Show t M t M I M I M t t M tit M M M t M M M M M t M M t i TH THE BELGIAN GIAN SITUATION TION 1 MM 4 M 4 M M MM 4 MM I M M M MM P By a majority of twenty votes the Belgian Chamber of of Representatives yesterday yesterday- rejected ejected the I proposition to wise revise the Constitution of the tle Kingdom King I dom doni so as to provide ride for universal al suffrage For Forthe Forthe For Forthe the present at tit least this kills the reform so urgently demanded by ly J. J the Belgian proletariat r nt The Senate which is imbued with conservative ideas to a greater extent than is the tile lower House as a matter of cour course e w would uld oppose l lose the measure and the tIie dream of the Socialists is not hot to b be 1 realized at Ht present t Whether this result will viii lead to fresh outbreaks outbreaks out out- breaks of disorder or not remains to b be seen seem The fhe government appears to have the situation well in iu hand liand and proba probably ly would be able uble to suppress any insurrectionary movement without much difficulty Indeed the Socialistic leaders tacitly admit defeat and are counselling their ir followers to submit and quietly and if possible to induce King induce King Leopold to use his power and influence with the chambers in inline inline inline line with the p popular pular demand The suffrage law of Belgium is a peculiar one and is part of the national Constitution The The The-legis- legis legislative power is vested in a Senate and C Chamber amber of Representatives members of the former being elected for eight years ears and nd of the latter for four years Jears Men cann cannot vote rotC for representatives until the age of twenty five or for senators until the age of thirty years Every male citizen of legal age may vote but the Constitution gives one additional vote vote to every married man or widower five thirty years rears of age who has legitimate issue and pays a ahouse ahouse ahouse house tax of not less than 1 5 It also gives one additional vote to every citizen twenty-five twenty years rears old or over oyer who owns le real l property to the value of or who has an income of not less than 20 20 a aV a ayeal V year yeal from an investment in the public debt or froma from a savings savings bank Two additional votes ar are are given ghen to toe e each ch citizen twenty five years ealS of age who has received received re re- certain diplomas laS or discharged certain functions functions functions which imply the possession of a superior edu edu- cation The same citizen may accumulate votes vote on on mole more than tha one of ti these ese qualifications but no person son pet is allowed lowed to cast ast r more lore than three votes otes This plan of cumulative vo voting has bas its advantages advantages advantages to the State It encourages marriage age large families and thrift but the masses do not like it However they will have to stand for it a a. a while yet |