Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-02
OTHER lands THAN ours.

Emperor William is reported to be much
depressed these days. The royal tired feel
Ing is generally ascribed to the jolt given
the divine right" by the Reichstag in the
recent controversy over the emperor's To-
quacity in foreign relations. In itself this
would be a reasonable explanation. but
there are other causes no less irritating.
The royal purse is depleted and bills are
piling up against the royal household with
the same regularity and persistence noted
by managers of ordinary domestic establish
ments. The emperor's expenses are on so
gorgeous a scale that the outgo exceeds an
income conservatively estimated at $1,000
COO a year. Last summer hints We're con-
veyed to the proper quarters that an ad-
vance of salary would be welcome and
very much appreciated, but they did not
produce the required effect. 1ntimations
arc now made that unless a raise is forth
coming presently the emperor will econo-
mize by selling a few of ms castles, cut out
his racing yachts and other sporting
pastimes, bounce the cook and make his
personal staff work for a living. Should
the Reichstag bear unmoved the probable
ity Of these changes, or fail to respond to
the cry Of distress, It will justly be classed
as an unpatriotic and phlegmatic body. The
chief interest in the situation, however,
itb III the prospect IL dIIOTuS americans
from the fatherland OF purchasing a castle
reeking with the odors of royalty.
zee
Ever since the British penetrated the
hallowed precincts of Tibet and threw
aside the curtains of that mysterious
region, the Dalai Lama, grand mogul of
the people, has been a wanderer in China,
a man without a country, seeking support
and sympathy from the Chinese. Though
repeatedly advised, in diplomatic phrases,
to go back home and stay there, he per
sisted In his pious pilgrimage and struck
Picking in time to participate in the royal
obsequies. The new regime, having Oh arge
Of the funeral arrangements, did not de-
sire a. Tibetian division in the procession,
and said so. when the Lama sought to
argue the question he was shown one Of
the gates in the great wall and told to
go. The incident is instructive in show
ing Chinese indifference to the preten-
sions and troubles of a shattered idol.
China has troubles Of it's own and the new
administration wisely refuses to borrow
others. The crestfallen Lama and his
retinue is in full retreat, headed for
Tibet, exuding odors of sanctity along
the westward highway.
sss q
BY all accounts the women Of Turkey
were conspicuous above the male popula-
ton of Constantinople in public mani
festations of joy over the inauguration of
Parliament. 1t is admitted that they were
a powerful element OF the forces which
overthrow the Ottoman ollgarchy and In
stituted constitutional government. The
women were the greatest sufferers under
the old regime. Their position was little
better than gilded and pampered slavery.
They reasoned that a change could not
make their situation worse. The light OF
civilization, which penetrated the screens
of their prison homes, in spite of all efforts
to shut it out, could not fail to bring hope
to the inmates and awaken a desire for
the freedom and capacity of their west
ern sisters.
There is one section of east Afica where
Theodore Roosevelt and his companion
hunters will he heartily welcomed. In the
Kilimatinde district of the Usambra noun
tains lions are raiding the cattle ranches
OF white men and leopards are fattening
off their sheep. These beasts of prey are
under government ban and liberal rewards
are paid for their hides and heads. Other
animals protected by law, such as antelopes,
zebras. CRATES and ostriches. are almost
equally voracious in consuming domestic
animals and fowl, and in destroying grain
fields and garden truck. No fences yet
constructed can keep them out. Settlers
supplement the government bounty with
head money for lions and leopards, and
hunting these animals has been greatly
stimulated. Should the Roosevelt expedi-
ton visit Kilimstinde it will receive a
cordial reception and every assistance in
filling its bag. If some OF the law-pro-
| tantaI antp,o1g gHa,,ia
otherwise receive a dunn bullet the legal
penalty will be cherfully RENTED.
Hfh
Political trade unionism in Great Britain
was dealt a blow OF some severity in the
|, judicial decision that the unions could
: not use their funds to pay salaries to mem.
. bers of Parliament. The practice of pay
ing such salaries arose because no member
is paid out Of the government treasury,
a and members chosen to the house through
. trade union influence have been too poor
to devote their time to parliamentary
g service without a fund for their support.
2 The grounds for the decision are, in effect.
9 that trade unions are not given a special
= position, with exceptional immunities, uh-
Q der the law, in order that they might de-
/. velop into political organizations support.
ing a particular party. 1t seems that the
[ pauO uto lltIlDeIs lnuS supported Dy
$ salaries We're bound by a pledge, before
election. to support the labor party in the
z House of Common and obey its parlia.
r mentary whip. Inasmuch as tho minority
of the trade unions were politically Cd.
. posed to this practice, It was held that they
e were oppressed In being assessed for The
e support OF political parties which they
8 disapprOved. while the principle Of paying
a member a salary, under a pledge to vote
always a certain way, violated the principle
which is at the basis Of the law forbiddinl
bribery at elections and in Parliament.
' Ea
1t is a bit astonishing to learn from ar
official source that the most famous ex,
$ tensive and beautiful municipal park ir
: the world yields a larger revenue in money
= to the city in which 1t is located than the
[ cost Of maintaining il. 1t cost the city Of
y Paris Sl42, 600 to care for the Bois d,
o Boulogne last year, and the revenue from
y the rental OF the numerous pavilions IL
S the park, where all Paris takes tea snC
a dimes in summer, was $4,000. The ex.
d pediency OF thus making a great publ,
g park yield a large net revenue from pri
, vate concessions may be open to question
g but so long as they add to the attraction