States and Austria-Hungary (a copy of which is appended) provides that in the case of the death of an American citizen in Austria or Hungary, or of a subject of Austria-Hungary in the United States, who has no known heir or testamentary executor designated by him, the competent local authorities shall give notice of the fact to the consuls or consular agents of the nation of the deceased, in order that the information may be at once transmitted to the parties interested. The Austro-Hungarian embassy at this capital alleges that the local authorities of the States of this Union fail in many instances to comply with the stipulations of this article, under which it becomes their duty to notify the Austro-Hungarian consular officer of the death of any subject of Austria-Hungary in the United States without known heirs or testamentary executor designated by him which may occur within their jurisdiction. I have the honor to ask that you will kindly bring the provisions of the article in question to the attention of the competent local authorities in your State, in order that its stipulations may be complied with. A list of the Austro-Hungarian consular officers in the United States and of their districts is also appended. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, ALVEY A. ADEE, [Appendix 1.] Article XVI of the consular convention between the United States and AustriaHungary, concluded July 11, 1870. ARTICLE XVI. In case of the death of a citizen of the United States in the AustrianHungarian Monarchy, or of a citizen of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy in the United States, without having any known heirs or testamentary executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall inform the consuls or consular agents of the State to which the deceased belonged, of the circumstances, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to the parties interested. State. Alabama.. [Appendix 2.] Austro-Hungarian consular officers in the United States. Alaska.. Arizona. Arkansas. California. San Francisco.. See California. Austro-Hungarian consular officers in the United States-Continued. New Hampshire.. See Illinois. See Missouri. Vacant; for Kentucky and Tennessee. Temporarily under the Francis Hindermann, consul for Louisiana and Mississippi. Louis Hester, consul for Maryland and Delaware. Arthur Donner, consul for Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and See Wisconsin and Illinois. Do. See Louisiana. Ferdinand Diehm, consul for Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. See Illinois. Do. See California. See Massachusetts. See New York. See Missouri. Baron Otto Hoenning O'Carroll, consul-general for New York, Ludwig von Jeszenszky, vice-consul for the counties of Ashland, See California. Dr. Theodor von Thodorovich, consul for the counties of Adams, File No. 3831. No. 133.] UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE IN AUSTRIA. Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Vienna, December 28, 1906. SIR: The question of universal suffrage in Austria has been a subject that has commanded the closest attention of the people of this Monarchy during the last year. Public opinion generally, outside of the circles of nobility and of the large landowners' class has enthusiastically favored the measure. In November last the so-called "Franchise reform bill was considered by the Lower House of Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, and during debate many interesting sessions of that body occurred in which acrimonious charges and countercharges were made against each other by prominent members. The situation became acute, and was only relieved when Emperor Francis Joseph called together at the imperial palace the political leaders and strenuously advised the prompt passage of the reform measure; and it was a significant fact that the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by a large majority on the fifty-eighth anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne December 1. The Upper House of Parliament, or House of Peers, progressed the franchise bill through a second reading, but declined to place it on final passage until the Chamber of Deputies agreed to vote for an amendment to the constitution which would give the Emperor the authority to appoint for life not more than 170 nor less than 150 members of the higher legislative body. This pledge has already been given by the Austrian premier, Baron Beck. It is believed the Chamber of Deputies will surely pass such a bill within a few weeks and the House of Peers act affirmatively on the franchise reform measure, thus assuring to Austria in the near future the universal right of suffrage to every male above 24 years of age. The proposed legislation, in order to avoid the conflicts which have frequently occurred in the past among the ten races residing in Austria, provides that separate constituencies shall be organized for electors of different races, so that Czech voters on a Czech register will vote only for a Czech, Germans will only vote for a German candidate, etc., and seats in the Chamber of Deputies will be allotted to the various races according to population and taxpaying capacity. In this way electoral struggles will be confined to political parties within racial limits, and the originators of the plan believe that it will afford the different races in Austria opportunities of compromise and agreement among themselves and prevent the open racial quarrels in the Chamber of Deputies that have so conspicuously marked past sessions of that legislative body. Austria is a country of multitudinous political parties, as will be observed when it is stated