The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-01
RE-ESTABL|SH
CHURCH vESTRY
PARLIAMENT WILL CONSIDER
THE MATTER = ORGANIZED
CHARITY PAUPERlzlNG SEC
TIoNs OF DENMARK.
Rv Associated press.

Copenhagen. Denmark, Jan. S1.--
One of the most important matters 20
be considered by the present parlia-
ment will be the establishment OF
the church vestries. The original YES
try law. passd in 1903, provided that
every parish should have its own yes
try, which should take charge of all
practical matters concerning the
church, even to the extent of having
something to say concerning the Sc
lection and discharge of the clergy.
The plan was most democratic as the
members were to be elected by the
people of the parish on universal
suffrage basis When the law expired
in 1909 the radical ministry of zahle,
which was anti clerical, refused to re-
enact it.
The present liberal ministry of
Klaus Berntsen is using its best eff
forts toward the re-establishment OF
the vestries and to bring this about
new act has been proposed. The pro-
posal is being supported by majority
in the house of commons, both of the
liberals and oddly enough of the radi-
Gals and the social democrats.
In the house Of lords, which is in
the hands of the conservatives, ia
vorable vote can be had only on con-
dition that a general church parlia-
ment is established at which the YES
tries as we'll as the other governing
bodies of the church can be repre-
| scented. This will greatly decrease
the influence of the veStrieS, which is
to the liking of the conservatives. In
such a parliament it is predicted that
the chief clericalS and not the people
of the vestries would exert the chief
influence. 1t is believed that the fight
over the question will be waged fierce
ly and at the present time there is no
means of predicting it's final outcome.
Charity Pauperizins.
Organized charity and especially
| municipal and state aid to the poor is
rapidly pauperizing large section of
the Danish people. according to Min
lister of the Interior Jensen Soenderup,
who is planning the notification Of
the old age pension act, with the idea
of substituting universal state life in
surance in its place.
No other country in Europe has so
little poverty as Denmark and the
contrast between extreme wealth and
dire poverty is not marked here, but
municipal and state poor relief have
occupied a large share of the atten-
ton of the people and government.
The feeling is growing that the
matter has been overdone. In Copen-
hagen the municipality extends relief
to the unemployed and many men pre-
fer to stay here partaking of this aid
y
farmers who for several years have
not been able to obtain enough help
| to harvest their crops. This expendi-
ture- of the state and municipality
has become a drain which cannot be
endured much longer and steps are
now being taken to curb the evil.
The old age pension act does not re-
qutre any contribution in their work
ing years from its benehciaries, and.
year by year, 1t Is costing the state
immense and continuously increasing
sums. The result has been the raising
of the Danish tax rate to an unheard
of level.
The minister of the interior now
proposes an insurance act based on
the theory of help to those who help
! themselves.
Winter Sports.
Skiing, sleighing, skating and other
winter sports for which Denmark has
become famous, promise to become II
| thing of the past if the mild winters
| which have prevailed for the past few
years continue. During the Christ
| mas season the air was so mild that
gnats became troublesome, but lately
the snow has come and Denmark is
beginning to look it's wintry self.
During the past few winters the
temperature here has been higher than
that of Paris, with the result that the
visitors, who have come here dressed
for an arctic climate have been much
surprised. A Frenchman arrived st
one of the leading hotels this winter
| dressed like an arctic explorer and
with a rifle over his shoulder. He
thought that Copenhagen would be
something like the North Pole and
| was surprised that he could find no
| ice bear hunting near here.