The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

GOYERXMEXT AXD ADMINISTRATION OF NORWAY. 159Council, and agricultural unions. This system, known abroad as the Goteborgsystem, from the place where it was first introduced, has the signal advantage thatthe thirst of gain does not transform the spirit dealer into an encourager of viceand a tempter ever on the watch for his victims. The retail taverns of theGoteborg societies are not like the gin-palaces which attract such crowds inEngland.Sweden is one of the European states in which the number of births fromunlegalised unions stands highest, though this need not be regarded as an index ofexceptional depravity. There are, so to say, no foundlings in Sweden, where allmothers either nurse their children or cause them to be brought up. Besides,about one-tenth of those reckoned as illegitimate are born of couples registered asbetrothed, and after the marriage of their parents they enjoy all the privileges oflegitimacy. The high rate of illegitimate births in Stockholm is largely due tothe temporary immigration of women from all parts of the country, attracted bythe lying-in hospitals of the capital, where they are admitted without the formalityof giving their names. Hitherto the non-Lutherans also, other than Catholics,the Jews, and a Baptist parish have been excluded from the marriage laws, inconsequence of which their issue is regarded as illegitimate.GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF NORWAY.The independent kingdom of Norway, united to Sweden in the person of thesovereign, is a constitutional state, the nation being represented, as in mostEuropean countries, by deliberative bodies. The legislative functions rest with theStorthing, an assembly of 111 members, divided into two sections—the Odekthing,answering to a popular Chamber, and comprising two-thirds of the representativebody, and the Lagthing, or Senate, elected by the Storthing. All bills mustbe adopted by both sections, and in case of disagreement the two form onedeliberative body, in which a majority of two-thirds is needed for the enactmentof any measure. The action of laws passed by the assembly may be suspended bya royal veto, renewable three times for terms of three years after each fresh vote.Ultimately the will of the assembly prevails. The projects initiated by the Kingtake their turn like all others, and the Storthing may pass to the order of the daywithout discussing them.The members of the Storthing are elected for three years—two-thirds by therural districts, one-third by the boroughs. All citizens twenty-five years old areeligible, also present or former functionaries, owners of registered real property,traders paying licenses in towns, artisans, ship captains, and in tbe country fiveyears'leaseholders. The members of the Government take no part in thedeliberations of the Storthing, which meets annually, but cannot sit for more thantwo months without the consent of the King, though he does not possess the rightof dissolution. The fundamental law of Norway is partly modelled on the Frenchconstitution of 1791.The King, who resides in Stockholm, is bound by the Norwegian constitution