The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 25, 1901, Page 4

THE SAN ¥RANCIS MONDAY.......reenven0... NOVEMBER 25, 1901 JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor. Adéress Al Communications to W. 8. LEAKE, Mauager. MANAGER’S OFFICE.. «.Telephone Press 204 PUBLICATION OFFICE. ..Market and Third, S. F. Telephone Press 201. EDITORIAL ROOMS.....217 to 221 Stevenson St. Telephone Press 202. Delivered by Carriers, 15 Cents Per Week. Single Coples, 5 Cents. Terms by Mail, Including Postage: DAILY CALL (including Sunday), one year. DAILY CALL (including Sunday), ¢ months. DAILY CALL (including Sunday), 3 months. DAILY CALL—By Single Month. SUNDAY CALL, One Year. WEEKLY CALL, One Year. All postmasters are authorized to receive subscriptions. Sample coples will be forwarded when requested. Mail subscribers in ordering change of address should be particular to give both NEW AND OLD ADDRESS in order to insure & prompt and correct compliance with their request. OAKLAND OFFICE. «++.1118 Broadway C. GEORGE KROGNESS. Mazager Foreign Advertising, Marquette Building, Chieago. (Long Distance Telephone “‘Central 2615.") NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT: C. C. CARLTON. «++..Herald Square NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE: STEPHEN B. SMITH........30 Tribune Building NEW YORK NEWS STANDS: Waldorf-Astoria Hotel; A. Brentano, 31 Union Square; Murray Hill Hotel. CHICAGO NEWS STANDS: Shermen House; P. O. News Co.; Great Northern Hotel; Fremont House; Auditorium Hotel. WASHINGTON (D. C.) OFFICE....1406 G St., N. W. MORTON E. CRANE, Correspondent. BRANCH OFFICES—5’7 Montgomery, corner of Clay, open until 9:30 o'clock. 300 Hayes, open until 8:30 o'clock. 633 McAllister, open until $:30 o'clock. 615 Larkin, open until 9:30 o'clock. 1941 Miseion, open until 10 o'clock. 2261 Market, corner Sixteenth, cpen until § o'clock. 109% Valencia, open until 3 o'clock. 106 Eleventh, open until 9 o'clock. NW. corner Twenty-second and Kentucky, opeg until $ o'clock. 2200 Filimore, open until 8 p. m. AMUSEMENTS. Centrai—'Siberia.” Alcazar—*“We "Uns of Tennessee.” Columbia—*The Girl From Maxim's." Grand Opera-house—"Faust.” California—‘"“Yon Yonson.™ Tivoli—"The Gejsha.” Chutes, Zoo and Theater—Vaudeville every afternoon ant evening. Fischer’ s—Vaudeville. Oakland Racetrack—Races to-day. FIGURES VERSUS FACTS. HE uniform increase in the volume of business T\w'mch has prevailed throughout the couatry for many months was broken last week by a falling off of g per cent at Boston and one of 1.7 per cent at Baltimore. These are small losses, and are note- worthy only because not one of the important cities has shown any decrease for a long time. The total clearances, too, were smaller, falling to a gain of 6.1 per cent over the corresponding week of 1900, while the increase at most of the large centers was consider- ably lighter than of late, that at_ New York, for in- stance, amounting to only 7.4 per cent, against 50, 6o, and even as high as 100 per cent for some time back. These figures would seem to indicate a decreasing volume of business throughout the country, but the commercial reports from the different sections show no falling off in the movement of produce and mer- chandise, if a decline in provisions, accompanied with slowly accumulating stocks, at Chicago be excepted. There is the same complaint of the scarcity of cars to handle the freight offered, the same flattering re- ports from the iron trade, the same mention of the large re-order demand from jobbers almpst every- where, and a general report of a large demand for holiday goods. In the iron trade, especially, the call for pig iron has caused another advance of 50 cents and $1 per ton at almost all markets, while the Chi- cago steel rail mills, which produce one-third of the national output, are sold one year ahead. Locomo- tive works are also sold far in advance, while Central Western mills will not p-omise deliveries of steel bars under sixty days: and structural material is hard to get. The New England boot and shoe factories are so busy that the usual closedown between seasons be generally omitted this year. All this does not look like any falling off in trade, as indicated by the | steadily decreasing bank clearings. Most staples stand about the same as a week ago. Hides are easing off somewhat and are quoted quieter at a number of poiats, and several grocery staples have declined during the past week. The tendency in provisions, as mentioned above, is downward, though the decline is slight and very slow. A large increase in the American visible supply of wheat, coupled with libera] supplies on passage to the Euro- pean