Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/882

 760 DENMARK

Another law of 1891 concerning Old Age Pensions has been extended by enactments of 1902 and 1908 so as to provide for, and to regulate assis- tance granted to the aged poor. Recipients must be over 60 years of age, of good character, and must have, for the preceding 5 years, had their domicile in the country without receiving public charity. The assistance granted may be in money, or in kind, or by abode in an hospital. It must be sufficient for maintenance and for attendance in case of illness. The estimate of the poverty of the recipient does not include private assistance unless amounting to over 100 kroner (about hi. 13.9. ) a year The subvention is paid by the commune of domicile and half of it is refunded by the State. For the year ending March 31, 1911, 79,289 persons were relieved, of whom 59,271 were principals and 20,018 dependents. The total expenditure was 644,072?., of which 326,172Z. was expended by the State.

Justice and Crime.

The lowest courts of justice in Denmark are those of the hundred or dis- trict magistrates {hcrredsfogder and hirkedommere) and town judges {hyfogder). From these courts an appeal lies to the superior court (Overrct), or court of second instance, in Viborg with 9 judges, and in Copenhagen with 20 judges. The Copenhagen superior court, however, is identical w^ith that of the civic magistrates. The supreme court {Hojesterct) or court of final appeal, with a chief justice, 12 puisne judges, and 11 special judges sits in Copen- hagen. Judges under 65 years of age can be removed only by judicial sentence.

In 1910, 3,378 men and 509 women were convicted of crimes and delicts ; 47,001 persons v/ere convicted of minor offences. On March 31, 1911, 797 men and 66 women were in the penitentiaries of Denmark,

Finance.

By the terms of the Constitution of Denmark the annual financial budget called the ' Finanslovforslag,' must be laid on the table of the Folkething at the beginning of each session. As to the annual financial accounts called 'Statsregnskab,' the Constitutional Charter prescribes them to be examined by four paid revisers, two of whom are elected by the Folkething and two by the Landsthing. Their report is submitted to both Chambers which, after due consideration, pass their resolution generally to the effect that they have no remarks to make on the balance-sheet.

The following shows the actual revenue and expenditure for the five years ending March 31 (18 kroner = lZ. ) : —

Year

Kevenue

Expenditure j

1 f f 1 £ \ 6,324,080 j 5,228,860 5,999,780

Year

Revenue

Expenditure

1907 1908 1909

£ ' '■■ 7,056,600 5,472 210 5,186,620

■

1910 1911 1912

£ 7,513,825 7,894,689 9,398,676

£

7,398,859 7,781,208 9,540,078