NETHERLANDS, THE. 



NEVADA. 



557 



The aggregate tonnage of vessels entered in 

 1880 was 1,855,631 ; cleared, 1,779,305. The 

 tonnage of the colonial fleet in 1880 was 146,- 

 110 tons; in 1881, 143,317 tons. 



The colony of Surinam, or Dutch Guiana, 

 has an area of 46,060 square miles, and a popu- 

 lation of 69,856. The West India islands be- 

 longing to Holland are : Curagoa area, 210 

 square miles; population, 24,507. Aruba area, 

 69 square miles ; population, 6,193. Bonaire 

 area, 95 square miles; population, 5,060. St. 

 Martin area, 17 square miles ; population, 

 3,236. St. Eustace area, 7 square miles ; pop- 

 ulation, 2,258. Saba area, 5 square miles; 

 population, 2,202. 



Ministerial Crisis, In March the Van Lynden 

 ministry, after an adverse vote, February 26th, 

 of 66 to 2 votes on the proposition to reduce 

 the limitation of the franchise, determined to 

 hand in their resignation. The Opposition was 

 made up of the Catholic and ultra-Protestant 

 parties, and the object of the votes was to pre- 

 vent the reform of the electoral laws which 

 was demanded by all the Liberals. Dr. Heems- 

 kerk got together a Cabinet after several weeks. 

 His own group counted only a half-dozen votes; 

 but the Liberals were split into two irrecon- 

 cilable factions. The new ministry was com- 

 posed mostly of men outside of Parliament and 

 not known to politics. 



Legislation. During the Cabinet crisis, le- 

 gislation went on without interruption. The 

 proposition for a new loan was approved, 

 though the rate of interest was fixed at 4 in- 

 stead of 3 per cent., as intended by the Gov- 

 ernment. The terms were so attractive that 

 twelve times the 60,000,000 was subscribed. 

 The North Sea fishery treaty, framed the pre- 

 vious year by a conference of the interested 

 powers, was approved. The project of a new 

 canal, to connect Amsterdam with the Rhine, 

 was confirmed in the form proposed by the 

 passage of an expropriation act. The new 

 Conservative ministry applied themselves to 

 the task of regulating the disordered finances 

 of the country. The expenditures for the 

 colonies were to be reduced, except those for 

 Curacoa, which are somewhat increased. It 

 was proposed to revive the timber duties and 

 increase the spirit and t^a duties ; but only a 

 part of the new imposts were approved by the 

 Chamber. The catastrophe in northern Java, 

 and epidemics among human beings and ani- 

 mals in the East Indies, increased the difficul- 

 ties of the Government. 



The question of a revision of the Constitu- 

 tion was before the country, but the Liberals 

 could not agree as to the extent of the reform. 

 In the elections of half the members of the 

 Second Chamber in June, the Liberals, who 

 could not agree on the question, lost three 

 seats, electing only 18, while the. Conservatives 

 elected 24 members. The two sections of the 

 Left still commanded a majority in the Second 

 Chamber. By the provincial elections, which 

 were held later, the large Liberal majority in 



the First Chamber was not diminished. The 

 points in which the Liberals proposed to alter 

 the Constitution were to make the law of suc- 

 cession to the throne clear and complete, to 

 empower the Council of State to speak out in- 

 dependently in administrative affairs, to abolish 

 the electoral cense and substitute an intellect- 

 ual qualification, and to reduce the terms of 

 representation, so that the States-General will 

 be entirely renewed within the period of five 

 years; further, the complete introduction of 

 universal personal military service, the aboli- 

 tion of the oath, and an easier process for re- 

 vising the Constitution. The new ministry 

 upon assuming office appointed a commission 

 to study the question of revision. 



War in Ateheen. The war in Sumatra was con- 

 tinued, and no important success was achieved 

 by the Dutch soldiers. The natives were 

 armed with excellent rifles, obtained from trad- 

 ing-vessels. The woods and hills of northern 

 Sumatra were favorable for guerilla warfare. 

 The leader of the rebels, the Rajah Njay 

 Hassan, refused the terms which were offered, 

 and demanded the return of the disputed ter- 

 ritory, and the payment of 5,000 guilders. 



(For an account of the International Exhibi- 

 tion at Amsterdam, see WORLD'S FAIRS.) 



NEVADA. State Government. The following 

 were the State officers during the year : Gov- 

 ernor, Jewett W. Adams, Democrat; Lieuten- 

 ant-Governor, C. E. Laughton; Secretary of 

 State, J. M. Dormer ; Treasurer, George Tufly ; 

 Comptroller, J. F. Hallock; Attorney-General, 

 W. H. Davenport ; Superintendent of Public 

 Instruction, C. S. Young; Survey or- General, 

 C. S. Preble. Judiciary, Supreme Court: Chief- 

 Justice, Thomas P. Hawley ; Associate Justices, 

 O. R. Leonard and C. H. Belknap. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature convened 

 on the 1st of January, and adjourned on the 

 1st of March. Ninety-three laws were passed, 

 among which were the following : 



Consolidating Washue and Koop counties under the 

 name of Washoe. 



Defining the rights of husband and wife. 



For the prevention of fraud and the better protec- 

 tion of miners in the sale and purchase of ores. 



To enable mining corporations to consolidate, and 

 defining the manner of such consolidation. 



Providing for the taxation of mines that produce 

 a ton or less of ore or mineral- bearing material per 

 day, and to encourage the prospecting of undeveloped 

 mines. 



Providing for the support of illegitimate children. 



Providing for the* licensing of traveling merchants 

 or soliciting agents, commonly called drummers. 



Providing for the consolidation of domestic and cer- 

 tain foreign corporations. 



Granting the risrht of way and providing for the 

 construction of the Nevada and Northern Railroad 

 from Elko to the head-waters of the Owyhee river, 

 and thence to the pine-forests of Oregon ;like rights 

 to the Nevada Southern Railroad, from Wells, Elko 

 county, to the Colorado river. 



For the better observance of the Sabbath. 



The following proposed amendments to the 

 Constitution are to be voted on at the election 

 in November, 1884 : 



