Evening star., 1933-01-03
SPAIN IS ENTERING
33 STRENGTHENED
Republic Showing Definite
Development Along
Liberal Lines.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MADRID.-The 20-month-old Span
ish Republic enters 1888 with an in
crease in strength and definite develop
ment along liberal legislative lines.
Probably the outstanding accomplish
mentS Of the government in the year
just ended were the enactment OF the
Catalonian statute, giving considerable
autonomy to about 2,500,00o residents
of the four Catalonian provinces, and
the agrarian reform expected TO allot
lands to approximately 100000 labor
ers in Spain.
The Catalonian statute Is considered
to be the first step in plan that will
eventually make Spain nation of fed
Grated regions, more closely bound to
the central government, however. than
the American system of States. AL
ready other regions are preparing stat
ute projects.
Agrarian Reforms Disputed.
The agrarian reform has been the
subject of animated pro and con con-
troversy. Conservatives hold that it is
impracticable and too costly for the
young republic, which was pledged a
minimum of 50,000,000 pesetas (about
$4,000, ,000) yearly to carry it out. An
other subject of dispute connected with
the reform has been the con1scation of
the lands of Spanish mobiles, especially
of those of anti-Republican Affiliations.
This was a recent drastic congressional
measure.
The agricultural measures of the gov
ernment have been forced to some ex-
tent by the intransigeant attitude of
the farm workers. the largest working
class in Spain.
There have been increasing strikes,
sabotage and disorders among the farm
laborers, impatient for relief from the
general business depression and the
Unemployment situation. The govern
ment believes that the enforcement of
the agrarian plan will alleviate this
condition.
General unemployment in Spain has
increased appreciably in the year just
ended. 1t is estimated that more than
soc. 900 workers are idle. This figure
is approximately 100000 more than last
year. General decline in business is
believed responsible.
Suffering Less Than Others.
Commerce and industry, taken as q
whole did not suffer as much during
1882 in Spain as in other major coun-
tries.
The stock Exchange finds stocks and
bonds at values a small per cent below
last year. Because of the unsettled
conditions deriving from the formation
OF a new political system, there has
been little industrial or commercial ex-
pansion.
Agricultural products and crops have
been good this year. Wheat production
was one of the greatest in modern
times, with approximately 46,000,000
metric uuintals. The consumption of
the country is estimated at about 39,-
000, 900 quintals yearly. However, much
foreign wheat was imported because of
its quality for mixing in the production
of -four.
One OF the notable achievements of
the year was the overhauling of the
educational system by Minister Of Pub
lie Instruction Fernando de los Rios.
He has elaborated the courses Of in
struction, based on experience gained
from visits over a period of years to
the United States and other countries.
Several thousand new schools are be-
ing built and more planned.
1870 Code Replaced.
A temporary penal code was placed
in effect to replace the old code of 1870
until Republican instrument Is COM
pleted. The most important change in
penal law was the suppression of the
death penalty and the increase of pun
ishment for usury. The divorce law,
passed last year. has been gradually
used by the Spaniards, unaccustomed
to this legislation.
AS the year closed Congress still
faced difficult Complementary laws to
the constitution, such as the regulation
Of religious orders, formation of law
for a tribunal of constitutional guar
antees and the electoral law.
The government proceeds with def
mite left swing The power now in
Parliament is exerted by the govern
mental coalition of Socialists, Radical
Socialists, Left Galatians, Galleagan
Autonomists and Premier Azanas Ac-
cion Republican party.