Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-16

tax and probably a real estate value
raising tax
The necessity for these measures
to increase the income OF the state is
due chiefly to the operation Of the
new social laws providing for old age
support and working mems compen-
sation. The budget for this purpose
has already grown far beyond the or
iginal estimate. The burden has
been increased further by the higher
pay given civil and military officers
On the other hand the usual reven-
ueS have been decreased by the reduc-
ton in custom duties.
It is expected that the new taxa
ton laws passed by the last session
of parliament and the ones proposed
for the coming sitting will give the
state an additional income of 20 mil
lion Danish Kroner.
The position Of the present gov
eminent. already shaky on account Of
it's taxation policy. may be made very
uncomfortable, especially by the tax
alton of spirits which up to the pres
ent 1t has feared to- touch.
Among the suffrage proposals will
be an act making the franchise for
the lower house of parliament uniyer
sal. Both men and women over rs
years of age will be permitted to
vote for the members of the lower
house. It is also planned to do away
with the restricted suffrage OF the
upper house whereby only highly tax
ed voters are allowed to vote for its
members.
Among other acts to be proposed
will be law to compel benef1ciaries
of old age support to share in the ex-
pense of the plan. An act contem-
plating the reform Of the present
management of the elementary pub
lie schools will also be proposed by
the government.
The official announcement that the
Panama canal will be opened in 1915
has again given rise to the rumor
that negotiations for the cession of
the Danish West Indian Islands to
the United States have been opened.
DR.. Maurice Egan, the American min
lister, refuses to discuss the matter.
but his frequent interviews with the
business men interested in the
islands has given some color to the
rumor. 1t is known that DR.. Egan
believes that the commercial growth
of the islands would be facilitated
by the proposed change in ownership,
but evidently he is convinced that all
overtures on the subject should
emanate from the Danish govern
ment. The story that there has been
a proposition preached to cede one
of the Philippine islands to Denmark
with the view of its later cession TO
Germany in exchange for Schleswig
has been pronounced ridiculous by
the American legation here.
Besides the opening of the canal
and it's possible effects on the Danish
West Indies, the growing interest of
the South American republics in Dan
ish commerce is exciting interest
here This is due largely to the
growth of exports from the United
States to Denmark A remarkable
feature of the trade relations between
the two countries is the fact that in
spite Of the lowering of the duties
on hides by the United States the ex-
port Of them from this country to
America has almost ceased.
The plan to send a resident Cuban
minister here is not meeting with
much favor. Argentine will soon
have a minister here and Brazil an
other in place of Senior Campista,
who goes to Paris.
Although a year has passed since
the death of the popular Princess
Mary, her coffin still stands in the
Holmens church. Every arrange
ment has been made to remove the
body to the royal tombs in Roskilde
cathedral, but the husband of the
late princess, Prince Waldemar, will
not consent to the removal, prefer
ring to have the coffin near his home
where he can visit it frequently.
Every day he goes several times to
the church.
The gift of a number Of Danish
Americans of a large work of art for
the decoration of the new Christian
berg castle in Copenhagen has been
received with keen pleasure here.
The tribute to the mother country by
her children who have become good
citizens Of another nation is received
by all classes with admiring COM
ment.