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the executive to call the Parliament together annually. Each of the Chambers has the right of introducing new bills, the same as the Government; but all money bills must originate in the House of Deputies. The ministers have the right to attend the debates of both the Upper and the Lower House; but they have no vote unless they are members. The sittings of both Chambers are public; and no sitting is valid unless an absolute majority of the members are present.

The executive power is exercised, under the King, by a ministry divided into 11 departments, as follows:

1. President of the Council and Minister of Interior.

2. Minister of Foreign Affairs

3. Minister of the Treasury.

4. Minister of Finance.

total population about 62,000 were Protestants and 38,000 Jews. Of the Protestants 22,000 belonged to the waldensian Church of Piedmont, about 10,000 to the other evangelical Italian Churches, and 30,000 to foreign

Protestant bodies.

Under the Roman Pontiff, the Catholic episcopal hierarchy in Italy consists of 49 archbishoprics and 220 bishoprics besides the 6 cardinal bishoprics near Rome. Of these prelacies, 76 are immediately subject to the Apostolic See, 12 being archbishoprics. Thus there are altogether 37 metropolitan sees, the average number of suffragan sees to each metropolitan being about 4. Every archbishop or bishop is appointed by the Pope on the advice of a council of Cardinals; but the royal exequatur is necessary for his installation. The number of parishes in 1881 was 20,465; of churches and chapels, 55,263; of secular clergy, 76,560.

The immense wealth of .he Italian clergy has greatly dwindled since the year 1850, when the Siccardi bili, abolishing external ecclesiastical jurisdiction and clerical privileges, passed the Sardinian Chambers. This law was extended, in 1861, over the whole Kingdom, and had the effect of rapidly diminishing the numbers as well as the incomes of the clergy.

5. Minister of Justice and of Ecclesiastical A law for the entire suppression of all religious houses

Affairs.

6. Minister of War.

7. Minister of Marine.

In 1865 there were in Italy 2,382 religious houses, of which 1,506 were for men and 876 for women. The number of religious persons was 28,991, of whom 14,807 were men and 14,184 women. The mendicant orders numbered 8,229 persons, comprised in the above-mentioned total. throughout the Kingdom was adopted by the Italian Parliament in 1866. This law provided a small pension to all religious persons who had taken regular vows before January 18, 1864. Several monasteries were temporarily set aside for such monks, friars, or nuns as

8. Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Agri- might wish to continue their conventual life, the in

culture.

9. Minister of Public Instruction. 10. Minister of Public Works.

11. Minister of Posts and Telegraphs.

mates, when come down to a certain number, to be drafted off to another house, and so again, until all finally died out. All collegiate chapters were likewise dissolved. The lands and goods of these suppressed bodies were appropriated by the State.

See and Church of Rome.-The "Statuto fondamentale del Regno" enacts, in its first article, that "the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion is the sole religion of the State." By the Royal decree of October 9, 1870, which declared that "Rome and the Roman Provinces shall coustitute an integral part of the Kingdom of Italy," the Pope or Roman Pontiff was acknowlformer rank and dignity as a sovereign prince. Furthermore, by a bill that became law May 13, 1871, there was guaranteed to His Holiness and his successors forever, besides possession of the Vatican and Lateran palaces and the villa of Castel Gandolfo, a yearly income of 3,225,000 lire or 129,000l., which allowance (whose arrears would in 1899 amount to 93,525,000 lire, or 3,741,0007.) still remains unclaimed and unpaid.

Supreme Pontiff.- Leone XIII. (Gioacchino Pecci), born at Carpineto in the diocese of Anagni, March 2, 1810, son of Count Luigi Pecci; consecrated Archbishop of Damiata, 1843; Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, 1843-46; Bishop of Perugia, 1846; proclaimed Cardinal, Decem ber 19, 1853; elected Supreme Pontiff, as successor of Pio IX., February 20, 1878; crowned, March 3 following. He is, therefore, now 88 years old, and has filled the Pontifical throne for 20 years.

