xtension of the franchise to women. These
suggestions failed of adoption, but late in 1910 a new commission was
appointed, under the presidency of the Conservative premier Heemskerk,
and to this body was given power to propose changes in any portion
whatsoever of the governmental order. The successful operation of
proportional representation in adjoining countries, especially Belgium
and Sweden, renders it probable that the system will be adopted
ultimately in Holland. The future of woman's suffrage is more
problematical. Women already possess the right to vote in the
proceedings of the dike associations if they are taxpayers or if they
own property adjoining the dikes, and in June, 1908, the Lutheran
Synod gave women the right to vote in ecclesiastical affairs on a (p. 528)
footing with men. Since 1894 there has been a National Woman's
Suffrage Society, to which was added, in 1906, a Woman's Suffrage
League; and women are freely admitted to membership in the political
clubs maintained by the adherents of the various parties.

Any male citizen who has attained his thirtieth year, who is in full
possession of property, and who has not been disqualified by judicial
sentence, is eligible to a seat in the popular chamber. By
constitutional provision, members are allowed, in addition to
travelling expenses, a salary of 2,000 florins a year; and, under law
of May 4, 1889, members of the upper house who do not live in the
place of meeting receive a _per diem_ of ten florins during the
continuance of each session.

*581. The States-General: Organization and Powers.*--The constitution
requires that the States-General shall assemble at least once each
year and that its regular annual session shall be opened on the third
Tuesday in September. The sovereign may convoke an extraordinary
session at any time; but regular sessions are not dependent upon the
royal summons. The crown possesses the right to dissolve the houses,
separately or simultaneously; but a decree of dissolution must contain
an order for the election of the new house, or houses, within fourteen
days, and for the assembling of the houses within two months.[734]
Except in the event of a dissolution, a regular session is required to
extend through at least twenty days; but upon the expiration of the
twenty-day period the sovereign may terminate the sitting whenever in
his judgment "the interests of the state no longer require its
continuance."[735] The president of