the continent of Europe and in England and taxation (which has been France's usual the United States. There was much opposi- custom). He maintains that to make the tion in France to the three-year military bill new rentes immune from taxation "would by the Radical elements in the Parliament. be an impossible financial proposal." Those The country, however, seemed so over in favor of the continuance of the former whelmed with patriotic fervor that these custom hold that an exemption from taxation deputies feared to oppose the passage of the of France's enormous public debt (the largest law. Nevertheless, the journalistic organs in the world, but, at the same time, the most of the Radical groups in Parliament and of generally distributed among its own people) the C. G. T. (Confederation Générale de would be an exemption in favor of "millions Travail) boasted that they would prevent of frugal citizens who have withdrawn so the raising of the money necessary to carry many francs from the traditional stocking to this measure into effect. It is being reported show their faith in the government." in the Radical French papers that the law is already a failure. Insubordination, amounting at times to open revolt, has been reported in many regiments and at maneuvers.

The Crisis in French Finance

The "Kaiser's

The French Premier immediCoat" and the ately resigned upon a vote of German People lack of confidence. Not so the German Chancellor. In the Fatherland the The deficit in the French treas- Premier is responsible, not to Parliament, as ury is larger than ever before. in other constitutional countries, but only to When the government, under His Imperial Majesty himself. Militarism Premier Barthou, therefore, proposed to issue the army-means more to Germany than a new loan of $180,000,000 in rentes for to any other nation. Surrounded as she is general purposes and $80,000,000 more for by rival military nations, Germany lives, day Morocco, and, further, to exempt this loan by day, by grace of her army-this is the from taxation, under the provisions of the Kaiser's theory. He is never tired of imnew income-tax law now pending, the storm pressing upon his people the necessity of payburst. After a violent scene in the Chamber, ing respect to the Kaiser-rock-the Kaiser's the ministry was defeated by a vote of 290 to uniform. The German people, who pay an 265. Premier Barthou, on December 2, enormous amount in taxes every year to suphanded in his resignation to President port the ever-increasing army, have to bear Poincaré. After some days of search, the many indignities from the arrogance of the President succeeded (on December 8) in per- military. Deeply sensible of the fact that suading M. Gaston Doumergue, the Socialist- "the army is the life-preserver of the EmRadical leader, who has been a member of pire," the Kaiser has generally been indulgent several former ministries, to name a new and willing to close his eyes when the unicabinet, the Premier himself taking also the form was caught oppressing civilians. portfolio of Foreign Affairs. The Doumergue Ministry contains some new men. Its significant names, however, are those of Joseph Caillaux as Minister of Finance (M. Caillaux was a former Premier), M. as an army captain, made a laughing-stock Viviani, Minister of Education; M. Monis, of an entire regiment, and set the world also a former Premier, who has the Navy smiling at the denseness of German militarportfolio, while such veteran statesmen as ism. Now another cobbler, and a cripple, in Lebrun, Renoult, David, and Raynaud oc- an insignificant Alsatian village, who, somecupy the posts of the Colonies, the Interior, Public Works, and Agriculture.

The Doumergue
Ministry

The German
Army and
Cobblers

Several years ago a German tramp cobbler in a toy town called Kopenick, masquerading

how, prefers to speak his native language, French, and did not get out of the way quick enough to suit one of the swaggering, In a vote of confidence, on De- haughty commanders of the regiment quarcember 11, the new ministry tered there, one Lieutenant Herr Baron von Established won by a fair majority. In a Forster, was slashed by that officer. Others speech on the proposed loans, the Finance in the village population of Zabern having Minister, M. Caillaux, who has already held been injured or insulted by the military, the the portfolio of finance for seven years, de- incident swiftly came to stand for a struggle clared that he had never admitted foreign for mastery between the civil and military loans except when they offered political or authorities of Alsace-Lorraine, those coneconomic advantages. M. Caillaux is op- quered provinces of Germany which have posed to future exemption of rentes from never been forgiven for refusing to surrender

