The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-06
Both Political and Financial Con-
ditions Of Country Becom-
ing Serious
TAXES MORE; INCOME IS LESS
Republican Government Has Done
Little to Effect Reforms
Present Regime Promised More Than
II Has Attempted to Put
Into Effect.

Lisbon, April 6.-The general situa-
| tion in Portugal may be characterized
as becoming serious. both the financial
and political condition of the country
being decidedly unsatisfactory. This
state of affairs, however. Is reviewed
with a somewhat pessimistic indifer-
ence by the nation at large.
At the beginning not only the Repub-
| licans. but a good many Monarchlsts
welcomed the advent Of new regime;
| but the Republican leaders promised
great deal more than they have carried
out. The law OF separation of church
and state offended the religious senti-
ments of many people, while the in
creased taxes on capital and the Land
lords Law alienated the sympathies of
the wealthy classes.
The civil administration OF the coun.
try has by no means been salts
! factory. many capable and intellectual
men being thrust aside. this being due
TO the fact that they had not become
Republicans before the Revolution. At
first mistakes were expected, and al
most everyone was desirous of giving
the Republic a fair chance but since
the republican government took Office
! little has been done to effect reforms.
Since October 5, 1910. the annual ex-
penditure has increased while the rev.
enue has considerably decreased.
Much Party Warfare.
| Parliamentary debates have become
abortive. deputies merely making long
speeches which are frantically cheered
by their supporters. but few laws are
passed. A great number OF projects
are presented and then referred back
to committees for study. after which
10 more is heard of them. Party war
fare and self-interest. which were the
chief causes of the destruction of the
Monarchy, have already begun TO dis
unite the Republican regime.
Senior Almeadi. the chief OF the
Conservative Republicans, seeing the
danger of the situation, has recon-
structed his party and instituted a new
program. the chief feature of which is
the remodeling of the law of separsl-
ton OF church and state alterations
ia taxation. a new electoral law and
| other liberal schemes, the idea being TO
attract all the moderately disposed Re-
publicans and Monarchists. 1t is gen
orally considered more than doubtful
whether he will have any success. as
the greater part of the country has
lost faith in all politicians. Moreover,
the opposition of the more advanced
Republicans is too great TO permit OF
any headway in this direction.
Trade is Affected.
This condition of affairs reacts on
commerce. Trade is now considerably
paralyzed, while the lack OF money is
great. In Portugal the bulk of trade
is effected on credit, the banks dis
counting term drafts During the last
few months, bankers, due 10 the lack
of funds, have reduced such facilities
to one-quarter of the previous amount.
while the Bank OF Portugal, which
was the principal bank assisting trade
has practically stopped all private dis
counts. the cash it has in hand being
insusIici lent to supply the constant de-
} nland for the governments depleted
Golfers. The state now possesses near
~ 80 per cent of the total of the issue
OF the Bank Of Portugal. The circula-
ton Of notes has increased steadily
, from the time of the revolution Of 1910
without n concomitant increase in the
metallic reserve. The floating debt has
also been augmented. The actual deficit
amounts 20 about ten millions yearly.
D People are posing the question OF what
will become of Portugal in the event Of
= political or financial upheaval.
: Europe May Intervene.
y This unsettled condition Of Portugal
r is attracting the attention Of Europe,
$ and fears are openly expressed In re-
n sponsFble quarters that Europeau in
tervention may become necessary. The
I recent general strike in Portugal
4 which started as a labor movement
{ pure and simple. was seized upon by
= anarchists and monarchistlc agitators
r as a means Of furthering their move
c ments. The government therefore
found Il necessary TO declare a gen
g eral state Of siege and to pour thou
J. sands of troops through the streets o.
i Lisbon and Oporto. over 1.5O0 leaders
Of the movement were arrested ant
imprisoned upon warships in the har
bor Of Lisbon.
Under this stern repression th'
ie strike gradually died. but there Is still
l. left the undercurrent of uneasiness. tn
Is agitation among the friends OF tn