consuming countries, has checked the advance previously noted in this cereal, though wheat is being fed to stock in large quantities; not only in this coun- try but in Europe, owing. to the light supplies of corn and oats, both of which are in urgent demand all over the West. The woolen and cotton industries remain as before. Wall’ street is running along without much excite- ment these days. The stock market is in strong hands, and any decline is promptly checked by the enormous corporate interests, which will not permit the market to go down, even if brute financial strength is required to hoid it up. If values recede to-day they recover to-morrow. The banks are watch- ing this business cargfully and are wondering how long the great moneyed interests of the country are going to remain on the long side of stocks. They are getting ccnservative about their loans on the indus- trials, too, but have plenty of funds for good securi- ties, nevertheless, at normal rates of inferest. Ex- ports of gold from New York to Europe last week attracted general attention, but nobody seemed to know why the gold was going there—whether to re- store some scattering balances or to meet a Euro- pean demand for funds, or for investment. Various cauges were assigned, but even Wall street itself pro- fessed ignorance as to-the real definite cause. At any rate, the shipments produced no effect of conse- quence, as the country has plenty of gold. Our local situation remains without change, gen- eral activity and prosperity being reported through- out the city and State ’ A.recent snowstorm covered the whole central re- gion of New York with ten inches of snow, and thé foolish people began to get ready for sleigh-riding instead of taking the first train for California. More and more it is becoming evident to Congress- men that the people ar¢ $atisfied avith the condition of industry and trade and are o'ppuscd to any one-sided reciprocity treaties or any tinkering with the tariff. THE OIL RATE HEARING. HEN the Railroad Commission, after having Wmade a small reduction in oil rates, sud- denly set the decision aside and called for a rehearing the public expected something funny to happen. The expectation was increased by the state- ment of the Commissioners that the rehearing was granted at the request of the railroad in order to permit the oil men to make a better showing. As it'was the first time on record that the loser in a suit ever asked for a new trial for the purpose of giving the winner an opportunity to get a bigger verdict, it was recognized that the commission had introduced a novelty in its business and that the vaudeville stage was no longer to have a monopoly of original stunts. The rehearing is now under way, and enough has been already brought forth to satisfy the expectations of comedy. In the first place, to the surprise of the commission, the oil men have really strengthened their case by producing evidence from’ Traffic Man- ager Bissell of the Santa Fe road to the effect that while the Southern Pacific charges the general oil traffic from $5 to $7 per car for hauling over the Kern district switch, it charges the Santa Fe road only $1 50 per car for the same service. Here is a gross discrimination in rates and a proof that the Southern Pacific makes a charge of as much as $7 for a service it can zfford to .render and does render to certain parties for $1 s0. It was when the witnesses for the Southern Pacific came to the front, however, that the comic stunts began. These witnesses one and all gave solemn seeming and high sounding reasons in support of the | doctrine that cheap fieight rates would be injurious to producers and to consumers. If that view becorrect then the world walks in darkness and the Southern Pacific has the true light. From immemorial time it has been believed that anything which cheapened transportation was a public benefit. In that belief men of all times and all nations have labored to im- prove their roads, to construct bridges and in- every way to facilitate traffic. It was for that they substi- tuted the locomotive for the stage coach and the steamboat for the sailing vessel. Now it is argued they were all wrong. High freights are a public blessing. X The witnesses who were brought in by Mr. Her- rin to sustain his new contention were from Los An- geles. They admitted that cheaper rates would admit the Kern wells to compete with the Los Angeles wells, and possibly that fact may have had something to do with their opinion that high freight rates are necessary for the welfare of Kern. One of the wit- nesses said: “In my opinion a low freight rate tends to reduce the price of oil and brings no