Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31


eminent as an aristocratic monarchy.
The Hungarian constitution has been ire
quentiy suspended and partially disre,
garded. until at the end OF the armed
struggle Of 1870 It was deereed to De TOT.
pealed I'm $780, and the present sovereign.
on June 8. 1867. swore to maintain the
constitution and was crowned King OF
Hungary.
The Hungarian parliament. known as
the orszaggyules has legislative author
ity for Hungary and for Croatia and Sia-
voiia In matters which concern these
provinces in common with Hungar!
consists and Gs oxsr house house,
viselohaA'
The house of magnates. reformed oy an
act passed I'm 1885, now comprises arcn
dukes. those Hungarian princes. counts ano
barons paying as a minimum land TAX
Of 5000 crowns year. whose families pos
sess the right of hereditary peerage: forty
two archbishops. bishops and other digni-
taries OF the Roman Catholic and creek
churches; thirteen ecclesiastical ana lay
representatives OF the Protestant conies-
sions; life peers appointed by the crown,
not exceeding fifty I'm number: lie peers
elected for life by the upper house: nine
teen members ex-officio being state digni-
taries and high judges: and lastly, three
delegates Of Croatia-Slavonia.
The lower house, or house OF repre-
sentatives, is composed OF representatives
of the nation elected by
Popular the vote Of all male citi-
Gems Of twenty years OF
age. who pay a small d.
rect tax On house property or land. or on
an income varying with occupation; but In
all cases very low. Certain large classes,
nd h.
ers. are entitled to vote without other
qualifications. BY the electoral law now
In force the lower house consists Of
453 members. Of whom 413 are deputies
Of Hungarian towns and districts, and
forty delegates OF Croatia and SlavOnia-
The provinces Of Croatia and Slavonia
have autonomy for home affairs, and In
the Hungarian council there is a port
folio and ministry with Jurisdiction over
the public instruction and justice Of these
two provinces.
The relations between the two states
OF Austria and Hungary I'm the actual
form were regulated by the so-called COM
promise Of 1857. Besides the political con-
nection between Austria and Hungary.
which is Of permanent character. there
is a commercial union, which is not per-
manent, but renewable at intervals OF ten
years. Under this arrangement the two
states form practically one customs and
commercial territory with same weights
and measures. a joint bank OF issue and
the same commercial representation
abroad. Opposition to this condition
created. for a fact, the independence
party.
The question of the common budget OF
Austria Hungary for 1910 is intimately
connected with the pres
Common ent crisis in Hungary.
For the common ministry
o"ose' Of foreign affairs Count
dAehrenthal should present to the dele
cations the inventory Of the last year; for
the ministry OF war for the whole mon
archy Gen. Won Schonaich desires the
consent of the Magyars to his project for
an increase Of reserves; finally for the
ministry of finance NJ. Burian Freiherr
Won Rajacz. common minister Of finance.
will not support any uncompromising
policy toward Budapest.
The Reichspost recently announced that
the government should not treat with
the independence party. except that 1t
undertake to renew until 1870 the privi]
lege OF the common bank. That would
exclude from n, the e., coalition and and from from
pendents commanded by NJ. Justh.
A correspondent from Budapest de-
clares that the actual crisis has the par
ticular characteristic of having broken
parliamentary majority. capable OF regu-
larry directing the affairs OF the coun-
try. 1t Is that ma jority which has exer-
cised a preponderant influence in the coali-
ton cabinet, which has been power
since April, 1905 Under such conditions
the present crisis presents special gravity.
1t being understood that the crown In re-
fusing to recognize the rights OF the ma
jority renders illusory the parliamentary
regime by which Hungary is governed. 1t
is true that the minority may be called to
power, but this may be done only upon
condition that the chamber is dissolved
and new elections ordered to manifest the
will of the people. 1t is OF course, impos-
sible to prolong the actual situation and
not to accept the resignation Of a govern
ment which should retire. because its
members are no longer in accord on ques-
tions Of the highest Importance.
The Temps, discussing the situation, de-
clares that the maintenance OF a govern
meut which has no means OF
Danger assuring its political response
ah.d bility and which has the GER
tainty of being deprived Of the
support OF parliament carries with 1t
necessarily interminable complications.
the more serious that it will be almost
impossible to unite the delegations and
cause them to vote the budgets for for
eign affairs. for war and navy. Besides
1t is doubtful In this case IL the govern
ment could avoid the repetition Of the ex-
traordinary situation of 19O5-19O6, which
resulted In the absence Of budget and
the necessities Of government Now the