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Production and Industry.-Agriculture. Of the total area of Canada in 1891, there were 28,537,242 acres of improved land, out of 60,287,730 acres of occupied land. Of the improved lands, 19,904,826 acres were under crop, being 4,792,542 acres more than were under crop in 1881. The acreage under pasture in 1891 was 15.The acreage under wheat in 1891 was 2,723,861 acres, an increase of 381,506 acres in ten years. The average yield of 1891 per acre was 15.4 bushels, an increase of 1.6 bushels per acre over the yield of 1881. There is a central experimental farm near Ottawa, and others in several of the provinces. In 1895 there were 195 ranches in the N.-W. Territories, covering an area of 904,187 acres.

lative Council of Nova Scotia number 21, and Quebec 24. The membership of the Legislative Assemblies are: Prince Edward Island 30, Nova Scotia 38, New Brunswick 41, Quebec 73, Ontario 94, Manitoba 40, British Columbia 33, and the North-West Territories 26. The North-West Territories are presided over by a Lieutenant Governor and a Legislative Assembly. The Ex-284,788 acres, an increase of 8,899,226 acres since 1881. ecutive Council consists (since October 1, 1897) of the Lieutenant Governor and five members, elected, as such, by the people. Instruction. -All the provinces of the Dominion have one or more universities, and several colleges which prepare for university degrees. There are in all about 16 degree-granting bodies in the Dominion, with about 24 colleges, including denominational, medical, and other special institutions. From special official statistics of these institutions it may be estimated that they are attended by about 13,000 students, and their total annual expenditure is upwards of $700,000, while the estimated value of their endowments, buildings, land, etc., is over $16,000,000.

Forestry. The timber wealth of Canada is very large, and timbering one of its most important industries. The forest area is estimated at 1,248,798 square miles. The forest products of 1891 were valued at 80,071,415 dollars, of which 27,207,547 dollars were exported. The census returns show an aggregate of 2,045,073,072 The expenditure for the year on public and high cubic feet as the total cut of the year. The forest prodschools, including Government grants, was over $10,- ucts exported to the United Kingdom in 1897 amounted 000,000. The supervision of education is under the in value to 14,973,292 dollars out of a total of 32,937,976 control of the Governments of the several provinces, dollars. The recently introduced wood pulp industry is and the systems in use vary somewhat, but are all based increasing rapidly, the exportable surplus being 741,960 on the principle of free education, the funds being sup- dollars in 1897, chiefly going to Great Britain and the plied in nearly all the provinces by Government grants United States. The Crown forests belong to the Proand local taxation. In British Columbia and the North- vincial Governments, except in Manitoba, the N.-W. West Territories the schools are supported wholly by Territories, and the Railway Belt (forty miles wide) in Government. Education is more or less compulsory British Columbia, where they belong to the Dominion. in all the provinces, but the law is not very strictly Fisheries.-The total value of the produce of the fisherenforced. In Ontario, Quebec, and the North-West ies of Canada in 1896 was 20,407,424 dollars; in 1895, 20,185,Territories there are separate schools for Roman Catho- 298 dollars. The values of the principal catches in 1896 lics; in the other provinces the schools are unsectarian. were: cod, 3,610,979 dollars; salmon, 4,009,679 dollars; Separate schools in Manitoba were abolished by a Pro- herring, 2,909,744 dollars; lobsters, 2,205,762 dollars, and vincial Act passed in 1890. mackerel, 727,743 dollars. In 1896, according to provJustice. There is a Supreme Court in Ottawa, hav-inces, the values were: Nova Scotia, 6,070,895 dollars; ing appellate, civil, and criminal jurisdiction in and British Columbia, 4,183,999; New Brunswick, 4,799,433; throughout Canada. There is also an exchequer court, Quebec, 2,025,754; Ontario, 1,605,674; Prince Edward which is also a colonial court of admiralty, with powers Island, 976,126; Manitoba and N.-W. Territories, 745,543. as provided in the Imperial" Colonial Courts of Admi- Mining.-Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Quebec, N. ralty Act, 1890." There is a Superior Court in each prov- and W. Ontario, and part of the N.-W. Territories, are ince; county courts, with limited jurisdiction, in most the chief mining districts of Canada. The total value of the provinces; all the judges in these courts being of the mineral produce of Canada was, in 1897, 28,779,173 appointed by the Governor General. Police magistrates dollars; in 1896, 22,609,825 dollars. The principal product and justices of the peace are appointed by the Provincial is coal, of which, in 1896, 3,745,716 tons were raised, valGovernments. ued at 7,226,462 dollars; in 1897, 3,876,201 tons, valued at 7,442,204 dollars. Among the other minerals produced in 1897 were gold, 6,190,000 dollars; nickel, 1,400,000 dollars; asbestos, 324,700 dollars; petroleum, 1,011,546 dollead, 1,396,850 dollars; iron ore, 178,719 dollars. It is estimated that the coal-bearing area of the N.-W. Territories extends over 65,000 square miles.