benefit ' to either the producer or the consumer.” Another said that if low rates were established “consumers would hesitate to install an oil plant for fear the price of oil would go down.” A third witness declared the oil men cught to form a combination to store and | control the output, that the present way of doing business is a waste of $20 gold pieces. Lastly there | was a witness who declared that even if the railroad and the producer were equitably compensated lower freight rates and lower prices of oil to the con- sumer would not benefit the community. It would appear from all that testimony that the reason we have not developed manufacturing enter- prises in California is because fuel and freight rates have been too cheap. Were we to make them still cheaper robody would install an oil plant. The dis- covery of oil is a2 menace to the industries of the State, and the only way we can save ourselves is to apply to the Southern Pacific Company to act the philanthropist and fix freight rates so high that oil cannot be furnished to the consumer for less than present prices. Had such statements been made by Bill Nye or Mark Twain or Martin Dooley they would have been greeted with roars of laughter. They turn all estab- lished principles of economics topsy-turvy and up- side down. They excite yearnings for an abolition of railroads and a return to ox teams. They give rise to a suspicion that the reason why the Southern Pacific hauls oil for the Santa Fe at $1 50 per car while charging oil men $7 is an expectation that the cheap haul and cheap fuel will ruin the Santa Fe and thus rid the Southern Pacific of competition. The rehearing is to be resumed to-day. There is no tell- ing what doctrines will be sworn to before the day is over. It is to be noted that Commissioner Edson, who made the motion and voted for the rehearing, is a candidate for nomination for the office of Governor of California. From the frequency and the ardor with which the British are now declaring their love for Americans and their desire for an Anglo-Saxon alliance it would not be surprising if some day they should send in an application for admission as a State. e — THE FIGHT FOR RECIPROCITY. ISPATCHES from our special correspondent D at Washington are to the effect that the fail- ure of the foes of the protective system to control the reciprocity convention at the capital has had no other effect than that of increasing their ac- tivity. He reports that some of the large exporters of manufactured goods have not given up the fight and that efforts are being made to induce the Presi- dent and the Cabinct to believe that public senti- ment favors the reciprocity system. i It must not be supposed that the men who are making this fight are sanguine of success at the com- ing session. In fact, our correspondent reports that Mr. Kasson, who negotiated the treaties now before the Senate, admits that he has no hope of their adop- - tion at this session and is even of the opinion that the clauses of the Dingley tariff providing for re- ciprocity treaties may be done away with. Further- more, it is known that many of the most influential leaders in both houses have declared their opposition to the treaties and that these men are well assured of the support of the Republican majority. The real fight of the opponents of protection is to make up in Congress this winter an issue on which to appeal to the people at the next Congressional elections. The whole course of the reciprocity agita- tion tends to thas conclusion. The New England Free Trade League, which has transformed itself into “The National Free Trade League,” is warmly advo- cating reciprocity as a step toward breaking down the protective system. With the free traders will be joined the whole varied mass of so-called tariff re- formers. “Reciprocity”. will be their battle-cry for the present, and so far as they can do so by a vig- orous campaign of education they will form a public sentiment to support them when the elections take place. Despite the strength of the protective sentiment in Congress and in the country at large, it is not to be denied that the free traders have in the present situ- ation of political parties much to encourage them to renew their fight. In the first place the Democrati party has long been seeking a new issue and a new leader. Free silver is an obsodete idea and Bryan has lost his leadership. There are needed for the party a new platform and a new candidate. A free trade campaign under the mask of reciprocity offers them an opportunity to attain both. It is therefore fairly certain they will lend the party machine to aid the fight, and the potency of that machine