HANS AND JACQUES (Germany and France): "And I Arthur Hoffmann, of St. Gall, a Radical

THE RECONSTRUCTED BALKANS, SHOWING THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES (From a map compiled by Dr. K. Peucker, of Vienna, and reproduced in the Bulletin of the American Geographical Society)

ing, her territory is increased by only 16 per loss to the Turk of 85 per cent. of his forcent., while Greece, engaged in the least of mer European area, and leaving him only actual hostilities, gained 87 per cent. of her 9,700 square miles on the European conti

In the case of Bulgaria that nent. The present population of the Balkan means an increase of 6,000 square miles, States, exclusive of Turkey, is now, in round and of Greece slightly over 21,000. Servia numbers, 24,000,000, of which Rumania has gained 80 per cent., or 14,900 square miles, 7,400,000, Bulgaria 4,800,000, Greece 4,600,Montenegro 60 per cent., or 2,000 square 000, Servia 4,300,000, Albania 900,000, miles. The new independent state of Al- and Montenegro 500.000, while Turkey still bania, covering a little less than 11,000 has 1,600,000 in Europe. The question has square miles, was created. Turkey, of not yet been settled, by the division of terricourse, lost almost all of this (except what tory which will assemble all the people of Bulgaria ceded to Rumania), making a total one racial stock under one government.

Making
Our Cities

While the resident of any one Beautiful of our cities is always ready to praise or to defend it on the score of beauty, he is increasingly ready to join in efforts to promote its charm or the usefulness of its appointments. From one coast to the other we find movements for municipal betterment, taking the form of civic centers, park systems, or perhaps dock and harbor improvements. Some of these plans-as those of Washington, Chicago, and New York-it will take decades to complete. The City Planning Exhibition recently held in the Public Library of New York City gave opportunity for some municipalities to show what they are doing and planning to do, and for others to learn what they might do. The city of Springfield, Mass., last month dedicated its so-called "Municipal Group," consist

For the past two months the city ing of twin buildings (one for offices and the Labor Troubles of Indianapolis has suffered from other a large public assembly hall) surin Indianapolis labor troubles so serious as to mounted by a campanile clock-tower. Springbring about the resignations, at different field has reason to be proud of the architectimes, of the Mayor, the Superintendent of tural beauty of this group; but even while it Police, and the President of the Board of was being dedicated the speakers urged Public Safety. During the first week of specific plans for the improvement of its imNovember the street-car employees stopped mediate surroundings. work in order to enforce their demands for shorter hours and higher wages; and the enThanksgiving Day marked the Financing tire State militia was needed, in addition to "Human end of a fifteen days' money-raisConservation" the local police, to preserve a semblance of ing campaign conducted by the order. Meanwhile the people of the city Young Men's and Young Women's Chriseither walked or stayed at home. Hardly tian Associations of New York City. The had this difficulty been settled before the $4,000,000 which the workers had set out to teamsters and commercial chauffeurs present- raise was obtained, and $50,000 besides. ed demands of a similar nature to their em- More than 17,000 persons subscribed, in ployers. Failing to avert a strike, and be- amounts ranging from $500,000 to a few cause of dissatisfaction with his police policy cents. The money is to be used entirely for Mayor Shank adopted the surprising course new buildings, and three-fourths of it is to of abandoning office on November 28, when go to the Women's Association. Special he had but five weeks more to serve. The provision is planned for a boarding home for City Controller took the vacant place. By women, a club for nurses, and branches for the middle of December the teamsters had colored men and women. This whirlwind gained most of their demands, and had re- method of raising large sums of money has turned to work; but it will be a long time been successfully used by the Young Men's before Indianapolis fully recovers from the and Young Women's Christian Associations commercial and civic loss resulting from its in a score of the larger cities. A campaign two recent strikes. of similar nature is soon to be launched by