Religion. There is no State Church in the whole of British North America. The Church of England is governed by twenty bishops, with about 1,000 clergy; the Roman Catholic Church by one cardinal, seven arch-lars; copper, 1,501,660 dollars; silver, 3,322,000 dollars; bishops, twenty-three bishops, and about 1,500 clergy: and the Presbyterian Church in Canada, with about 1,000 ministers-formed in 1875 by the union of two formerly distinct bodies-by presbyteries, synods, and an annual assembly as in the Scotch Church, with 2,358 churches and stations. The Methodists have 1,700 and the Baptists about 500 ministers. All these bodies have one or more divinity schools. The number of members of each religious creed in the Dominion was as follows at the census of April 6, 1891:Roman Catholics..1,992.017 | Congregationalists.... 28,157 Presbyterians. 755,326 Miscellaneous creeds..106,739 Anglicans.. 646,059 No creed stated....... 89,355 Methodists. Total....

Baptists...

Lutherans.

847,765
303,839
63,982

.4,833,239

• Including Pagans. The following shows the numbers of the leading denominations in the several provinces according to the census of 1891:

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Baptist.

358,300 385,999 453,147 654,033 106,047
1,291,709 75,472 52,673 39,544
7,991

122,452 64,410 108.952 54,195 83,122
115.961 43,095, 40,639 85,504 79,649
20,571 30,852 39,001 28,437 16,112

20,843 23,619 15,284 14,298
47.837 6,646 33,072 13,596
14,344 15,966 12,558 8,158

Capital.-The capital of Canada was transferred in 1841 from Kingston to Montreal, and in 1849 serious riots arose resulting in the burning of the Parliament Houses on the 26th of April, over the question of compensation for those who had suffered losses during the recent rebellion. The riots were in reality caused by the hostility of the British and French inhabitants. One of the results was the establishment of two seats of government, one at Toronto and the other at Ottawa, Parliament sitting four years in each city alternately. Ottawa later on was made the capital of Canada and eventually of the Dominion.

Naturalization.-No question of naturalization arises in connection with the emigration of British subjects to Canada. Settling in the Dominion makes no more change in this respect than a removal from York, Glasgow, Swansea, or Dublin to London, and a new arrival has all the privileges of a Canadian born fellow subject. For foreigners the Canadian naturalization laws are marked by a spirit of liberality, and such persons can transact any business and hold real estate without being naturalized. By residing three years and taking the oath of allegiance they become naturalized British subjeets. The oath is one of simple allegiance and does not require any offensive renunciations. Naturalization confers political and all other rights.

