Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/266

LEFT ITALY 212 ITALY an important industry. The cheese of appointed for life by the king. The Italy is famous, especially the Gorgon- second chamber is called the chamber of zola and the Parmesan. The total area deputies, and consists of 508 members, under cultivation in 1919 was about who are elected by a majority of all the 66,000,000 acres. The production of the citizens above 21 years of age who are principal crops in hundredweights, was in the enjoyment of civil and political as follows: wheat, 92,296,000; oats, rights. In 1918 suffrage was made uni- 10,080,000; maize, 43,498,000; potatoes, versal for persons 21 years of age, and 27,726,000; sugar-beet root, 28,000,000. for men under 21 who had fought in the Other important products were rice. World War. The principle of propor- beans, rye and barley. tional representation was enacted into Manufactures. — The most important law in 1919. Each province has the are the silk manufactures, Italy as re- right of independent administration, and gards the production of raw silk being the executive power is intrusted to a in advance of all the other countries provincial council. In each province the of Europe. Lombardy, Piedmont, and power of the state is represented by a Venetia are the great centers for its prefect, who is supported by a council, preparation. Weaving is less developed. The executive power of the state is exer- The cotton manufactures are also cen- cised by the king through responsible tered in Upper Italy, chiefly in Lorn- ministers. bardy, and have much increased of late. Commerce. — The exports and imports Woolen manufactures are also chiefly showed quick increase following the con- carried on in Upper Italy. In the iron elusion of peace. The imports in 1919 industry the department of Lombardy amounted to £660,666,054, and the ex- stands at the head; more particularly the ports to £207,044,952. These fiigures provinces of Brescia, Como, and Milan, may be compared with those of 1914, Tanning, the manufacture of linen, of which for imports were £116,933,902, paper, gold and silver wares, articles in and for exports £88,416,167. The chief bronze, musical instruments, the making imports wei-e wheat, coal and coke, raw of gloves, boots and shoes, felt and silk cotton, wrought iron, and steel. The hats, are also considerable industries, principal exports were raw silk, cotton The manufacture of tobacco is a state manufactures, silk manufactures, spun monopoly. Of special repute are the cotton yarn, etc. The chief volume of cameos and mosaics of Rome, Naples, trade was done with the United States. and Florence; the filigree and coral work In 1920 the exports from Italy to the of Genoa; the plaited straw and the United States amounted to $90,420,177, earthenware manufactures of Italy gen- and the imports from the United States erally. There are no trustworthy sta- amounted to $398,065,795. The imports tistics later than 1911. Manufacturing show a marked deci-ease from 1918-1919, was greatly disturbed by the World War, while the exports greatly increased. and by conditions which followed it. Shipping and Transportation. — In The economic situation resulted in fre- 1918 the total number of steam vessels quent strikes, and a movement gained in the mercantile in Italy was 747, with impetus among workers in the metal a tonnage of 624,125. The total length working trades to gain control of the of railway lines was about 11,800 miles, enterprises. The movement became so There are about 35,000 miles of tele- gtrong that the Government was obliged graph lines. CO pass measures providing for the prac- Finance. — The total estimated revenue tical ownership of many of the manu- for 1919-1920 was 5,699,765,528 lire, and ^acturing plants by the men employed the total expenditure, 6,256,482,917 lire, m them. In 1911 there were 135,461 The public debt amounted in 1919 to manufacturing establishments, employ- $11,415,932,000. The annual interest ing 640,856 workers. The number of un- charges amounted to $459,959,000. employed in 1920 was very considerable. Education. — The total number of pu- Constitution and Government. — The pils in the elementary public schools is constitution of the Kingdom of Italy is a about 3,500,000, in private schools, about limited monarchy, based upon the Funda- 150,000, and in evening schools about mental Statute granted by King Charles 200,000. There are also secondary Albert to his Sardinian subjects March schools, technical schools, normal schools, 4, 1848. The king, who is hereditary, and technical institutes. The public ele- exercises the power of legislation only mentary schools number about 125,000. m conjunction with a national Parlia- There are 35 schools of agriculture, with ment consisting of two chambers. The about 1,200 students. In 1919, as a part first chamber is called the senate, and of its reconstruction work, the Govern- is composed of the princes of the blood ment provided for a national institute and an indefinite number of members for the instruction of illiterate adults.