Local Government.-The two principal elective local administrative bodies are the communal councils and the provincial councils. According to the law of February 10, 1889, each commune has a communal council, a municipal council, and a syndic. Both the communal councils and the municipal councils vary accord-edged supreme head of the Church, preserving his ing to population, the members of the latter being selected by the former from among themselves. The syndic is the head of the communal administration, and is a Government official; he is elected by the communal council from among its own members, by secret vote, in all the chief communes of provinces and districts, and in other communes having more than 10,000 inhabitants. In other communes the syndic is appointed by the King from among the communal councilors. Each province has a provincial council and a provincial commission, the members varying according to population. The council elects its president and other officials. The provincial commission is elected by the council from its own members. It conducts the business of the province when the latter is not sitting. Both communal and provincial councilors are elected for five years, one fifth being renewed every year. The communal council meets twice and the provincial once a year in ordinary session, though they may be convened for extraordinary purposes. All communal electors are eligible to the council except those having an official or pecuniary interest in the commune. Persons not resident in the province, or having no solid interest in it, or who do not pay taxes on movable property, as well as officials in any way interested in the province, are ineligible to the provincial councils. Electors must be Italian citizens, twenty-one years of age, and able to read and write, be on the Parliamentary electoral list, or pay a direct annual contribution to the commune, of any nature, or comply with other conditions of a very simple character.

Religion. The Roman Catholic Church is, nominally, the ruling State religion of Italy; but many Acts of the Legislature, passed since the establishment of the Kingdom, and more especially since the suppression of the Supreme Pontiff's temporal government, have subordinated the power of the Church and clergy to the authority of the civil government, and secured freedom of worship to the adherents of all recognized religions. However, scarcely any other positive creed as yet exists but Roman Catholicism. At the census of 1881, of the

The election of a Pope ordinarily is by scrutiny. Each Cardinal in conclave writes on a ticket his own name with that of the Cardinal whom he chooses. These tickets, folded and sealed, are laid in a chalice which stands on the altar of the conclave chapel; and each elector approaching the altar repeats a prescribed form of oath. Thereupon the tickets are taken from the chalice by scrutators appointed from the electing body; the tickets are compared with the number of Cardinals present, and when it is found that any Cardinal has two thirds of the votes in his favor he is declared elected. Should none have received the needful number of votes, another process is gone through, viz., access so called because any Cardinal may accede to the choice of another by filling up another ticket made for that purpose. The present Pontiff, Leone XIII., was chosen almost unanimously. He is regarded as the 263d Pope (or thereabouts) from St. Peter.

The rise of the Roman Pontificate, as an avowed temporal sovereignty, dates from the year 755, when Pepin, King of the Franks, gave to Pope Stefano III. the Exarchate and Pentapolis (or Romagna), conquered from the Lombards, to which Charles the Great added part of Tuscany and Sabina; and three centuries later Countess

692,000 souls.

Matilda of Tuscany bequeathed to the Holy See her ample territories. Rome, however, with the Roman duchy, came practically under the Pope's civil dominion in the days of Gregorio the Great (590-604). In 1860 the whole Pontifical State comprised an area of about 16,000 square miles, with a population of 3,125,000 souls; thenceforth, until 1870, about 5,000 square miles and The Bishop of Rome, or Pope, by Roman Catholics accounted Vicar of Jesus Christ upon earth, and, in that office, Successor of St. Peter, is the absolute and irresponsible ruler of the Roman Catholic Church, regarded as the whole Christian Church here below. His ex cathe dra definitions on matters of faith or morals are held to be infallible, and against his judgments there is no appeal. Every baptized person is held to be spiritually subject to him, and his jurisdiction over such to be immediate. The Roman Pontiff has for advisers and coadjutors the Sacred College of Cardinals consisting, when complete, of seventy members, namely, six cardinalbishops, fifty cardinal-priests, and fourteen cardinaldeacons, but hardly ever comprising the full number. In January 1899 the Sacred College consisted of six cardinal-bishops, forty-five cardinal-priests, and five cardi

nal-deacons.