Money and Credit.-The Bank Acts of Canada impose stringent conditions as to capital, notes in circulation, limit of dividend, returns to the Dominion Government, and other points in all chartered and incorporated banks. In making payments every bank is 3,098 compelled if required to pay a certain proportion in 6,265 Dominion Government notes, and must hold not less 1,555 than 40 per cent. of its cash reserve in Dominion Government notes. In 1897 there were 37 incorporated banks

making returns to the Government, with 575 branches all over the Dominion.

Post-office savings banks under charge of the Government have been in operation in Canada since 1868; there are also Government savings banks, under the management of the Finance Department, in the Maritime Provinces, Manitoba, and British Columbia. In 1897 there were 779 offices of the former and 28 of the latter. In 1897 the post-office savings banks had 135,737 depositors and 32,380,829 dollars on deposit.

Internal Communications. Canada has a system of canal, river, and lake navigation over 2,700 miles in length, and vessels from the lake ports reach the Atlantic without breaking bulk. Up to 1897, 71,750,000 dollars had been spent on canals for construction alone. In 1896, 25,622 vessels, of 4,677,826 tons, passed through the Canadian canals, carrying 151,342 passengers and 3,413,674 tons of freight, chiefly grain, timber, and coal. The Dominion of Canada had a network of railways of a total length of 16,687 miles completed at the end of June, 1897, being an increase of 300 miles over that of 1896. The number of miles in operation was 16,550. The Canadian Pacific Railway main line from Montreal to Vancouver is 2,906 miles in length. By means of this railway and a line of Pacific steamers subsidized by the Imperial and Dominion Governments, Montreal and Yokohama have been brought within 14 days of one another. There is a monthly steam service between Australia and British Columbia, for which the Dominion Government gives 25,000l. a year and the Australian 12,000l.

a year.

The number of electric railways in Canada in 1897 was 35, with a mileage of 535; the number of passengers carried during the year was 83,811,306; the total paid up capital was 18,727,355 dollars, and the bonded debt, 9,894,452 dollars.

On June 30, 1897, there was 9,191 post offices in the Dominion. During the year ended on the foregoing date the number of letters sent through the post office was 123,830,000, of post cards 26,140,000, of newspapers, books, etc. 26,640,000, and of parcels 369,570. Newspapers sent from the office of publication are carried free. Their number in 1897 was estimated at upwards of 74,319,976. The letters and post cards posted amounted to 28.88 per head, and the other articles to 19.54 per head. Revenue, 4,311,243 dollars; expenditure, 4,897,783 dollars. A uniform rate of postage of three cents has been established over the whole Dominion. The number of money order offices in Canada in 1897 was 1,349

and of orders issued 1,162,209, their value having been 13,081,860 dollars.

There were 29,318 miles (2,786 being Government) of telegraph lines in Canada in 1897 and 70,761 miles of wire, with 2,572 offices, and the number of messages sent, as nearly as could be ascertained, 4,313,925. There were in 1894, 44,000 miles of telephone wire, and 33,500 sets of instruments; 72,500,000 messages were sent. The returns for 1897 do not vary greatly from those of 1894.

Area, Population, and Seats of Government of the Provinces.

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Seats of
Government.

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ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The Constitution of the Argentine Republic, formerly known by the name of "Provincias Unidas del Rio de la Plata," bears date May 15, 1853, with modifications in 1860, when Buenos Ayres joined the confederacy. By its provisions, the executive power is left to a President, elected for six years by representatives of the fourteen provinces, equal to double the number of senators and deputies combined; while the legislative authority is vested in a National Congress, consisting of a Senate and a House of Deputies, the former numbering 30, two from the capital and from each province, elected by a special body of electors in the capital, and by the legislatures in the provinces; and the latter 133 members elected by the people. By the constitution as .Regina. Regina. revised in 1898, there should be one deputy for ..Regina. every 33,000 inhabitants. A deputy must be Winnipeg. 25 years of age, and have been a citizen for Fredericton. four years. The deputies are elected for four Toronto. .Toronto. years, but one half of the House must retire every two years. Senators must be 30 years ..Quebec. Regina. of age, have been citizens for six years, and have an annual income of 12,000 dollars. .Regina. One third of the Senate is renewed every three years. The two chambers meet annually from May 1 to September 30. The members of both the Senate and the House of Deputies are paid for their services, each receiving 12,000 pesos per annum. A Vice-President, elected in the

Victoria.