that upon the final passage of the franchise reform act in the Chamber of Deputies the supporters of the measures included German Radicals, the Young Czechs, Poles, most of the German Progressives, the Christian Socialist Antisemites, most of the Catholic Center, the Southern Slavs, Italians, Social Democrats, and one Rumane. Those opposing the bill were the German Consti tutional party of the large landed proprietors, with whom certain special privileges will be eliminated; the Bohemian Feudal party, the Pan-Germans, the Liberal Slovenes, the Czech Clericals, and a few German Progressives. It is said that the new Parliament, elected under the provisions of the franchise reform bill, will probably be more clerical in its composition than its predecessors have been, and, as a consequence, there will be less likelihood of "deadlocks" similar to those that have so marked many previous sessions of the Austrian national assembly. I have, etc., CHARLES S. FRANCIS. File No. 3831/1. No. 157.] Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Vienna, January 25, 1907. SIR: Supplementing my No. 133, dated December 28, 1906, I have the honor to report that yesterday the Austrian House of Peers passed the statute amendment bill modifying the constitution of 1867 in accordance with the proposed universal suffrage law. The franchise reform bill, having already passed both Houses of Parliament only requires the signature of the Emperor to become operative. The Austrian premier, Baron Beck, in a vigorous speech, declared that universal suffrage legislation was absolutely necessary and that Austria was confronted by many problems demanding serious consideration, the most important of which was the settlement of its relations with Hungary, to the end that a more friendly feeling might exist between the two countries. I have, etc., File No. 3831/2. No. 231.] CHARLES S. FRANCIS. Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Vienna, May 17, 1907. SIR: Supplementing my dispatch No. 133 of December 28, 1906, in which I announced the passage of the universal franchise bill and the introduction of universal suffrage into Austria, I have the honor to report that the first general election under the new system was held on May 14. This election occurred throughout Austria, except in several districts in Galicia and in Dalmatia where, for local reasons, in certain parts of those two provinces the election will be continued for about four weeks. Also in certain other districts a second ballot will be required, which will take place on the 23d of the present month. Four hundred and thirty-nine seats, out of the 516 in the new chamber, were contested, as well as 36 seats in Galicia and 4 in Dalmatia. Polling began at 6 a. m. and, except in the densely populated centers, ceased at 5 p. m. The ballot was secret, and the counting did not begin until the last vote had been polled. Each polling station was superintended by an election commissioner appointed by the authorities, and the election itself was managed by an electoral commission, composed of three nominees of the municipal council, three nominees of the commissioner, and a seventh chosen by the other six. Electioneering had been prohibited by law within a certain radius of each polling place. Police were stationed at every booth, but the election proceeded quietly without any violence or disorder. A full vote was assured, as voting was an obligatory duty, every citizen entitled to vote being obliged to exercise that franchise or to pay a fine varying from 1 to 50 kronen unless he could prove before a magistrate a satisfactory reason for the nonfulfillment of that duty. As regards the composition of the new Parliament, socialism has gained strongly and the Pan-Germans have suffered a reverse. In Bohemia the purely racial candidates, both Czech and German, were generally defeated by the Social Democrats. So far as can now be determined the new chamber will be composed chiefly of Socialist and Clerical members, with a very large Socialist majority. It would seem to be certain that the Chamber of Deputies, with its large Socialist majority, and the House of Peers, controlled by the German constitutional party of large landed proprietors, will not agree in matters affecting governmental policies. It may be said that, apparently, universal suffrage has made a most notable entrance into Austria. The election was characterized by perfect order and absolute quiet, and, though the action of the new chamber can alone warrant a definite judgment as to the actual effects of the great reform, the circumstances attending its inception have developed unexpected political conditions in the national fegis lature. The new Parliament will meet June 13 for a summer session which promises to be the most interesting that has been held in Austria for many years. It is practically certain that when the final balloting for delegates is concluded a reconstruction of the present Beck cabinet, in accordance with the exigencies of the new situation, will be necessary. I am, etc., CHARLES S. FRANCIS. FOREIGNERS KILLED OR INJURED WHILE IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Memorandum from the embassy of Austria-Hungary. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMBASSY, 1. Gobo Biljetina, also known under the name of Guy Bearton, a Hungarian citizen, who was employed as a laborer by the engineer office, United States Army, Pittsburg, Pa., was hurt by a crane while at work on the Dam No. 4 on the Ohio River on the 26th of July, 1906; the injuries received were of such a grave nature that he had to stay at the hospital during fifty-nine days and that he is now a disabled cripple. |