The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-28

session of lands or waters within 100 kilometers from the land borders of Mex ico nor within 50 klometers of the sea coast.
 Under the new constitution education is free but instruction will be laical. In the official schools primary education will be without cost Citizens are obligated to have their sons or children under their control under 15 attend school for primary elemental and military instruc- tion All Mexicans must attend instruc- tion, both civil and military, which will fit them for the exercise of the rights of citizenship and must be trained to the use of arms and in military discipline. They must enlist and serve in the na- tional guard (which elects it's own offi- cers) in conformity with the organic law to defend the independence, territory, sovereignty, rights and interests of Mex ico and the tranquility of the interior or der.
 Strict government regulation of the church is provided for in the new con stitution. All ministers of whatever cult must be Mexicans by birth. This regulation will cause removal from their pastorates of about 25OO Spanish priests. There are few American ministers in Mexico, at the present time probably less than 10. English and German clergymen are equally few but there are quite a number of Frenchmen among the Cath olic clergy of Mexico
 No minister of any cult will be per mitted to teach in the public schools and only may give instruction in the higher grades of the private schools, nor may any religious sect be permitted to es- tablish or direct schools of primary in- struction.
 The constitution states that the state cannot recognize any compact which will tend to lower, lose or sacrifice the lib- erty of man, either through work, edu- cation or religious VOW, and that there- fore the law will not tolerate monastic orders nor permit the establishment of such by any denomination for whatever object.
 Every man will have the liberty to profess the religious belief of his de- sire and to practice the ceremonies and devotions of that religion in the churches or in his private house. and this shall not be considered misdemeanor, punish- able by law. All public religious observ- ances shall be celebrated within the churches which always shall be under the vigilance of the authorities.
 Marriage is to be regarded as a civil contract. The simple promise to speak the truth and assume the obligations is sufficient to constitute marriage. The law will not recognize the personality of any sect. Ministers will be considered as professional men and subject to the laws and regulations governing profess sional men. The state legislatures, ac- cording to local needs, will regulate the maximum number of ministers of each cult within their states. Ministers in pub It. For or in the acts of the cult, or in religious propaganda shall not criticize the fun damental laws of the country, the au- thorities in particular or the government in general. They shall not have the right to vote or to be voted for, nor the right to associate themselves in political af- fairs.
 The labor laws provided by the new constitution are among the most ad- vanced measures contained in the docu- ment. An eight-hour day and a six-day week are provided. Night work may not exceed seven hours, and night work and dangerous, unhealthy employment is prohibited to women and children under 16 Commercial establishments may not work their employees after 10 D. m. Chill dren from F to Is have six-hour day and children under 12 may not be -em- ployed Women may not be required to do hard physical labor for three months before child birth. and may not labor for one month after that time, but for this month they shall receive full pay, retain their jobs and all the rights of their contracts. They also must be given two extra rest periods of half-hour each dur ing the nursing period. The minimum salary of each region will be fixed on a basis which will provide each man with the necessities of life, his education and honest amusements. considering him as the head of a family. In all farming. commercial, manufacturing and mining enterprises the employees have the right to participate in the profits. The per centage of such participation will be fixed