The central administration of the Roman Catholic Church is carried on by a number of permanent committees called Sacred Congregations, composed of Cardinals, with Consultors and Officials. There are now twenty sacred Congregations, viz.: Inquisition or Holy Office, Consistorial, Apostolic Visitation, Bishops and Regulars, Council, Residence of Bishops, State of Regulars, Ecclesiastical Immunity, Propaganda, Propaganda for Eastern Rite, Index, Sacred Rítes, Ceremonial, Regular Discipline, Indulgences and Sacred Relics Examination of Bishops, Fabric of St. Peter's, Lauretana, Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, Studies.

Instruction.-The State regulates public instruction, and maintains, either entirely or in conjunction with the communes and provinces, public schools of every grade. Every teacher in a public institution maintained by the State, or by any other public body, must have the qualifications required by law; and in all public institutions not belonging to the State, the same programme must be followed, and the same rules observed. No private person can keep a school without having obJustice.-In Italy, justice in penal matters is administered in the first instance by the Pretori, by the penal Tribunals, and by the Courts of Assize; on appeal, by the penal Tribunals, and by the Courts of Appeal. The highest court is the Court of Cassation, which confines itself to inquiring whether the forms prescribed by law have been observed.

tained the authorization of the State.

(delitti) punishable by imprisonment not exceeding

the now ruling (de jure) sovereign overthrew, after a short war, the power of the Shogun (the de facto sovereign), who had held the ruling power in successive families since the twelfth century; and in 1871 the feudal system (Hōken Seiji) was entirely suppressed. The sovereign bears the name of Kōtei, or Emperor; but the appellation by which he is generally known in foreign countries is the ancient title of Mikado, or "The Honorable Gate."

By the Imperial House Law of February 11, 1889, the succession to the throne has been definitely fixed upon the male descendants. In case of failure of direct descendants, the throne devolves upon the nearest Prince and his descendants.

The system of government of the Japanese Empire was that of an Absolute Monarchy. A Constitution was, however, promulgated on February 11, 1889.

By this Constitution the Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in himself the rights of sovereignty, and exercising the whole of the executive powers with the advice and assistance of the Cabinet Ministers, who are responsible to him, and are appointed by himself. There is also a Privy Council, who deliberate upon important matters of State when they have been consulted by the Emperor. The Emperor can declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties. The Emperor exercises the legislative power with the consent of the Imperial Diet. It is the prerogative of the Emperor to give sanction to laws, to convoke the Imperial Diet, to open, close, and prorogue it, and to dissolve the House of Representatives. The Imperial Diet consists of two Houses, a House of Peers and a House of Representatives. Every law requires the consent of the Imperial Diet. Both Houses may respectively initiate projects of law, can make representations to the Government as to laws or upon any other subject, and may present addresses to the Emperor.

The Pretori have jurisdiction concerning all delicts three months, or banishment not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding 1,000 lire and all misdemeanors (contravenzioni). The penal Tribunals have jurisdiction in the first instance in offenses (delitti) (excepting of fenses for which the Code establishes a minimum of five years) punishable by imprisonment from ten months to ten years, or by fine exceeding 1,000 lire. The Courts of Assize, which in most cases have juries, have jurisdiction inall proceedings concerning serious offenses delitti)punishable by imprisonment for life (ergastolo) or by imprisonment from ten to twenty-four years, or by minimum imprisonment exceeding five years. They have exclusive jurisdiction concerning offenses against the inter- The House of Peers is composed of (1) male nal and external security of the State, and all press of- members of the Imperial family of the age of fenses. Appeal is allowed to the penal Tribunals from the sentences of the Pretori, and to the Courts of Ap-20 and upwards; (2) princes and marquises peal from those of the penal Tribunals. The Court of of the age of 25 and upwards (11 princes Cassation has power to annul, for illegality, sentences passed by the inferior Courts, and to decide questions and 28 marquises); (3) counts, viscounts, and of jurisdiction or competency. Italy is divided, for the administration of justice, into barons of the age of 25 and upwards, and who twenty appeal court districts, each of which is sub- have been elected by the members of their redivided into tribunal districts, 162 in all, and these again into mandamenti, each with its own 'magistracy spective orders, never to exceed one fifth of (Pretura), 1,548 in all. each order (80 counts, 355 viscounts, 29 barons); (4) persons above the age of 30 years, who have been nominated members by the Emperor for meritorious services to the State or for erudition; (5) persons who shall have been elected in each Fu and Ken from among and by the 15 male inhabitants thereof, of

JAPAN.

