The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-21
Strong Secession from Ranks
 Sets In
TITLES MAY BE TAXED
Prussian Diet Adopts Proposition to Increase and In Some Instances Double the Duty On Such
 Property.

tAAoiehi NAlulAA III BtIidl QIScuSSeQ YeS- terday subject which Is causing the greatest uneasiness here In ecclesiastical circles, namely, the rapid growth of se- ceders from the Protestant State church. This secession movement in Berlin, al- though it began ten years ago, did not assume serious dimensions until 1906, when S766 men and women left the church. In the following year the number of these rose slightly to 3s02, but in 1908 the num- Der of seceders rose at a jump to 911s, and in 1909 the figures for five months would seem to indicate that at the end of this year nearly 12.0o0 will have sun dered their connection with the church of their fathers
 The seceders would seem to be for the most part well-to-do workmen, but there are not lacking among them many whose contributions to church funds will be se- riously missed.
 Various reasons are given for the move- ment, which is not by any means confined to Berlin. There is the increasing in- fuence of social democratic views, which in this country at least are bitterly op- posed to the church. There Is the fur ther well-known tendency of the clergy of the state church to identify them selves with the interests of those in pow er There is likewise a growing lack of sympathy between the clergy and the peo- pie in all that pertains to pastoral work and a dislike to paying church taxes. There is also a growing spirit of ra- tionalism in theology, which is rapidly sapping the foundations of the older re- ligious beliefs. Judging by the proceed ings at the synod the church seems pow erless to stop this drain.
 The Prussian diet has adopted a pro- posal for heavily increasing. in some cases doubling, taxes on titles. On ele- yation to a dukedom a tax of $25O0 will be levied; $150o will be collected from a man who has become a prince and s90O from a count It is estimated that these distinctions are conferred in Germany at a rate which will produce an average an- nual revenue of SLIGO. Extensions or changes in coats-of-arms will cost a stamp tax of $S0 and alterations in or additions to noble names will involve an outlay of s310.
 The titles most freely distributed by the Kaiser and most ardently coveted by amitious captains of industry-those of commercial councillor and "privy commercial councillor" will cost s75o and s1250. respectively. It is hoped to cap ture at least s75,oOO year for the state treasury through the bestowal of these distinctions.
 Striking evidence of the effectiveness of labor exchanges in coping with unem- ployment is supplied by statistics just published, Indicating the work accom- plished in Germany by these institutions
 On January l, 1908, there were 3S9 pub lie labor exchanges in Germany, of which 24S were in Prussia, 55 in Bavaria, Il in Saxony, 15 in Wuertemberg F in Baden, 10 in Hesse and 16 in Alsace-Lorraine. In the statistical year 1907-0S work was found for no less than 932,956 persons. Of these, 61742 were placed in jobs connect ed with agricultural pursuits. Men to the number of 667, All were put to work and 265, ,505 women.
 The great central exchange in Berlin secured work for over 100000 people.
 A Berlin manufacturer has put the first "airship trunk" on the market, for the accommodation of travellers who con-
 
 is of aluminium and contains a compact apothecary's outfit for ministering to the bangs of ''aerial seasickness." The trunk is to be fastened to the inner wall of the airship cabin, so as not to roll about in a heavy sea-"
 Some hints to aerial passengers are conspicuously printed on the inside of mandments for Aerial Travelling" They read as follows:
 l. Don't be afraid of falling; the ves- sel Is solid and derailments cannot take place.
 2 Don't jump out. There arc no land places in the air.
 B. Don't smoke.
 4 Don't light any fire.
 B. Avoid going into ecstasy over "the wonderful progress of science which this trip denotes" Everybody knows about that.
 G. Select your equipment carefully.
 T. Leave everything superf1uous out of your trunk. The necessaries are heavy enough.
 8. Dress warmly; cold winds blow on high.
 g. Don't be angry because you cannot find dining car.
 10. Don't point the finger of scorn at less lucky mortals; you're not responsi- ble for this 'progress." A singular care of smuggling by means of a dummy baby was brought to light by the city customs officials at the North ern station in Vienna. Partridge eggs have for long past been extensively stolen from preserved estates in Hungary, smuggled into Vienna and sold to poultry dealers, who matched the eggs in incubators, brought up the birds by hand, and sold them below the prices asked by more honest dealers. A special lookout for smugglers has resulted in the arrest of two peasant women. Arriving in Vienna in the national Sla- vonian costume, each of them carried a baby tied, according to the invariable national custom, to a cushion, and so closely packed" that only the face was visible. The women were noticed to be a little aeitated as they passed the cps- toms, and they were followed hone. It was then discovered that while one baby was a living child the ot Iw'ss a dunn my. It consisted of wax head, partly hidden by a shawl snd cap, while the cushion was filled with more than 600 partridge eggs.
 Ma, Increase Bond.
 Chattanc ga, June 20.-(Special )-The finance committee of the lower board