is well known. Another important factor in the problem that will count on the side of the promoters of the new move- ment is the giant manufacturing element which is willing to sacrifice many American interests for the sake of obtaining foreign markets for its own products. That element is not strong enough to con- trol the manufacturing interests as a whole, but it is strong enough to maintain a powerful lobby at Wash- ington and to contribute liberally to a reciprocity agitation. : £ All signs, therefore, point to the conclusion that the country is in danger of having its industries dis- turbed by another frec trade agitation. It is a fairly safe prediction that if any sort of success be accom- plished by them either in Congress this winter or in the elections next fall the free traders will so develop their agitation as to make a repeal of the protective system the chief issue of the next Presidential elec- tion. There is no serious danger-that such an appeal will be sustained by the people, but the agitation would fill the country with uncertainty and seriously interfere with trade and industry. Tt is therefore de- sirable that the movement be decisively checked at once. To .accomp}li,sh that we must rely upon the Republican majority in Congress. The protective system must be maintained whether its enemy take the name of free trade or of reciprocity. e The Panama Canal Company has nct yet given up the fight. It is said the company will appeal from the Isthmian Canal Commission to Congress and make an offer. that will seem like putting the Panama enterprise on the bargain counter. The suggestion is interesting, but as Congress is not composed of ladies a bargain counter proposition ought not to stampede them. JAPANESE FINANCES. INANCIAL reports are to the effect that the Japanese Government has for some time past been trying in vain to place a loan of 50,000,000 yen in New York or in Europe. The negotiations are said to have failed because both the American and the European bankers believe that Japan ought to pay 6 per cent interest, while the Japanese finan- ciers think their country should be able to borrow money at rates not much, if any, in excess of what are paid by European nations. The statements concerning the desired loan are the more interesting because of the recent publication in this country and in Europe of the financial showing made by Japan during the past five years. Accord- ing to the reports the revenue for the last fiscal year was $138,748,000, while the expenses were $137,046,- 000. The surplus was small, but it is to be borne in mind that of late years very few European nations have escaped a deficiency. A notable feature of the report is the extraordinary increase in both revenues and expenditures during the last five years. In 1806 the revenues were about $50,000,000 and the expenditures $43,000,000. Since that time taxation has been augniented for the pur- pose of providing mainly for the army and the navy. Large as the increase of taxation has been it has not been sufficient for all the expenditures of the Gov- ernment, and the national debt has within ten years increased from $135,000,000 to $260,000,000. The debt does not seem large to Americans, among - whom there are private citizens who could probably pay it off, but it is to be remembered that in Japan wages are low and profits are small. The debt, which seems slight to us, is a heavy burden to them. ‘When we turn from the finances of the Government to the report of business enterprises a much brighter situation appears. According to the figures given there are now in Japan 873 industrial companies, with an aggregate capital of almost $100,000,000; 2518 com- mercial companies, with a capital of almost $240,000,- o000, and fifty-five railway companies, with an aggre- gate capital of $135,000,000. It is also stated that there are 2356 banking companies, with an aggregate capi- tal of $250,000,000. Another interesting set of figures are those re- lating to the export and import trade of the coun- try. From these we learn that of the exports of the last fiscal year Japanese produce to the value of 50,000,000 yen was sent to Great Britain and Hong- kong, 52,560,000 yén to the United States, 31,870,000 yen to China, 19,150,000 yen to France, and 3,550,000 yen to Germany. -Of the total imports 82,000,000 yen came from Great Britain and Hongkong, and 23- 500,000 from British India, 62,760,000 from America, 29,960,000 from China, 29,199,000 from Germany, and 8,005,000 from France. ‘With such a showing as that Japan ought certainly to be no suppliant borrower of either the United States or Europe for so small a sum as 50,000,000 yen, which