disastrous floods which visited France and Germany. In France the continued heavy rains caused the floods to reach the proportions almost of a catastrophe. In Paris the destruction of property was most severe, and although she has been visited by many inundations of the Seine, the flood of 1910 was the worst since the beginning of the seventeenth century. The Seine at Paris reached a maximum height of 30 feet above its normal height. Intense suffering followed in the wake of the destruction of property, and fully 200,000 were soon in actual want. Loss of property was conservatively estimated at $200,000,000.

In England the chief center of interest was the general elections following on the dissolution of Parliament caused by the rejection of the Budget by the House of Lords. The one dominant issue of the campaign was the question whether the people were to govern themselves through their accredited representatives, or whether the House of Peers should retain the right to nullify popular motions.

The second great issue was the budget itself, the rejection of which precipitated the election. The necessity of providing $45,000,000 for old-age pensions, an additional $15,000,000 for new battleships, together with increased expenditures in other departments made it necessary for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to impose new taxations that would bring into the Exchequer the large amount of $80,000,000. To supply this Mr. Lloyd-George proposed to increase the death duties, the income tax and to impose an additional tax on all incomes above $25,000 a year. Other taxes proposed were on mineral royalties, on undeveloped land, and an increased license on dealers in intoxicants. Another issue of the campaign was that of substituting protection for the present free trade.

At the polls, which closed January 29, the Liberal government was sustained, but by a reduced majority. The final

BALLINGER-PINCHOT CONTROVERSY

1910

election figures being Liberals 274, Unionists 273, Nationalists 82, and Laborites 41.

The beginning of the year was notable at home for the Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy.

Mr. Gifford Pinchot, of New York, was, during the administration of President Roosevelt, not only the Chief of the Forestry Division in the Department of Agriculture but also one of the President's closest friends and advisors. He was retained in office by President Taft, but soon after Mr. Richard A. Ballinger was appointed Secretary of the Interior, dissension arose between them which culminated in specific charges being brought against Secretary Ballinger by Mr. L. R. Glavis, a field agent of the Land Office that he had made improper use of the authority invested in him as Secretary of the Interior. These charges were investigated by the President and his Attorney-General Wickersham, who promptly exonerated Secretary Ballinger. Mr. Pinchot thereupon wrote Senator Dolliver of Iowa sustaining, by inference, the charges made by Mr. Glavis whom he acknowledged had been assisted in the preparation of the charges by Mr. Price, Assistant Forester, and Mr. Shaw, a lawyer connected with the Forest Service. This letter was read in the open Senate and created a sensation. The President considered that the only course he could consistently take was to order the removal of Mr. Pinchot and his associates, Messrs. Price and Shaw, which he did on January 7.

Secretary Ballinger then demanded a Congressional investigation and a Committee of twelve members headed by Senator Knute Nelson, of Minnesota, was appointed to investigate the charges and adjudicate the whole question.

Both Houses of Congress undertook to investigate the subject of current prices, the high cost of living, for the bare necessities of life being one of the most serious questions of the day. The high price of meat during the opening

1910

CONGRESSIONAL INSURGENTS

months of 1910 led to vigorous protests and finally to the boycotting of meat in many of the larger cities.

In the House of Representatives a stubborn fight was maintained by the so-called Insurgent members for a revision of the rules of the House, and to curtail the power centered in the Speaker and the small Committee on Rules. The struggle between the regulars and the Insurgent Republican members of Congress continued unabated until March 19 when the forces of the insurgents combined with the Democratic members defeated Speaker Cannon's regular organization by the vote of 182 to 160. A new Committee on Rules was provided for, to consist of ten members, six from the majority and four from the minority party. This committee is to elect its own chairman and the Speaker of the House is not to be a member of the committee. This committee was organized on March 25, and elected Mr. John Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, chairman.

The year was notable for the announcement by Mr. Rocke feller of the incorporation of the Rockefeller Foundation, to which a great part of the Rockefeller wealth will be given to be used for the benefit of mankind.

The year was also noteworthy for the recurring Passion Play at Oberammergau, Bavaria, held from May to September, following a custom established in 1633.