The Japanese claim that their empire was founded by the first Emperor Jimmu 660 B. C., and that the dynasty founded by him still reigns. It was revived in the year 1868, when

An

above the age of 30 years, paying therein the | of the local rates, subject to the confirmation highest amount of direct national taxes on of the governors, and finally of the Minister of land, industry, or trade, and have been nomi- the Interior. Eligible to the assembly are all nated by the Emperor. The term of member- male citizens 25 years of age, resident in the ship under (3) and (5) is seven years; under district at least three consecutive years, and (1), (2), and (4) for life. The number of paying land tax of more than ten yen annumembers under (4) and (5) not to exceed the ally. The franchise is conferred on all male number of other members. The entire mem- citizens of 20 years residing in the district, bership of the House of Peers is to be about and paying more than five yen land tax. 300. nually, or in every other year, governors are summoned to the Department of the Interior to deliberate upon matters of local administration. Each district is subdivided into cities (ku), and counties (gun), each with its chief magistrate (cho), who manages local affairs. The Island of Hokkaidô (Yezo) has a governor and a special organization.

The members of the House of Representatives number 300, a fixed number being returned from each election district. The proportion of the number of members to the population is about one member to 128,000. The qualifications of electors are (1) male Japanese subjects of not less than full 25 years of age; (2) fixed permanent and actual residence in the Fu or Ken for not less than a year; (3) payment of direct national taxes to the amount of not less than 15 yen for one year in the Fu or Ken, and in case of income tax for three years.

The qualifications of persons eligible for election are generally the same as those of electors, except that they must be of not less than 30 years, and need not have fixed residence in the Fu or Ken. The term of membership is four years.

Disqualified for members of the House of Representatives are officials of the Imperial Household, judges, auditors, officials connected with the collection of taxes, police officials, officials of electoral districts within their own districts, military and naval officers, and priests or ministers of religion. The President and Vice-President of the House of Peers are nominated by the Emperor from among the members, and President and Vice-President of the House of Representatives are nominated by the Emperor from among three candidates elected by the House. The Presidents of both Houses receive an annual salary of 4,000 yen; Vice-Presidents, 2,000 yen; elected and nominated members of the House of Peers and members of the House of Representatives, 800 yen, besides traveling expenses. No one is

allowed to decline these annual allowances.

The Imperial Diet has control over the finances and the administration of justice. Voting is by secret ballot, and the system is that of scrutin de liste. The Diet must be assembled once every year.

In

At the head of local administration in the provinces are the governors, one of them residing in each of the 46 districts (3 Fus and 43 Kens) into which Japan is divided. 1879, city and prefectural assemblies were created, based on the principle of election; their power is confined to fixing the estimates

To further carry out the principle of decentralization and self-government a system of local administration in shi (municipality), cho (town), and son (village) was established by Imperial Rescript, April 17, 1888, which came into effect April 1, 1889, and is to be applied gradually according to the circumstances and requirements of these localities.

Religion. By the Constitution absolute freedom of religious belief and practice is secured, so long as it is not prejudicial to peace and order, The chief forms of religion are (1) Shintoism, with 11 seets; (2) Buddhism, with 12 sects and 30 creeds. There is no State religion, and no State support. The principal Shinto temples are, however, maintained by State or local authorities. dents, 1,939. Buddhist temples, 71,821; priests, 53,275; In 1895 Shinto temples, 190,754; priests, 14,927; stustudents, 9,286. There are also numerous Roman Catholics, adherents of the Greek Church, and Protestants. Instruction. Elementary education is compulsory. The number of children of school age (6-14) on December 31, 1895, was 7,670,837. The following are the educa

tional statistics for 1895:

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The University consists of a University Hall, Colleges of Law, Science, Medicine, Literature, Engineering, and

Agriculture. It is supported by Government. The bulk by Government and by focal rates. One of the normal of the elementary and higher schools are also supported schools is for high school teachers.