is approximately in our money about $25,000,- ooo. It would seem that'she could borrow it for less than 6 per cent at home. - Senator Plunkett, cne of the Tammany leaders, in an.address to his constituents after the overthrow of Tammany by Seth Low, said: “How are we going to get through the next two years? Speaking for myself I can say that no Tammany man in my dis- trict will suffer for coal. I've got lots of patronage outside of politics. I've got 300 men on the street railroads and I've got a pull with big corporations that employ thousands of men, and they will take care of Plunkett’s followers until we get back into office.” The frankness of that statement is not more interesting than the light it throws on the situation in New York: When big corporations allow a poli- tician to name their employes it is not strange that it takes something like a revolution to overthrow the Tammany regime. *: —— Because the Pennsylvania football team was de- feated by Harvard the Pennsylvanians were so much aroused they held a mass-meeting and resolved to raise $500,000 to provide their university with the best gymnasium in America. Scholarship may come or scholarship may go, but Pennsylvania is going to keep even in athletics. 5 One of the results of the great railroad combina- tion between Hill and Morgan is an increased de- 'mand for the speedy construction of the isthmian canal. It is admitted that the combination may be- have itself, but shippers prefer to have some kind of competing line in case the unexpected happens. The summer season statistics of Alpine climbing in Switzerland this year show 119 fatal accidents, and it is doubtful if the American football record will | make anything like such a strenuots sho_wing ; 30 CALL, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1901 INEW YORK ZOO OWNS DOUBLE-HEADED SNAKE| € o5 ZOOLOGICAL PARK. A heads to bite each other. to prevent either head getting anything. one throat might be left feeling hungry. drink. serpents can testify. body knows just how. PERSONAL MENTION. M. R. Plaisted, proprietor of the Fresno Democrat, is at the Cahifornia. E. /L. Barkis, a merchant of Oakdale, registered at the Lick yesterday. Adolph Flishman, an extensive fruit grower of Los Angeles, is at the Palace. C. H. A. Warfield, Sheriff of Merced County, registered at the Grand yester- day. A. T. J. Reynolds, en extensive fruit grower of Walnut Grove, is among the | arrivals at the Lick. | George M. McMullea, accorapanied by his wife, returned from Valdez, Alaska, and is at present at the Grand. Colonel. A. B. Hotchkiss arrived from New York yesterday en route to his hom2 in Los Angeles. He is at the Grand. ‘Willlam Wood, one of the leading insur- ance men of New York City, arrived heve yesterday and is a gnest at the Palace. ‘W. Gibson, United States Consul of Sal- vador, arrived here yesterday and has made his headquarters at the Occidental. Charles Tullock, a cattle man of Oak- dale, is in the city on a short business trip and has made his neadquarters at the Lick. Miss Minnie Seligman, the well-knownp actress, is staying at tne Palace. She is | here to fill an engagement at the Grand Opera-house after the Grau season. Charles M. Hammond of Upper Lake, Lake County, is at the Occidental with his wife. Mrs. Hammond's maid~n name was Miss Alice Lee and she w.; a sister of President Roosevelt's first wife. ———— A CHANCE TO SMILE. Keeping Them Busy—‘There is one way that King Edward can keep his chaplains busy.” “What way?" “Praying for a long reign."—Cleveland Plain Dealer. 5 “That boy of ours is a little too clever.” “What lg his latest freak?" “I have just found out that he can whistle out of cnre corner of his- mouth, and at the same time stuff jam into the other corner.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer. Millionaire (to his daughter)—Why is it that the Baron insists upon your being married so soon? His Daughter—I'll be frank with you, father. The tickets for his coronet and family jewels expire next month.—Brook- Iyn Life. “People are always content with their children,” said Mr. Crusty. “Yes,” answered Mr. Dusty, “if a boy is difident they say he is naturally re- fined, and if he is boisterous they say he is sure to make his way in the world."— ‘Washington Star. Mrs. Noozy—I think it's the most rid.c- ulous thing to call that man in the bark a “teller.” Mrs. Chumm—Why? Mrs. Noozy--Because they simply won't tell at all. T asked on2 day how much my husband had on deposit there, and ne just laughed.