Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-09-25
FINLAND,


People In Finland are awaiting with
anxiety the decision of the car on
two bills passed by the landtag last
spring concerning the position Of
Russians In Finland with regard to
trading rights and municipal voting
Under Finnish law Russians as well
as others who are not Finnish citi-
zens. have to apply for trading rights
to the provincial governors and find
surety for a period of three years
for the payment of rates, whereas
Finnish citizens have merely to In
form the municipal or rural district
authorities of their intention to carry
on trade. The new bills extend to
Russians the simpler procedure now
reserved for Films, and confer the
right of communal voting on Rus
SLAMS residing in the commune and
paying rates to II. The sanctioning
OF these bills has far wider bear
ing than would appear from the face
of their provisions. A law, passed by
the Russian duma, was issued In
January 1912. concerning the rights
of Russians In Finland. Since this
law, however. was enacted in a man
ner contrary to the Finnish constitu-
ton. the Finnish landtag has declared
II to be invalid, and Finnish author
tiles have refused to comply with its
provisions. This has led to grave
complications, and others are sure to
follow. A large number of Finnish
officials, including practically all the
members of the court of appeals of
Viborg, have for such refusal been
sentenced by Russian law court to
various terms of Imprisonment, ac-
companied, In the case of the Viborg
judges, by dismissal from their offices
and ten years disqualification for
any state or municipal post, salaried
or honorary. The sentence upon
these judges has not as yet been car
ried out. II the bills Just referred to
we're to receive the imperial sanction,
1t is conceivable that the case against
them might be reopened and the SEN
tence revoked. In this manner a
painful episode would have salts
factory ending.
DENMARK.
A daughter of Minister Of Agricul-
ture Petersen Of Denmark is working
in London as servant The family
which employed her was astonished
when her identity accidentally be-
came known. The daughter OF Minis
ter of Education Nelson is also in
London looking for similar position.
The object OF the young women is to
learn the English language and do
nestle life. Their parents approve
of the method they have adopted.
Eighteen years ago the question of
building a railway in Iceland was
brought up for discussion, but the
country was not yet ready for such
an expensive undertaking. Now the
situation is different, The alting will
soon take up the matter of granting
concession for building railway
from Reykiavik, the capital through
the most fertile region of the island
TO Thorsaa The cost of the plant
win be almost s10O0.000 The dis
trict through which the road is to
pass is so fertile that an optimistic
authority claims that its crops could
be made to support a population of
100000. According TO the plan the
whole plant is to revert to the state
In rs years. and the state may buy 1t
IN ten years at a price not exceeding
the actual cost. The company is to
be controlled by Icelanders The
stockholders are, to have an annual
profit of at least per cent on the
capital actually invested.
Steingrimnr Thorsteinssou. the
most popular poet OF Iceland for
manv decades back, resigned as prin-
ciual OF the Reykjavik Latin school a
few days ago at the age OF eighty
three wears The alting granted him
a pension OF $1,000 for life; the whole
nation loved and admired the man;
large collection OF his poems have
been published in German. and every
thing looked bright for the old man
But he was not destined to enjoy his
rest long. his life being suddenly cut
short almost Immediately after his
resignation. His death Is mourned
by the whole country.