The Calumet news., 1912-08-10
MODERN LAWS
FOR PORTUGAL
Parliament Passes Number of I'm
portant Measures

Lisbon, Portugal. Aug. 1O.-Whilc the
royalists were attempting to invade
Purtugal on the north parliament
steadily continued its work, and on
July fl adjourned until the autumn
The net result of the session has
been that some $50 bills have been
presented, of which 1877 have become
law. the remainder being still under
discussion. For the most part these
former measures refer to minor al
terations in the civil administration of
the republic and colonies. Among
them may be noted the following
Voting Of a pension of S3.250 per
annum for life to Captain Machado
Santos. the naval officer commanders
the revolutionaries at the time of tho
overthrow of the monarchy.
Concession of stipends to the offciat-'
ing clergy OF the Roman Catholic
Church
Creation Of fund for disabled
workmen.
Payment of deputies and senator's
Appointing prominent reyolutionaries
to posts under the government.
Formation of a new civil code.
Acquisition of new warships
Undoubtedly more important matters
than these would have passed into law
had IL not been fer the enormous
amount Of time taken up with petty
measures. and the constant chickering's
of deputies and senators. Allowance
has to be made, however, for the mex
perience of members. who are for the
greater part men without any parlia-
mentary training.
Parliamentarian Contests.
Labor strikes and monarchist con-
spiracies also caused considerable EN-
barrassmcnt to the different govern
ments, and twice Lisbon was placed
under martial law.
The cleavage between the Conser-
vative and Democratic parties has,
moreover, considerably widened. The
latter party. controlled by DR. Alfonso
Costa. recently forced the retirement
of the minister of the interior, which
led to a serious cabinet crisis lasting
IL days. IL was only by the interven-
tion of the aged President of the Re-
public, senior Arriga. who wrote per-
sonal and pleading letters to the chiefs
of the opposing parties informing them
that their private animosities were en-
dangering the security of the Republic
Len aAa nd pna1i
ton cabinet formed of ministers Sc
lected from the various political
groups. under the leadership of a nom
party man Of considerable reputation,
Schnor Duarte Leite.
The vigorous methods Of this capable
prime minister were welcomed general
Ily and he speedily brought To q con
clusion the street car strike which was
assuming dangerous proportions at the
time This he did by arresting all the
agitators and placing them on board
n ship lying i'm the TaSus. on re-
ceiving a guarantee of their right to
work, nearly all the street car man
were induced to re turn TO their posts.
The other classes OF laborers, who had
struck i'm sympathy. alarmed by such
active measures. returned to work i'm
mediately, and the city resumed its
normal conditions.
Many Reforms Planned.
If Senior Duarte Leiie remains in
power. 1t is expected he will proceed
actively with the many reforms needed.
The rivalries of the opposing political
parties. however. are only temporarily
patched up and very susceptible to an
other outburst. Any government will
he placed between two difficulties. On
the one hand the wealthy classes will
only lend support if\the government
will use firm measures for the main
tainance of order and the development
of trade on the other hand the work
ing classes are continuously clamorins
for better conditions of living apd
higher wages and strikes have o,cn
very frequent. These troubles are
chiefly fomented by a certain number
of politicians who desire to gain the
popular favor IF the masses.
The most conspicuous measures to
he presented for ratification in the
next parliamentary session, to he Dpen~
ed i'm November next, and already dis
cussed by the Senate, are:
Bill penalizing the manufacture of
bombs or other explosives.
| Anti military propaganda to be a
punishable offence.
Votes 10 be granted to women of .
certain education standard.
Also 1t is proposed to revise the die
| tatorial decree passed under the pro-
IVisional government, of which the most
| striking are the law of Separation oil