In 1895 there were 25 libraries in Japan, with 441,034 volumes. In 1895, 26,792 books of various kinds, and 753 periodicals, monthly, weekly, daily, were published. of the periodicals 409,429,528 copies were issued. Justice. A system of justice founded on modern jurisprudence has been established. Judges are irreishment. There is a Court of Cassations at Tokio, which movable, except by way of criminal or disciplinary pun

takes cognizance of civil and criminal appeals. There are seven courts of appeal for civil and criminal cases decided in the courts of first instance. There are 49 courts of first instance, one in each Fu or Ken, with branch courts in some Fus and Kens having unlimited original civil jurisdiction. As criminal courts they try

and decide all lesser crimes, and also make preliminary examination of serious crimes. Justice of Peace Courts (301), established in principal towns and villages of every Fu and Ken, take cognizance of all petty offenses. Once in three months criminal courts are constituted in courts of appeal, and sometimes in courts of first instance, a president and four judges, to try serious crimes.

A few judges of high rank are directly appointed by the Emperor, and some are appointed by him on nomination by the Minister of Justice.

MEXICO.

governor and legislature popularly elected under rules similar to those of the Federation; and the civil and criminal code in force in the Federal District prevails, with few exceptions (Vera Cruz and the State of Mexico), in the different States.

Religion, Instruction, and Justice. The prevailing religion is the Roman Catholic, but the Church is independent of the State, and there is toleration of all other religions. In 1889 there were 10,112 Roman Catholic churches and chapels, and 119 Protestant churches in the Republic. No ecclesiastical body can acquire landed property. On August 12, 1890, there were in the municipality of Mexico 320,143 Catholics and 2,623 Protestants. bears In almost all the States education is free and compulmodi-sory, but the law has not been strictly enforced. In the municipality of Mexico there were in 1890, 15,268 persons who could read only, and 176,692 persons who could at the expense of the states and inunicipalities, but the neither read nor write. Primary instruction is mostly Federal Government makes frequent grants, and many Higher education is carried on in secondary schools and seminaries, and in colleges for professional instruction, including schools of law, medicine, engineering, mining, fine arts, agriculture, commerce, arts, and trades, music. In 1896 the number of schools supported by the States was 5,852, and by the municipalities, 3,218; the number of teachers in both was 13,352; there were 666.301 enrolled pupils, and an average attendance of 413,790. The cost of these schools for the year was 5,463,350 dollars. The private and clerical schools numbered 2,442, with 101,641 enrolled pupils, and an average attendance of 76,956. The total number of schools was thus 11,512, with 767,942 enrolled pupils, and an average attendance of 490,746. Of the average attendance, 300,272 were boys and 190,501 were girls. There are also one military and one naval college. The number attending the higher schools is stated at 21,000.

The present Constitution of Mexico date February 5, 1857, with subsequent fications down to May, 1896. By its terms Mexico is declared a federative republic, divided into States 19 at the outset, but at present 27 in number, with 2 territories and the Federal District each of which has a right to manage its own local affairs, while the whole are bound together in one body politic by fundamental and constitutional laws. The powers of the supreme Government are divided into three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative power is vested in a Congress consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate, and the executive in a President. Representatives elected by the suffrage of all respectable male adults, at In 1896 there were in the Republic the National Lithe rate of one member for 40,000 inhabit-brary, with 159,000 volumes, and 102 other public libraries. ants, hold their places for two years. The There were in that year 17 museums for scientific and educational purposes, and 3 meteorological observatoqualifications requisite are, to be twenty-five ries. The number of newspapers published was 531, of years of age, and a resident in the State. The which 7 were in English, 5 in Spanish and English, 2 in French, and 1 in German. Senate consists of fifty-six members, two for each State, of at least thirty years of age, who are returned in the same manner as the deputies. The members of both Houses receive salaries of 3,000 dollars a year. The President is elected by electors popularly chosen in a general election, holds office for four years, and, according to an amendment of the Constitution in 1887, may be elected for consecutive terms. Failing the President through absence or otherwise, whether the disability be temporary or permanent, Congress has power to elect an acting-president who shall discharge the functions of President temporarily or, if necessary, to the end of the constitutional period. Congress has to meet annually from April 1 to May 30, and from September 16 to December 15, and a permanent committee of both Houses sits during

schools are under the care of beneficent societies.

the recesses.