Halifax.

same manner and at the same time as the President, fills the office of Chairman of the Senate, but has otherwise no political power. The President is commander-in-chief of the troops, and appoints to all civil, military, and judicial offices, and has the right of presentation to bishoprics; he is responsible with the ministry for the acts of the executive; both President and Vice-President must be Roman Catholics, Argentine by birth, and cannot be re-elected.

The Ministry, appointed by and acting under the orders of the President, consists of eight Secretaries of State — namely, of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, War, Justice, Agriculture, Marine, and Public Works.

The President has a salary of 36,000 dollars, the Vice-President of 18,000 dollars, and each of the five ministers of 16,800 dollars per

annum.

Local Government.-The Constitution, with certain small exceptions, is identical with that of the United States. Such matters as affect the Republic as a whole are under the superintendence of the Central Government. The governors of the various provinces are invested with very extensive powers, and in their constitutional functions are independent of the central executive. They are not appointed by the President of the Republic, but elected by the people of each province for a term of three years and four years. The provinces elect their own legislatures, and have complete control over their own affairs; they can contract loans (internal and external) under their sole and exclusive responsibility. Religion and Instruction. Although the Constitution recognizes the Roman Catholic religion as that of the State, all other creeds are tolerated. There are 1 archbishop and five suffragan bishops. For the instruction of the clergy there are 5 seminaries. In 1888 civil marriage was established in the Republic.

Primary education is free, secular, and compulsory for children from 6 to 14 years of age. The elementary schools are supported in the capital and each province by the taxes established in their Education Acts, aided by large subsidies from the general Government. There are also 35 normal schools with 10,949 pupils. There are 3 universities, at Cordova, Buenos Ayres, and La Plata, comprising faculties of law, medicine, and engineering, with a total of 2,500 students; a school of mines (39 students), 2 colleges of agriculture, a naval and military school. There is a well-equipped national observatory at Cordova, and another at La Plata, museums at Buenos Ayres and La Plata, and a meteorological bureau. Justice. Justice is exercised by a Supreme Court of five judges and an attorney-general, which is also a court of appeal, and by a number of inferior and local courts, trial by jury being established by the Constitution for criminal cases. Each State has its own judicial sys

tem.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

Austria and Hungary, or, as in international relations they are officially called, the AustroHungarian monarchy, consists of two States,the Austrian Empire and the Hungarian Kingdom. The relation between the two States in its present form was fully regulated by the socalled Compromise of 1867. According to this agreement the two States are perfectly independent of each other, possessing each its own constitution, its legislative power, and its executive departments for most branches of State affairs. There is, however, a close polit

ical connection between them through the identity of the Sovereign and the community of certain departments of state affairs.

The common head of the monarchy is the Emperor (Kaiser) of Austria and King (Király) of Hungary. The crown is hereditary in the Habsburg-Lothringen dynasty, passing by right of primogeniture and lineal succession to males and (on failure of males) to females. The monarch must be a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He is styled "His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty," being "Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary."

Affairs common to the two States are: -(1) Foreign affairs; (2) military and naval affairs, but excluding legislation concerning the army; (3) finance relating to common affairs, but each State provides separately for the assessment, collection, and transmission of its conform tribution. The two States, moreover, one commercial territory, having the same system of coinage and of weights and measures, a joint bank of issue, and the same commercial (as well as political) representation abroad, while the monopolies and taxes connected with industrial production (salt, tobacco, spirits, beer, sugar, and mineral oil) are the same in both. This commercial union, unlike the political connection, which has a permanent character, depends on a compromise renewable every ten years.

