DENMARK. 



with the statement that they could not 

 tin- rimiiiher to continue a discussion 

 which under 1 1 resent circumstances offered no 

 pro-pcct of a practical result. The minority 

 of i In- committee considered that a basis of 

 ml jiiMmeiit could still be had, and advised that 

 a positive proposition be made, with a view 



uring an agreement. For this end they 

 proposed a measure combining some of the 

 tea tares of both the measures which had al- 

 ready been considered. This was not accept- 

 able to either side. After hearing the re- 

 ports, the Folkething, Juno 12th, by a vote of 

 62 to 26, reiterated its adherence to its previ- 

 ous positions, and passed to the order of the 

 day. It afterward adopted a vote of want of 

 confidence in the policy of the ministry, in 

 which 71 members agreed. 



The regular session of the Rigsdag was 

 opened on the 2d of October, without a speech 

 from the throne. With 60 members present, 

 the Folkething elected its former president 

 and vice-presidents, Krabbe, Hagsbro, and Han- 

 sen, giving to each 57 votes. The budget was 

 submitted. It estimated the revenues of the 

 country at 47,000,000 crowns, the expenses at 

 46,000,000, and the increase of revenues at 

 8,000,000 crowns. A bill for the alteration of 

 the tariff by the reduction of duties in some 

 items, and increase in others, and a bill offered 

 by the Minister of Instruction for the building 

 of a Polytechnic School, were rejected by the 

 Folkething. No progress having been made in 

 the consideration of the budget, the King, at 

 the beginning of December, authorized a pro- 

 longation of the session for two months, or 

 till February 2d. The discussion on the second 

 reading of the budget was opened on the 15th 

 of December, on the presentation of the reports 

 of the majority of the committee proposing 

 amendments, and of the minority supporting 

 the measures submitted by the Government. 

 The first division took place on the 18th, on 

 the statement of the finance minister. All of 

 the amendments proposed by the Opposition 

 were adopted, by votes of 60 against 15 or 18. 

 The propositions offered by the Opposition in 

 amendment of the statements of the Ministers 

 of the Interior and of Justice were also ac- 

 < ']>!<(], while an appropriation asked by the 

 Government for the building of a mail-steamer 

 was denied. The discussion became very 

 heated over the estimate of the Minister of 

 Instruction. Berg, a leader of the Opposition, 



that the Government would commit a 

 breach of its oath if it framed a provisional 

 finance law, as it was proposed to do if the 

 two Houses failed to agree upon a measure. 

 An appropriation was granted for finishing the 

 Royal Theatre. Before adjourning for the holi- 

 days, the Folkething had approved the amend- 

 ments proposed by its committee to the marine 

 budget, and denied the appropriations asked 

 by the Government. The Landsthing, having 

 nothing to act npon, had taken a recess from 

 the 19th of December to the 9th of January. 



The chief point of difference in the dispute 

 between the Government and the Folkething 

 concerns the plan upon which the di-fi-iiBes of 

 the country shall be constructed. Both parties 

 agree that defenses are necessary, and should 

 be provided, but cannot agree upon any meas- 

 ure as to details. This disagreement has op- 

 erated as a check upon the most important 

 legislation for several yoars. During the former 

 half of the present century the naval force was 

 held in high regard as the most important and 

 efficient instrumentality for defense, while the 

 army was given a subordinate position. A 

 different view has prevailed since the War of 

 1848. The fleet played an inferior part in the 

 campaigns of that period, and suffered severe 

 losses, while the army showed itself strong 

 and effective; consequently, since that time 

 the army has received particular attention, 

 while no more than was necessary has been 

 done for the fleet. In 1867 the army had been 

 given a thorough organization, but no specific 

 plans were thought necessary for the care and 

 increase of the navy, and no new ships were 

 built. In 1872 the Government began to enter- 

 tain the apprehension that the country might 

 become involved in a war with a great power, 

 as Germany, and to give attention to the prep- 

 aration, against such an event, of stronger 

 defenses. It formed plans for the improve- 

 ment of the army, for such an increase of the 

 fleet as would place it in a condition to endure 

 a conflict on the open sea, and for building 

 fortifications at different points. It especially 

 contemplated works to defend the capital 

 against a capture from the side nearest the 

 mainland. For these works it sought at first 

 an appropriation of 40,000,000 marks. Its 

 plans were disapproved by the Legislature. 

 Nevertheless it presented them again the next 

 year, in the same form as before. The Folke- 

 thing answered them with other plans, in which 

 a considerable sum was allowed for the im- 

 provement of the fleet, but nothing for the 

 fortification of the capital from the land-side. 

 In 1874 the Government succeeded in obtain- 

 ing an appropriation to begin the building of 

 an iron-clad vessel. In 1875 the Government 

 again submitted its plans to the Chambers, in 

 a form differing from the original plans, and 

 calling for larger expenditures. The Lands- 

 thing made some slight modifications in the 

 plans, and approved them as modified. The 

 Folkething again rejected them, and adhered 

 to the plans which it had previously approved. 

 The plans were again submitted to the Cham- 

 bers in 1876, in the form in which they had 

 been approved by the Landsthing, and formed 

 the subject of debate during the whole year, 

 without the two Houses being able to come to 

 any agreement upon them. The original plans 

 of defense submitted by the Government con- 

 templated the building of fortresses, to be so 

 arranged as to afford a degree of protection 

 to all parts of the country. They were open 

 to the objection that such a disposition of forte 