The administration is carried on, under the direction of the President and a Council, by seven Secretaries of State, heads of the Departments of : -1, Foreign Affairs; 2, Interior; 3, Justice and Public Instruction; 4, Fomento, Colonization and Industry; 5, Communications and Public Works; 6, Financial and Public Credit; 7, War and Marine.

Local Government.-Each separate State has its own internal constitution, government, and laws; but interState customs duties are not permitted. Each has its

The judicial power, which is entirely distinct from and independent of the executive, consists of the Supreme Court, with 15 judges chosen for a period of six years, Circuit Courts, with 3 judges, and District Courts, with 32 judges.

The Ordinary, Civil, Criminal, and Correctional Courts are controlled by the Department of Justice and Public Instruction.

NETHERLANDS (THE).

The first Constitution of the Netherlands after its reconstruction as a kingdom was given in 1815, and was revised in 1848 and in 1887. According to this charter the Netherlands form a constitutional and hereditary monarchy. The royal succession is in the direct male line in the order of primogeniture; in default of male heirs, the female line ascends the throne. In default of a legal heir, the successor to the throne is designated by the Sovereign and a joint meeting of both the Houses of Parliament (each containing twice the usual number of members), and by this assembly alone if the case occurs after the Sovereign's death. The age of majority of the Sovereign is eighteen years. During his minority the royal power is vested in a Regent designated by law in some cases in the State Council.

- and

The executive power of the State belongs exclusively to the Sovereign, while the whole legislative authority rests conjointly in the Sovereign and Parliament, the latter called the States-General -- consisting of two Cham

hers. The Upper or First Chamber is com-
posed of 50 members, elected by the Provincial
States from among the most highly assessed
inhabitants of the eleven provinces, or from
among some high and important function-
Members of the
aries, mentioned by law.
First Chamber not residing in the Hague,
where the Parliament meets, are allowed 10
guilders (16s. 8d.) a day during the session of
the States-General. The Second Chamber of
the States-General numbers 100 deputies, who
are elected directly.

The Government and the Second Chamber
only may introduce new bills; the functions
of the Upper Chamber being restricted to ap-
proving or rejecting them, without the power
The meetings of
of inserting amendments.
both Chambers are public, though each of
them, by the decision of the majority, may
form itself into a private committee. The
ministers may attend at the meetings of both
Chambers, but they have only a deliberative
Alterations in
vote, unless they are members.
the Constitution can be made only by a bill
declaring that there is reason for introducing
those alterations, followed by a dissolution of
the Chambers and a second confirmation by
the new States-General by two thirds of the
votes. Unless it is expressly declared, the
laws concern only the realm in Europe, and
not the colonies.

