Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-09

gram OF electoral reforms after a debate
lasting three weeks. was approved by the
chamber. The chief Significance Of the
victory lies In the fact that the prime min
lister refused to compromise with the par
liamentary factions, constituting the ma
jority, insisting on a broad national policy
regardless OF local political needs. The
determination of the ministery to stand
or fall on that proposition was argued
with such eloquence and force. that petty
opposition was shattered. and the hitherto,
invincible system OF compulsory stronghold.
The proposed electoral reforms contemplate
three fundamental changes: az Reestab-
llshment of the scrutin de lste instead Of
the existing serutin Acknowledgement; 90
proportional representation in the interest
of minorities; CS) reelection Of the chamber
by sections every two years. AS a rule the
department will continue to be the electoral
district-the constituency-except In cases
where II Is either too small or too large.
It is proposed that there shall be one
deputy for every 10000 inhabitants, with an
extra deputy in any constituency where
there is an additional fraction OF population
amounting to more than 5000 One re-
suit of this rearrangement Will be to re-
duce the existing number of deputies, 0gI,
by twenty. 1t is proposed that each con-
stituency shall return at least four depu-
ties In some cases several small depart
ments will be grouped together in order to
obtain sufficient voters for these four rep
resentatives. On the other hand, the great
departments, like the Nord and the Seine,
which would elect more than fifteen depu-
ties, win be divided into smaller constitu-
encies. Every deputy will be elected for
six years, instead of four, as at present.
One third Of the chamber will be renewed
by election every two years.
sst
Although the Liberal party Of Great
Britain has hooked horns with the peers
as dominant factors in the political system
of the empire, the creation Of new peers
on the advice OF the prime minister makes
it clear that titled aristocracy remains
in high favor as an ornamental feature of
British scenery. OF the seven new peers
recently created, Sir Walter Foster rs a
distinguished physician and liberal member
of Parliament, and represents medicine, as
did Lord Lister, the great surgeon who
was ennobled by Mr. BalfOur IN 1891 Sir
christopher Furhess. the liberal shpowner
and ship-builder belongs to the class OF
captains of industry from which Campbell
Bannerman in 1906 selected Lord Nunburn
holne and Lord Pirre. Sir Weetman Dick
linson Pearson, the contractor and capitalist.
at one time also represented the liberals
| in the House of Commons. The two last
named have for several years been spoken
of as coming liberal peers OF the ninety
two peers created by liberal prime ministers
from 1857 to 1907, by the latter date only
forty-six were liberals. The distribution OF
titles during that period brought fame or
prestige to 215 individuals but uniformly to
the disadvantage Of the liberal party
| The most extensive and costly scheme OF
municipal improvement projected in modern
times has been decided upon by the author
tiles OF Paris. Plans provide for an ex-
penditure of $1S0OO0.O0o, the money to be
raised by the issue of municipal loan stock
as needed during tho fifteen to eighteen
years required to complete the Improve
merits. OF this immense sum, $lS.O0O,Oou VIII
be devoted to new schools and improve
ments in existing schools, $1,000 600 to new
waterworks and improvements in the wa
ter supply, $7.OO00oo to the construction
Improvement and repair of public hospitals
and 100000 to the reconstruction OF
abattoirs. More than 100000 will be re-
quired for the Improvement OF roads anc
pavements and for public lighting and
street cleaning. Paris deserves the hopol
of being the first municipality In the
world to devote large sum OF money &c
the definite purpose OF fighting the white
lscourge." For this purpose the sum Of
g. 100000 has been allotted, half of which vii
be used in the demolition OF unsanitary
dwellings. Large sums will also be spent
on the Improvement Of existing promenade'
and open spaces The great bulk of the ap'
preparation, however,-sonle $751; Oo.OOc-wil
be expended for improvements In the plan
ming Of the city, involving extensive
changes in the suburbs which, 1t is hoped
will make the Paris Of fifteen years from
now the most beautiful city in the world,
The rebellious chiefs of several districts
in Albania, after spirited confab witt
Mahmud Serket Pasha, Turkish minister Of
war, concluded to give up their guns ant
come into camp. The minister OF war me-
these local chiefs at different points anC
told them what they would get If they per
sisted In the row. He reminded them they
were not dealing with a government OF tbs
same kidney as Abdul Hamid; that II theI
imagined their good behavior was again u
be bought by preferments, decorations. and
Iargesse they had counted without thei
host; and that If their ancient methods
OF agitatlng for special treatment were con
tinued the only recompense they need hop
for would come from his sixty pieces o
! auiclt-firing artillery and $4,000 riflesi TIL
chieftains had never been addressed befor'
In such uncompromising terms and wer'
impressed accordingly. Moreover, the fIe
auent arrival Of troop trains. filled will
soldiers mAnifestly intent upon business
provided an object lesson which they eoul'
not fail to understand.
| Sse
John Burns, the woTkingman's repre-
sentative In the British cabinet, has mad
so great a success Of his department, tn
E local government board, that 1t has beei
raised to the rank of first-class depart
! msnt, and the salary advanced from 5000
TO $4,000 a year. This snug sum reache
the proportions Of fortune for the MAJ
who once said: mo man is worth NOR
/ than $500 a year But times change an
wise men adjust themselves to the lures o
3 opportunity. Mr.. Burns socialistie friend
I have shaken him off but with their exeep
Z ton the country approves the prime min
: ister's praise of his colleague for the as
n siduity and single mindsdness with whie
4 Mr. Burns has administered his depart