Mímir. Icelandic institutions with adresses - 15.12.1903, Blaðsíða 84

74
NOTES ON ICELANDIC MATTERS
after a dormancy of more than forty years) full legislative
powers, and divided it into two houses. At the head of the
government at home was a governor-general (landshofiingi),
who represented the king, and presented and explained to the
Althing the government bills, prepared in Copenhagen. To
the king was given, morever, an absolute veto. The minister
of justice in the Danish cabinet bore the supplementary title
of “Minister for Iceland,’’ and, as such, presided over a minis-
terial bureau, officered, in other respects, by Danes and Ice-
landers. For some little time a political agitation has been
carried on with the view of bringing about some changes in
the administration of the island, and an act to that end was
finally passed by the Althing of 1903, having previously been
adopted, as constitutionally required, by the preceding Althing.
It does away with the governor-generalship, and creates a
special “minister” — the title does not seem to be too happily
chosen — solely occupied with Icelandic affairs. He must sit
with the Althing — to which he is responsible — being present,
as necessity may require, in either house, and must therefore
be familiar with the Icelandic language (an euphemistic way
of saying that he shall always be an Icelander); he resides, in
general, in Reykjavik, though having a sub-office, for con-
venience’ sake, at Copenhagen; when in the Danish capital, for
the purpose of laying the measures approved by the Althing
before the sovereign — who still retains his veto power — for his
sanction and signature, he has a seat in the council of state, but
has no vote either on matters solely relating to Denmark, nor
on those relating to both Denmark and Iceland, just as the
Danish nembers of the council have no voice in affairs purely
Icelandic. It should be mentioned, in this connection, that,
by the existing arrangement, Iceland contributes nothing
towards the maintenance of the monarchy, nor is she called
upon to furnish either men or means for the support of the
army and navy; it is in consideration of these facts, and