Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-14

1 EAAaAAa eAAfNAN nv AANHA
Far Nations Of the Earth.
They do things better abroad is
usually the finishing comment in a dis
cussion OF the merits Of like public func-
tons In the United states and Europe The
conclusion is certainly justified. with re-
spect to the handling Of crowds by street
railways during the morning and evening
rush hours In european cities. Reports
from American Consuls covering this and
other points Of street car service In the
cities OF Liverpool, Birmingham. Man
chester and Leeds. England; Belfast, Ire
land; Marseilles, France;> Brussels, Bel
gium, and Moscow, Russia. show a. degree
of efficiency far above the average in
American cities. INST of all essentials, an
abundance OF extra cars are provided dur
ing the rush hours ranging from two-thlrds
increase in Liverpool to treble in Marseilles.
Straphanging is almost unknown IN the
cars. and the number of passengers per
mitted to stand on the platforms is strictly
limited, the highest number being sixteen
to a double-deck in Belfast. In most cities
the cars have gates, which are closed when
the regulation number OF passengers are
taken on. Jostlng at the entrance is a
rarity, police usually forming the people
in lines and preserving the orderly rights
Of each. The summary brings out clearly a
higher degree OF discipline and respect for
authority enforced abroad. Regulations
must be obeyed by employees, and they are
supported in following the rules by the
authorities In Berlin, for example a con-
ductor who permits an excess of seven
standing passengers is subject to fine Of
S14, which must be paid or the victim goes
to Jail.
The insurgent subjects Of the prince of
Monaco have won out in the constitution
game, and are as happy as youngsters with
new toy. Hereafter constitutional as
| sembly of eighteen members will practice
the arts Of legislation, presumably in sc-
cordance with public sentiment as II may
be registered from time to time by the 600
electors constituting the voting strength of
the principally. Monaco ls credited with
native population of 1900 men, women and
children, and 1900 foreigners, more or less
infatuated with the scenery and Casino.
French writer thinks that the in
habitants Of the enchanted land" are
foolish, and most people will agree with
him. The prince levies neither taxes nor
of the state being derived from the gam
bling concession. with representative gov
eminent taxation will surely come. unless
Is now exacted.
A series of estimates of the growth in
wealth Of Great Britain, France and the
United States, compiled by the Wall Street
Journal from authoritative sources, pre-
sents some instructive comparisons. In
100 years the wealth of the British Isles
has grown from $1S, $50, 100000 to $Ss, u.s.
100000. In the same time the population
has Increased from 100000 to S. 900, 900.
During the same interval the wealth Of
France increased from 81, 600 10000 to SSS-
600 100000, while the population increased
from 100000 to 100000. In 100 years.
therefore, the wealth of Great Britain in
creased nearly seven times and that of
France slightly over seven times, in both
cases exclusive of the colonies. For the
| United States that showing of aggregate
wealth jumps from 81, 900 in 1910 to
S125, 900 900 in 1910. The net increase in
the United States the Journal computes
at 81 per cent per annum, compounded
semi-annualy, compared with a per cent
gain in Great Britain and 5A in France.
| sse
Italy's new electoral bill, which is ex-
pected to become a. law, presents some in
teresting features Of suffrage reform. II
makes the franchise dependent upon abil-
ity to read and write such capacity be-
ing proved by the sending in Of a self
written application and by reading and
writing a prescribed piece of matter in
the presence of a commission composed Of
a school inspector, a school teacher and
two municipal councillors. And when a
mans capacity is thus proved he not
only may, but must vote, under penalty
of s. fine for the first failure to vote and
for the second a fine of $40 and exclusion
from any public office for five years. So
cialists bitterly oppose these restrictions.
The Cape to Cairo railroad is moving
forward more rapidly than Cecil Rhoades
dreamt of. The line has been extended
from the south pretty close to the region
of the great lakes, and now two important
links have been added at the northern end
The bridge across the Blue Nile at Khar-
tum has been finished and was inspected
by Lord Kitchener a few days ago. An
other across the White Nile at Abu Cana.
200 miles south of Khartum. is nearly COM
pleted and will be opened by the khedive
in the early spring. Both bridges were
erected by one British engineering com
pany which also boasts that il constructed
| the bridge over the Zambesi At