103

All the male Dutch inhabi

concerning the welfare of the province, and to raise
nances must be approved by the King. The Provincial
taxes according to legal precepts. All provincial ordi-
States exercise a right of control over the municipali-
ties. They also elect the members of the First Cham-
ber of the States-General. They meet twice a year, as a
six of their members, called the "Deputed States," is
rule in public. A permanent commission composed of
charged with the executive power in the province and
the daily administration of its affairs. This commit-
tee has also to see the common law executed in the
province. Both the Deputed as well as the Provincial
States are presided over by a Commissioner of the Sov-
ereign, who in the former assembly has a deciding vote,
but in the latter named only a deliberative vote. He is
the chief magistrate in the province. Only the members
of the Deputed States receive an allowance.
The communes form each a Corporation with its own
interests and rights, subject to the general law. In each
commune is a Council, elected for six years directly, by
the same voters as for the Provincial States, provided
retiring every two years.
they inhabit the commune: one third of the Council
tants 23 years of age are eligible, the number of mem-
bers varying from 7 to 41, according to the population.
The Council has a right of making and enforcing by-
laws concerning the communal welfare. The Council
may raise taxes acording to rules prescribed by com-
mon law; besides, each commune receives from the
State Treasury an allowance proportioned to the total
number of its inhabitants and to the share which its
non-contributing inhabitants have failed to pay toward
local taxes. All by-laws may be vetoed by the Sover-
eign. The Municipal Budget and the resolutions to
alienate_municipal property require the approbation
of the Deputed States of the province. The Council
meets in public as often as may be necessary, and is pre-
sided over by a Mayor, appointed by the Sovereign for
six years. The executive power is vested in a college
ders) elected by and from the Council; this college is
formed by the Mayor and 2, 3, or 4 Aldermen (wethou-
also charged with the execution of the common law.
Municipal Police is under the authority of the Mayor;
as a State functionary the Mayor supervises the actions
of the Council; he may suspend their resolutions for 30
days, but is bound to inform the Deputed States of the
province.

Religion. According to the terms of the ConstituThe executive authority, belonging to the Sovereign, is exercised by a responsible Council tion, entire liberty of conscience and complete social equality are granted to the members of all religious conof Ministers. There are eight heads of depart-fessions. The royal family and the majority of the inments in the Ministerial Council, namely The Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Ministerial Council.

The Minister of the Interior.

The Minister of Finance.

The Minister of Justice.
The Minister of the Colonies.
The Minister of Marine.
The Minister of War.

The Minister of Public Works and Commerce. Each of the above Ministers has an annual salary of 12,000 guilders, or 1,000l.

van

There is a State Council-"Raad State' of 14 members, appointed by the Sovereign, of which the Sovereign is president, and which is consulted on all legislative and a great number of executive matters.

Local Government.- The territory of the Netherlands is divided into 11 provinces and 1,123 communes. Each province has its own representative body, "the The members are elected for 6 Provincial States." years, directly from among the male Dutch inhabitants of the province who are 25 years of age, one half of the number being subject to re-election or renewal every three years. Except that they must be inhabitants of the province, the electors, as well as the mode of voting, are the same as for the Second Chamber. The number of members varies according to the population of the province, from 80 for Holland (South) to 35 for Drenthe. The Provincial States are entitled to make ordinances

habitants belong to the Reformed Church. The salaries of several British Presbyterian ministers, settled in the Netherlands, and whose churches are incorporated with the Dutch Reformed Church, are paid out of the public funds. The State Budget contained fixed allowances for the different churches; for Protestant Churches, 1,379,852 guilders; for Roman Catholics, 578,035; and for Jews, 12,775.

Instruction.-Public instruction (primary) is given in all places where needed, but education is not compulsory nor necessarily free; religious convictions are respected.

From the beginning of this century elementary schools have been more or less under State regulation and inspection. In 1806, and more expressly in 1848, secular instruction was separated from religious or sectarian instruction. Elementary education is now regulated by the Primary Instruction Act, passed in 1857, supplemented by an Act of 1878, and again considerably altered by the Act of December 1889. By the last Act public instruction is diminished and a greater share in the education of the youths left to private instruction, which is now supported by the State. According to the regula tions of the present Act the cost of public primary instruction is borne jointly by the State and the communes, the State contributing to the salaries of the teachers and being responsible for 25 per cent. to the costs of founding or purchasing schools. There are four universities-Leyden, Grongingen, Utrecht, and Amsterdam-attended by over 3,000 students; 1,278 private Justice.-Justice is administered by the High Court and higher schools; and 2,923 public elementary schools. of the Netherlands (Court of Cassation), by 5 courts of justice (Courts of Appeal), by 23 district tribunals, and by 106 cantonal courts; trial by jury is unknown in Holland. All Judges are appointed for life by the King (the Judges of the High Court from a list prepared by the Second Chamber). They can be removed only by a decision of the High Court,

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