Legislative power relating to common affairs is exercised by the Parliaments of both States, but the voting of money to be applied to common purposes, and the control of the official action of the common ministries, belong to the so-called Delegations. Of these there are two, each consisting of 60 members, of whom 20 are chosen from each of the Upper Houses (the Austrian Herrenhaus and the Hungarian Förendiház), and 40 from each of the Lower Houses (the Austrian Abgeordnetenhaus and the Hungarian Képviselöhár). The members are appointed for one year. The Delegations are summoned annually by the Emperor, alternately at Vienna and Budapest. They deliberate independently of each other, their decisions being communicated reciprocally in writing; and if, after three such interchanges, they do not agree, then all the delegates (or an equal number of members from each Delegation) meet together, and, without discussion, settle the matter by vote. The three ministries or executive departments for common affairs are:

1. The Common Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Imperial House.

2. The Common Ministry of War.
3. The Common Ministry of Finance.

To these departments must be added: The Common Court of Public Accounts. The ministers are responsible for the discharge of their official functions to the Delegations.

prentices; and by the law of 1891, children from three to six years of age may be sent to infant schools, unless otherwise provided for.

Every parish or commune is bound to maintain an infant school.

The educational organization of Austria comprises: (1) Elementary schools; (2) gymnasia and realschulen; (3) universities and colleges; (4) technical high schools; and (5) schools for special subjects.

Religion.-In Austria the relation of the State to the religious bodies is regulated by the statutes of DecemThe erection of elementary schools is incumbent on ber 21, 1867, and of May 25, 188. In these the leading the school districts. Compulsory attendance begins principle is religious liberty, the independence of the with the completion of the sixth year, and continues Church as regards the State, saving the rights of the in Austria generally, till the completion of the fourSovereign arising from ecclesiastical dignity. Full teenth. liberty of faith and conscience is secured, and the en- In Austria there are eight universities maintained by joyment of civil and political rights is independent of the State, each comprising four faculties, viz.: thereligious profession. Every religious body, legally recog-ology, law, medicine, philosophy. nized, has the right of ordinary public worship, the management of its own affairs, and the undisturbed possession of its premises, endowments, and funds for the purposes of worship, instruction, or charity. Recognized religious bodies in Austria are: The Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Greek-Oriental, Evangelical (Augsburg or Lutheran, and Helvetian or Reformed), the Evangelical Brotherhood, the Gregorian-Armenian, and the Jewish. The Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs will grant legal recognition to any religious bodies if their Vienna doctrine, worship, constitution, and designation contain nothing illegal or immoral.

In Hungary there is perfect equality among all legally recognized religions. These are: The Roman and Greek Catholic, the Evangelical (Augsburg and Helvetian), the Greek-Oriental, the Gregorian-Armenian, the Unitarian, and the Jewish. Each has the independent administration of its own affairs.

Justice.-In Austria the ordinary judicial authorities are:

(1) The Supreme Court of Justice and Court of Cassation (Oberste Gerichts-und Kassationshof) in Vienna. (2) The 9 higher provincial courts (Oberlandesgerichte), (3) The 71 provincial and district courts (Landes-und Kreisgerichte), and, in connection with these, the jury courts (Geschworenengerichte). (4) The 937 county courts (Bezirksgerichte). Of these the third and fourth groups are courts of first instance; the second group Consists of courts of second instance. Courts of first instance act as courts of inquiry and have summary jurisdiction. Courts of second instance are courts of appeal from the lower courts, and have the supervision of the criminal courts in their jurisdiction. The jury courts try certain cases where severe penalties are involved, political offenses, and press offenses. The county courts exercise jurisdiction in cases of misdemeanor in the counties, and co-operate in preliminary proceedings regarding crime.

There are in all for Austria 71 provincial and 937 county

or district courts.

