The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-01-07
EGYPT'S FIRST PARLIAMENT.
4 Hopeful Beginning in Home
Rule.

The first session of the first Egyp-
tian parliament has just closed, and
those who have faith in self-govern-
ment for England's great protector
ate are eagerly studying the work
that has been accomplished and the
impression that it has made upon the
people at large, says the Brooklyn
Eagle. The Legislative assembly,, as
it is called, was authorized by an or
ganic law adopted last year and was
opened on January %. 1t, therefore,
has been doing business for nearly
six months. What has been its rec
ord?
Out of 16 projects submitted to it
by the government 1t has passed ~,
the other four having been with
drawn or postponed until the next
session. Some of the measures
adopted were of great Importance.
The Egyptian legislators had their
first experience of budget and
wrangled over the various items as
bitterly as their more sophisticated
contemporaries of other lands. They
passed bill instituting new court
of criminal appeal on points of fact,
another establishing system OF
weights and measures and providing
for. their periodical certification, and
another regulating the creation and
administration of cooperative agri-
cultural syndicates. They adopted a
law providing for the draining of
swamps and filling in Of pools where
disease-carrying insects breed. and
put their stamp of approval on an
energetic campaign against the boil
Weevil. the curse of all cotton grow
ing countries.
The assembly drew up its own by
laws. 1t addressed 81 questions to
the members of the government and
studied the full replies that it re-
ceived to each one 1t presented
more than 70 motions and consider
ed the 500 or so petitions that were
addressed to the body by individuals.
This last-mentioneed fact is of con-
siderable importance. proving as it
does that the people of Egypt are
awake to the fact that they now have
popular assembly. A large pro-
portion of the petitions were sent on,
with favorable report. to the branch
of administration concerned. The
assembly held, in all, As meetings,
but a great bulk of conscientious and
valuable work was done by it's sub
committees.
This f1edgling parliament by no
means enjoys full powers in deciding
the affairs of the nation. Only with
in certain we'll defined limits can it
enforce consideration of it's wishes
on the government. 1t is, in short,
an advisory body with less actual in
fluence than the Russian Duma, but
the British administrators hope that
it will serve to educate the Egyptians
along democratic lines and pave the
way for eventual self-governmen,.
An interesting feature of the
past session was the prompt crystal
lization of an opposition party. There
was really nothing vita! to oppose,
but group of radical members evil
IDENTIFY felt that they ought to make
trouble for the government. They
first made themselves felt when the
utterly trivial question of a substi-
tute for the president during a brief
absence came up for discussion.
They were able to spin out the de-
bate for three days before they al
lowed themselves to be persuaded
From that time on the opposition
showed itself to be an obstructionist.
The members were encouraged by
agltatorS outside or parliament. but
it was evident that they cherished
a distorted and exaggerated idea of
their own power.
AS whole, the legislators proved
themselves to be keen and able de-
baters. They have, however, entirely
dispensed with the qualities of dig
nifty and repose and are supposed to
be characteristic of the Oriental The
chamber has at times witnessed some
very fervid sessions. 1t is notewor-
they that the visitors gallery al
ways has been we'll filled with ma
tives. and that the local papers have
devoted much space to the reports.