56 



BELGIUM. 



by private contributions, in opposition to the SOORCTS OF REVENUE, isu. 



state schools. The educational work is done SsStai":'.:::"'.:::::::::::::::::'.::'.'.'.'. i^S 



largely by Jesuits. The public schools are Trade licenses ; . 6,200,000 



supported by the communes, the Government g^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;. I::::::::::::::::: 21,700:000 



and the provinces.- The expenditure in I860 succession duties 18,860,000 



amounted to 34,888,000 francs about half of E^anr.^n^.^.pW,,. ............ ^gooo 



which was defrayed by the state. Accoi ding Exci9e on beer and vinegar 9,304,750 



to the military returns, about one sixth of the Excise on sugar 



recruits are unable to 'read or write. Among g^S^^! 8 ^^ 8 ;;;;;;; :;;;;:;;;; 



the younger generation the proportion is con- post-office 8,145,400 



siderably less A law was passed in 1883 g^'SS^^Und ::::::! 1M , 



making Flemish the language ot instruction Miscellaneous receipts 15,021,620 



in the intermediate schools in the Flemish 



parts of the country, but providing for pre- Total revenue 299,571,760 



paratory departments in which both French The expenditure for the various departments 



and Flemish are to be taught. was estimated as follows : 



Commerce. The general commerce in 1881 BRANCHES OF EXPENDITURE, isss. Francs. 



was 2,787,831,075 francs' worth of imports, Interest on public debt 97,519,119 



anrt J_fiO R94. 9*7fi frnru'> nf ftirnnrtq thft sne- Civil list and dotations 4,847,175 



and A4bU,bZ4,ZfO nancs exports , me spe Ministry of Justice 16084,111 



cial commerce by imports to the value 01 Foreign Affairs 



1,629,871,040 francs, and exports to the value l nt ^? or T - * v- 



of 1,302,670,100 francs, the first representing g*Jj l^S*. '. .' i ::::: 



the consumption of foreign and the second War 44,764,900 



the exportation of domestic products The Gen ameri J inaDce .;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;::;;;;;;:;: 'fcgjg 



largest import trade is with France and the Miscellaneous expenditure 1,653,500 



next with the United States, followed by Ger- 

 many, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Total expenditure 324,352,818 



Russia. Of the exports, France takes the The national debt amounted in 1882 'to 



largest share, followed by Great Britain, Ger- 1,799,566,644 francs. Of this, 219,959,632 



many, and the Netherlands. francs, bearing 2 per cent, interest, and 710,- 



The coal-mines of Belgium produce about 956,082 francs, bearing 4 per cent, interest, rep- 



16,000,000 tons per annum, supporting large resent the share of Belgium in the old debt of 



metallurgical and other industries, and furnish- the Netherlands. The rest was contracted for 



ing about 4,000,000 tons for export, chiefly to railroads and other works of public utility. 



France. Loans of 1873-'78, amounting to 381,628,500 



The carrying-trade is mainly in the hands of francs, pay 3 per cent.; 134,719,000 francs, 



the British. The mercantile marine in the be- issued in 1880, pay 4 per cent.; and 340,742,- 



ginning of 1882 numbered 68 vessels, of 75,- 155 francs of railroad annuities pay 4| per 



666 tons, including 42 steamers, of 65,224 cent. All the debts except the old 2 per 



tons. cents have sinking funds provided for their 



Commanleations. Of 4,182 kilometres (2,600 extinction. By a law of 1879, the 4 per cent, 

 miles) of railroad at the end of 1881, 2,888 debt was ordered to be converted into one at 

 kilometres were operated by the state and 4 per cent. Treasury notes bearing 4 per cent. 

 1,294 by private companies. The working interest were issued in 1881 for floating liabili- 

 expenses in 1881 were 62'4 per cent, of the ties amounting to 31,000,000 francs. In May, 

 gross receipts of the state railroads, being 3'9 1883, a new loan of 100,000,000 francs was 

 per cent, greater than four years before, owing issued. Sums aggregating as much as that 

 to the purchases of unprofitable lines. The have recently been appropriated for the Ant- 

 net earnings in 1881 were $4,540 per mile. werp harbor improvements, the erection of 



The total length of telegraph lines in Janu- schools, etc. To prevent the recurring defi- 



ary, 1882, was 5, 693 kilometres; of wires, 25,- cits, the Government in the session of 1883 



404 kilometres. The number of messages in brought in a bill imposing additional taxes on 



1881 was 6,861,985. coffee, tobacco, spirits, etc.; but the coffee-tax 



The post-office carried in 1881, 77,627,488 was withdrawn, that on alcohol rejected, and 



private letters and 20,301,762 postal-cards, the mutilated bill finally passed by a majority 



besides 12,891,656 official letters, 40,538,000 of only six votes. Among the new taxes is one 



packages, and 82,573,000 newspapers. The on securities, and another on operations of the 



receipts were 12.301,321 francs, and the ex- stock exchange, 



penses 7,425,683 francs. Politics and Legislation. The struggle be- 



Finanee. The expenditure of the Govern- tween the Liberals and Clericals occupied in 



ment has exceeded the revenue every year 1883 the political arena, as in former years. 



since 1876. The budget for 1882 estimates The more advanced Liberals proposed to cut 



the revenue at 296,647,709 francs, and the ex- down the salaries of bishops and abolish can on - 



penditure at 310,755,895 francs. For 1883 ries and vicarships. The Government toned 



the estimated revenue from the various down these demands, and carried an amend- 



sources was as follows : ment providing for the extinction of the canon- 