There exist also special courts for commercial, revenue, military, and other matters. In case of conflict between different authorities the Imperial Court (Reichsgerichte) in Vienna has power to decide.

In Hungary the ordinary judicial authorities are:The Royal Court (kir. kuria) in Budapest and the Supreme Court of Justice (Table of Septemvirs) in Zágráb (Agram), of the highest instance in all civil and criminal matters; 12 Royal Tables (királyi táblák) of second instance. As courts of first instance, 76 courts (törvényszékek) with collegiate judgeships; 456 county courts (járásbíróságok) with single judges: 15 jury courts (sajtóbíróságok) for press offenses, besides an army special court."

Universities.

Pro-
fes- Stu-
sors, dents
etc.

Universi-
ties.

Prague

Graz

German 166 1,232

Profes- Stusors, dents etc.

Cracow

153

1,201

Lemberg

84 1.640

444

5,796

Innsbruck

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Czernowitz

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Bohe-
'mian 168 2,470
140 1,421

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In addition to the universities there are in Austria 48 theological colleges, viz.: 44 Roman Catholic, 1 Greek Catholic, 1 Armenian Catholic, 1 Greek Oriental, and 1 Protestant, with a total of 2,068 students.

There are six Government technical high schools for various branches of engineering and technical chemistry, and a high school for agriculture in Vienna.

BELGIUM.

According to the Constitution of 1831 Belgium is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy." The legislative power is vested in the King, the Senate, and the Chamber of Representatives. The royal succession is in the direct male line in the order of primogeniture. By marriage without the King's consent, however, the right of succession is forfeited, but may be restored by the King with the consent of the two Chambers. The King's person is declared sacred; and his ministers are held responsible for the acts of the Government. No act of the King can have effect unless countersigned by one of his ministers, who thus becomes responsible for it. The King convokes, prorogues, and dissolves the Chambers. In default of male heirs, the King may nominate his successor with the consent of the Chambers. If the successor be under eighteen years of age, which is declared to be the age of majority, the two Chambers meet together for the purpose of nominating a regent during the minority.

Instruction.- Public education in Hungary comprises the following grades: (1) Infant schools; (2) elementary schools; (3) middle or secondary schools, gymnasia and realschools (in Croatia and Slavonia, realgymnasia); (4) preparatory and training institutions for infant-school nurses and male and female teachers; (5) academies (high schools) of law; (6) institutions for According to the law amending the constireligious education; (7) universities; (8) polytechnicum (technical high school). The schools for special subjects, tution, promulgated 7th September, 1893, the such as agricultural, industrial, commercial, mining, Senate consists of members elected for eight and military schools, are for the greater part administered by the competent ministries, while the philan-years, partly directly, and partly indirectly. thropic and artistic schools are placed under the The number of Senators elected directly is authority of the Ministry of Public Instruction.

Compulsory school attendance was established by law proportioned to the population of each provin 1868, for children of six to twelve years, and repeti- ince, and is equal to half the number of memtion courses for children of twelve to fifteen years; the industrial law of 1872 requires special courses for ap-bers of the Chamber of Representatives. The

ment railways between his home and the place of Session.

constituent body is similar to that which elects deputies to the Chamber, except that the minimum age of electors is fixed at thirty years. The Senate and Chamber meet annually in In 1895-96 the number of electors was 1,186,- the month of November, and must sit for at 000, disposing of 1,924,000 votes. Senators least forty days; but the King has the power elected indirectly are chosen by the provincial of convoking them on extraordinary occasions, councils, two for each province with less than and of dissolving them either simultaneously 500,000 inhabitants; three for each with a or separately. In the latter case a new elecpopulation up to 1,000,000; and four for each tion must take place within forty days, and a with over 1,000,000. No one, during two meeting of the Chambers within two months. years preceding the election, must have been a An adjournment cannot be made for a period member of the council appointing him. All exceeding one month without the consent of senators must be at least forty years of age, the Chambers. Money bills and bills relating and those elected directly must pay not less to the contingent for the army originate in the than 1,200 francs in direct taxes, or own im- Chamber of Representatives. movable property in Belgium yielding an income of 12,000 francs. In provinces, however, where the number eligible for the Senate would be less than one in 5,000 of population, the list is extended to this proportion by admission of the most highly taxed. Sons of the King, or failing these, Belgian princes of the reigning branch of the Royal Family are ¦ by right Senators at the age of eighteen, but have no voice in the deliberations till the age of twenty-five years.

