation except
through reorganization.
ut Is estimated that a professional man
. in japan can live, with his wife, In COM
fort on $3.50 a year." says the Reader Maya
zine. This means one large Invisible
apartment a small kitchen, bathroom,
a study and a storeroom; a charming gar
den, one servant and surroundings Of great
refinement. Mats are the covering Of the
floor. Of course pillows the seats; table
linen is superfiuous where lacquered trays
and paper napkins are used personal laun-
dry is at it's minimum where two hot baths
day are in custom. The fagots used In
cooking are not much larger than a mans
finger and fuel for ironing is unnecessary
where clothes are stretched properly upon
frame. Perfect privacy is one OF the
: luxuries of this minute menage, for a high
bamboo fence shuts of the view Of strang-
, ers Each article of the house is carefully
=