Evening star., 1909-03-12
Government Holds Its Own.

| The government is proceeding slowly,
| without accomplishing much, but thus far
| without losing ground. Several reforms
have already been made, from which
Americans have profited, as in the re-
moval of restrictions upon emigrants and
| travellers. and the permission for foreign
| ers to buy real estate.
The freedom of the press is not an un-
mixed blessing. All fanatics and theorists
| in the country have access to print and
are busily engaged In poisoning the pub
| lie mind and accusing good men of acts
aud motives which not only injure their
reputation, but destroy confidence in the
government.
The parliament is thoroughly repre-
| sentative. A great majority of the MEM
1 bers are conscientious and patriotic men.
Many are impracticabe theorists, who
| of Turkey in day, and introduce fam
| tastic propositions which are the results
| of mental fermentation.
| Throughout all Turkey false conceptions
of civil liberty and political rights are
| spreading among ignorant people and are
making serious trouble. 1t is like releas
ing battalions of prisoners from bondage
and placing the power of government in
| their hands.
The Young Turks have about 80 depu-
ties out Of a total Of 30. This gives them
solid majority if they can be held to-
gether. 1t seems likely, also. that they
Will carry with them the votes Of the Ar
menian and Jewish deputies.
But the twenty or more Greek members
| of the chamber and the thirty Arabs are
| likely to make trouble. The Kurds and
Syrians are also in the opposition.
To make matters worse, grave differ
ences have arisen within the ranks Of the
Young Turk party, caused by conflicting
| ambitions among the leaders and the
/! craving for power. Nothing Of a serious
character. however, has yet taken place
al
| twisted and turned by the shrewd argu-
ments of the old reactionaries who have
joined their ranks. This class consists
largely of men who enjoyed broad privi-
leges and profited by the corruption under
the old government. They would be will
ing at any time to sacrifice their country
in order to restore their opportunities for
gain
On the other hand. some liberals have
been corrupted by spectators and men
with schemes. Cnsophisticated members
of the assembly are exposed to the In
fiuence of theoretical and visionary ex-
eXiles, who have passed sufficient time in
Europe among socialtstic surroundings to
pick up impractical ideas.
Projects of Administration.
The members of the chamber have two
important subjects under consideration
the revision of the constitution which was
drafted thirty years ago, and does not fit
present conditions. and the budget which
must be restricted to the closest economy
because of the deplorable condition of the
finances.
The constitution must be amended so as
TO make the ministry responsible to par
lament instead of the sultan alone 1t
must allow the members Of that body to
introduce legislation instead of restricting
that privilege to the members Of the cabi-
net. as at present.
A,<tin 10 htnt mt on d ha Gu0t on
the right to Danish any person who may
incur his displeasure, is perpetual men,
ace to every individual and must be re-
pealed. The method of selecting senator's,
all appointed for life by the sultan, must
be changed SO as to make them more rep
Iresentative of the people.
These propositions are all pending be-
fore the chamber OF deputies. Discussion
is without end.
Every member feels it his duty as we'll
as his privilege to express his views as
often as he can get the floor. So there is
no time left for many other important
matters which should receive immediate
attention.
Every member has brought from his
constituents measures of local reform,
many of which are imperative to peace
and progress of new conditions. But none
are receiving any attention.
Not single bill has been passed, and
the parliament has been in session nearly
three months.
At Sea Over Expenditures.
Hitherto the sultan and those who have
had his confidence have had absolute con-
troll of the revenues and have helped
themselves. For the first time in Turkish
history specific appropriations are to be
made for the various branches Of the
government
But the deputies are entirely without |
knowledge or experience in such matters. |
Every one of them has some personal |
or local interest to be served, which |
would pile up the total as high as the ap- |
propriations of our own Congress.
The situation is complicated by the fact
that the finances of the government are |
under the supervision of the international |
commission of the ottoman debt, which |
first takes from the revenues a sufficient |
fund to pay the interest upon the bonds |
and other obligations of the government |
that have been accommodating under the |
extravaganza OF the autocratic govern
ment for years
The bonded debt of Turkey exceeds
$500, 600 600. The floating debt is some
thing over s44,OOO0OO. This must be taken
Of h,- f,,rt tl1ar