ITALY: The Mussolini Moves

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Benito Mussolini, all-powerful, continues his triumphant reforms in devastating succession.

Italians are asking whether " lady-killer " has two meanings; for Benito decreed that no expensive gowns shall be à la mode! Until such time as Italy shall have found herself financially, it is an unpatriotic act for any Italian woman to wear other than simple and inexpensive clothing.

The formation of a land militia was approved by the Premier. The functions of this new body will be to develop agriculture by enforcing laws designed to assist it and by seeing that the land is cultivated in the best interests of the State. The peasants will be forced to give the militia notice of any animal or plant diseases.

A Council of Ministers appointed by Mussolini is sitting to arrange the details of the transfer of the Italian State Railways to private investors. A lease of the railroads is to be granted to private companies for long periods and they will be permitted to take all the profits up to 7 per cent, anything above that to go to the State. Absolute freedom in administering the railways will be given to the companies.

The question of Italy's surplus population is becoming more pressing than ever, and the proposed new American immigration law, the effect of which would be to reduce Italian immigration into the United States from 42,000 to about 6,000 is causing much anxiety. With Italy's population multiplying and no outlet for it, it can be no long time before Mussolini must meet the problem.