Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

OF men IL was necessary to effect an en-
tire reorganization OF the army and OF
the war department itself
One Of the fundamental errors Of the
existing state IL the exaggerated i'm
portance attached 10 useless correspond
ence-"paperasse We term red
but the employment OF an army OF
functionaries-
1t is proposed to diminish the role OF
the minister OF war and to augment the
importance of the chief OF staff. All
questions relating to organization. in
struction. military operations. proposals
to purchase armament. material. muni-
lions and provisions are TO belong hence
forth TO the general staff Of the army.
Moreover a war minister's council 50
suggested to he composed of the general
stan. inspector generals of artillery, en-
gineers and Notifications. infantry, cav
airy and quartermaster general. This
council will have nothing 10 do with the
principles of general defense OF the coun-
try. but its action Will tend 10 assure
harmony OF measures and unity IN the
general activity Of the war department.
superior council is proposed which WI
be charged with the general defense. The
king Is president OF this council. the king
being the commander-in-chief of the
army. The superior council 10 composed
OF all members of the war ministry
council. the four division commanders OF
the army. the commanders OF fortiflca-
tions at Antwerp. Lege and Namur. a
| lieutenant general OF the civil guard and
the superior commander Of the gcndar-
merle.
The advantages OF the proposed reor-
sanization consist in the tendency to unity
| OF action in the high
Advantages commandment. in tho
OH.r.a definition OF the responsi-
bilites of each and the
constant control of measures of execution
which under the old organization were in
| operative.
| 1t is now understood that the army in
the field must be augmented by a notable
| Increase of the annual contingent. The
| fear is openly expressed. however, by the
opposition that the conservatives will re-
| fuse their support of reorganization and
augmentation which necessarily implies
| development of the system OF recruit
| ment.
The political situation according to
the Independence. appears to forecast the
fall or the ministry. Fir<l IL will he con-
fronted by the school law, which has
been the bone of contention between the
| socialist and the clerical. Nevertheless
NJ. de Broqueviiie the new chief of the
cabinet. is attempting to conciliate his
adversaries. who appear to be more
stirred up over party interests than over
| the more urgent interests OF the state.
The premier has thought IL wise to ad-
Journ further discussion OF the school
question until after the elections promis-
| ing that when il was submitted to the
new parliament he would suggest i'm
portant notifications in the proposed sys-
tenn.
Government expects besides to encoun-
| ter much opposition In the matter OF the
reorganization of the army. The govern
ment majority, which is now six seats.
has decreased at every election. and IL 10
predicted that more than one-half OF
these six seats will be gained by the
| liberals and socialists. But IL the con-
servatives are in danger OF losing their
majority in the chamber of represent
atives they are certain to preserve their
supremacy In the senate And this may
be due to divers causes: voters cannot
vote for senatorial candidates before they
are thirty years of age, while they may
| vote at twenty-five years for representa-
adds that IT is agreed that at thirty
years the voter has a tendency toward
conservatism.
| Then again because Of the census of
eligibility, relatively high. fixed by the
constitution. the work
Working ing party lacks sena-
torial candidates. Thus the
1aity. socialist party. IL It does
not become completely disinterested in
the senatorial election, is less in
terested than in the election OF depu-
ties: finally with the senators elected
directly by universal suffrage there are
a certain number appointed by the pro-
vincia1 councils. This election gives q
notable advantage to the conservative
party, which has majority in six prov
inces Of the nine.
The opposition has no hope Of obtain
ing a majority In the senate. But II Is
not in relying upon the senate that
government in Belgium may hope to
maintain itself against a majority in the
chamber of deputies: the king, who inter
fered in the last ministerial crisis. would
not permit II. And the senators are not
combative by temperament and would not
have the force to oppose the constitution
of a liberal ministry. But that chamber
would oppose the action and prevent the
accomplishment of its program or at
least prevent 1t from realizing entirely
the reforms advocated by the opposition.
Independent of these considerations the
new government will find itself in the
presence of a financial situation full of
difficulties Belgium is rich and pros
porous certainly; the revenue has in
creased these late years considerably. but
il is only by emitting loans without IN
PERMISSION that the government has been
are not in deficit because in the public
controllership, side by side with the ordi-
nary budget, there is a budget of extra
ordinary expenses, or rather of extra
ordinary resources'-it is thus officially
termed-which ailments. loans.
X
In this way Ii is manifest Belgium 10
not heaping up riches in the carrying on
of her public affairs. On
Money the contrary. for in obedi-
MILL, ence to the suggestions or
AAVuoAe' the opposition Belgium is
about to institute a general increase Of
pay and pensions of her functionaries Off
GERS of the army, employees of the state
railways, etc, and important public
works are to be undertaken in the port
of Antwerp. The reorganization of the
army will undoubtedly be undertaken,
and this cannot fail to be expensive.
Finally the problem of retiring work
men with old-age pensions is on the taps
in Belgium, as everywhere else. and A
upon the workman cannot fail to support
large and generous pension bill.
Colonial affairs from a financial point
of view are not brilliant. The system en-
ployed by the Leopoldian regime has
been abandoned, and some progress has
been realized. although the exploitation
of the Kongo colony has ceased to he
remunerative: its budgets are in deficit
The financial autonomy of the Belgian
Kongo has been proclaimed, but il is no
less true that the state will be morally