Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-18

III pirinE Among the Near and
II Far Nations Of the Earth
A rare specimen OF sardonlc humor linked
with a clever bit Of political fencing forms
the Introductory note Of the parliamentary
bill limiting the power OF the British House
/ Of Lords. Before the constitutional issue
went 60 the electorate for decision last fall,
the ministry as well as the liberal party
were not in agreement as to the length to
which the proposed reform should go. The
laborite and nationalist divisions Of the
coalition favored total abolition Of the
second chamber A majority of the min
listers was Of nkem mind. But II was doubt
| ful II the electors were ready for so radi-
cal an operation, for with all his faults
Britishers dearly love a lord" To pla-
cate the sentiment favorable to the second
chamber and accomplish what the radicals
sought at the same time. a preamble was
annexed to the bill explaining the future
| good intentions Of tho liberal surgeons
toward the patient on his recovery.
Whereas" reads the preamble 1T is
intended to substitute for the House Of
| Lords as II at present exists q second
chamber constituted on a popular instead
Of a hereditary basis, but such substitution
cannot be Immediately brought into opera
! tion: and whereas, provision will require
| hereafter to be made by parliament in a
! measure affecting such substitution for
! limiting and defining the powers Of the new
| second chamber, but IL Is eXpedient to
make such provision as in this act appears
for restricting the existing powers Of the
House OF Lords
The declaration satisfies both radical and
conservative liberals The second cham
Der is preserved as an ornamental fixture
| in the British system. A clear avenue is
opened for reform legislation, and a plat
form pledge. handy to get In on, becomes
the executioner's letter Of introduction to
the peers. British humor is not as dun as
| it is commonly pictured.
The provisional government Of the re-
public of Portugal has fixed upon April 30
next as the date for the election Of mem
bers Of the constituent assembly. the source
OF legislative power Of the country. Hitler
TO the body which overthrow the monarchy
conducted affairs as President Braza and
his cabinet willed. The self-constituted
rulers now have affairs so well in hand
that they feel safe in going to the electors
for approval A program Of radical re-
forms, which forms the basis of the re-
publican campaign include complete
separation of church and state, compulsory
universal education, free and universal
suffrage, and national economy. President
Braza is extremely optimistic on the future
Of the republic. Portugal" he is quoted as
saying, will show the world a true re-
public based on the rectitude of the ma
tional conscience. It will restore the
glorious traditions of this great people and
inaugurate a new era of prosperity by land
and sea-" But rainbow pictures possess
little substance An English correspondent
who has been investigating conditions in
Portugal says that the country is truly
sick and its greatest danger is that the
present leaders of opinion actually believe
that wordy nostrums will cure IT, At this
moment he says, 90 per cent of the soil
Of the country is uncultlvated and 70 per
cent OF the inhabitants are illiterate. The
national debt has increased outrageously,
trade is hampered by petty restrictions and
fiscal system which he compares to
china's lildp.
All doubts regarding the ability OF the
young Turks party to rise to a high level
Of craftsmanship may be put aside. The
young Turks are progressing at a pace
that puts them neck and neck with the
Mother of Parliaments" or the American
congress. During a recent session Of the
Ottoman chamber of deputies one of the
heated deputies to emphazise his point,
caught the Grand ViEier by the beard, and
with the other hand slapped him in the
face. Under the regime Of Abdul such an
insult meant death. Under the spell of
progress an apology soothed all ruffled
tempers In the Mother Of Parliaments''
ebullitions of temper rarely rise to the.
high level of the bearded slam. Members
threatened, but failed to execute. Regret
tably so. For what could have been more
interesting as a spectacle of a news leader
than the tory commoners executing their
threat to throw the Irish Nationalist out
of the chamber. Possibly the vanishing of
such a vision into thin air inspired the
poetic exclamation, slightly amended:
For of all sad wars OF tongue or pen
! The saddest are these: What might have
been"
The full returns Of the census Of Austria,
be published about May OF the present
year. The population Of Vienna is already
computed the city numbering on December
81, last, 2OO4,29l civilians and 26,54S military,
total Of 2O9O, SS4. This is a gain over the
census Of 1900 Of S55, 427 civilians and a de-
crease Of seventy-nine military. In 1880 the
civilian inhabitants numbered 1,S4l,sS7. The
district of FloridsdoTf, with population Of
H,s14 was annexed to the city during the
census period.
Wealth is supposed to be more equitabIy
| gv Al
commercial nations; yet the death duty
returns for 1903 show that flfty-eight mil
lionaires died during the year, two Of
whom left estates in excess Of slO,OOO,OO0
No less than 96 per cent OF the total num-
Der OF decedent estates arising In the
course of the year were Of a value less
than $40 Co., but the aggregate value was
only about 81 per cent Of the total value Of
all decedent estates The average value
per estate was only $500, and the tax
/ oolIections amounted TO above $50 600 COO