The Executive Government consists of eight
departments, under the following Ministers :-
President of the Council.
Minister of Railways.
Minister of War.
Minister of Finance.
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister of Justice.

Minister of Interior and Public Instruction.
Minister of Agriculture and Public Works.
Minister of Industry and Labor.

Besides the above responsible heads of departments, there are a number of "Ministres d'Etat," without portfolio, who form a Privy Council called together on special occasion by the sovereign. The acting ministers, as such, do not form part of the Privy Council.

The members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected directly. Their number is proportioned to the population, and cannot exceed one for every 40,000 inhabitants. They sit for four years, one half retiring every two years, except that after a dissolution a general election takes place. Every citizen over twenty-five years Local Government.- The provinces and communes of age, dom(2,607 in 1896) of Belgium have a large amount of auiciled for not less than one year in the tonomous government. The provincial and communal electors are the same as those who elect the senators same commune, and not legally disqualified, directly. Communal electors must have been domiciled has a vote. Every citizen over thirty-five at least three years in the commune, and a supplementary vote is given to owners of real property yielding an years of age, married or widower, with legiti-income of at least 150 francs. No one has more than 4 mate issue, and paying at least 5 francs a year votes. In communes with over 20,000 inhabitants there in house tax, has a supplementary vote, as has are councilors elected directly, by single vote, by citizens enrolled on the communal electoral lists, and possessalso every citizen over twenty-five years of age ing the qualifications requisite for electors to the Counowning immovable property to the value of pointed by the workingmen electors, and half by the cils of Industry and Labor; half the councilors are ap2,000 francs, or having a corresponding in- electors who are industrial heads (chefs d' industrie). In communal elections vote by ballot is suppressed, excome from such property, or who for two cept when there is merely a single mandate to be conyears has derived at least 100 francs a year ferred. Candidates obtaining an absolute majority are declared elected; others have seats allocated in accordfrom Belgian funds either directly or through ance with the system of "Proportional Representathe Savings Bank. Two supplementary votes tion." In the year 1896-97 there were 1,188,208 provincial and 1,124,276 communal electors. To be eligible to the are given to citizens over twenty-five years of Provincial or Communal Council, persons must be age who have received a diploma or certificate twenty-five years of age and domiciled in the province or commune. Half the Provincial Council is renewed of higher instruction, or who fill or have filled every four years, and it meets fifteen days each year. offices or engaged in private professional prac- herh is presided over by the Governor of the province. There is a permanent deputation of six members elected, tice, implying at least average higher instruc- Ali provincial and communal interests, including local tion. No person has more than three votes; finances, are under the care of the Council, as far as they are not provided for in the general administration. failure to vote is a misdemeanor, punishable The Communal Councils are elected for eight years, half by law. There were in 1896-97, 1.401,951 being renewed every four years. In each commune there is a college composed of the burgomaster, presielectors possessing, in all, 2,141,041 votes. dent, and a certain number of aldermen, corresponding Deputies must be not less than twenty-five to the permanent deputation of the Provincial Council, and both are the organs of the central administration. years of age, and resident in Belgium. Each deputy has an annual indemnity of 4,000 francs (1607.), and a free pass over Govern

Religion. The Roman Catholic religion is professed by nearly the entire population of Belgium. The Protestants number only 10,000, while the Jews number about 4,000. The State does not interfere in any way

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