—Philacelnhia Press. “The plan of this bullding is all right,” observed the critical stranger., “but it seems to me to be poorly executed.” ““I knowed the Buildin’ Department had condemned it,” replied the red-nosed loafer, leaning against the lamp-post, “but I hain’t heard of no execution yit.” And his mocking laughter jarred disa- greeably upon the ear.—Chicago Tribune. “Look at the stuff that goes to waste in the grocery business,” said the lounger in the store, “‘and think of the small mar- gin on most of the goods. Where does the profit come in?" “The profit,” said the impatient man with the basket on his arm, “comes from having only one clerk to wait on thirty- six customers.’—Chicago Tribune. “One of the Boston police officers has invented a scneme for finding Blondin, the bowlegged suspected murderer.” “How does it work?" “He has found a narrow passageway between two brick bwldings, and every- body will be invited to walk through.” “Yes.” . ) stuck will be “The first man who gets Blondin.”—Plain Dealer. ——————— HOTEL DEL CORONADO, the choicest Win- ter Resort in the world, offers the best of ‘fishing and o ...‘;";2?..2"‘ s.hu‘::f ng an manager, TWO-HEADED REPTILE RECENTLY ADDED TO THE NEW YORK IT IS SAID THAT WHEN FOOD IS OFFERED ONE HEAD FIGHTS THE OTHER. of course, the snake does not know that. ‘What will probably prove the snake’s salvation is that he does not refuse to If one of the heads.had to pay for the drinks there might be trouble, but as Jong as the Zoological Society sets them up the two heads drink together as cheerfully as if they belonged to separate drunkards. a long time without food if only one hae plenty to drink, as many an expert in The snake recently had some trouble in shedding his skin. Ordinarily a snake wiggles his nose till he cracks the skin at the tip of it, and then crawls out through the hole, but for this snake to do that is like'a man trying to take off his trousers over his head. The snake accomplished the feat somehow, but no- @ ot el b e e @ — TWO-HEADED snake has recently been placed in the Zoological Park, New York. The keeper says that when food is offered to the reptile ons head fights the other, and each tries to bite its rival, seen the snake fed, but the necks do not look long enough to allow the Then, again, the snake is not poisonous; but, The writer has not It does not seem as if the fight ought If either managed to swallow food it would probably be just as nourishing as if both had done so, though, of course, And one can live for ANSWERS TO QUERIES. TANFORAN—E. E. P., City. Tanforan, for which a racing park has been named, | derives its name from a man of that| name. This department has not been able | to discover the derivation of the name. NOTARIES—A. C. R., TFairfield, Cal Notaries in the State of California are appointed by the Governor. One who de- sires to be 2 notary should have some! knowledge of drawing up legal :docu- ments. ENGAGEMENT RING—L. H. G., City. A gentleman who desires to present his intended an engagement ring should not buy her “a plain gold band which later on | could be used for a wedding ring.” He should present a jeweled ring of such value as his means will allow. ALIENS—F. O. Z., City. In the United States an allen may acquire real estate by purchase, including conveyance and devise, in such States where there is no corstitutional or statutory prohibition. The general rule is that aliens cannot ac- quire real estate by purchase or descent. INTERPRETERS—P. R, City. In San Francisco the Judges of the Superior Court may appoint not to exceed five in- terpreters of foreign languages, who shall | act as such interpreters in criminal actions and proceedings' in all courts in | the city and county and in examinations before Coroner's juries. The salary of each interpreter shall not exceed $100 per month. NUMBERS—M. C. S. and E. M. C,, City. | The use of the comma and the period in printing for the purpose of marking off figures is a matter of style, some using the comma and others using the period, but the most common style is the comma. Some do not use any dividing marks, and the three styles are 5,000, 5.000 and 5000. According to the most approved style fifty millions in figures should be as follows: 50,909,000. DRAW POKER—J. T., Calistoga, Cal. This correspondent asks: “J claims that if he bet §5 in a game of draw poker and T calls him, but does not say a word for a minute and then raises J $5, that T has not the power to do so. Has he?” When T called J that put an end to the game and J was forced to show his cards. T, after calling J, had no right to raise J, no matter whether he was silent a minute or a month. BURIAL AT SEA-S., City. This cor- respondent asks: “I have a relative who is sick with an incurable disease. He knows that his death is but a matter of a few months and he has requested that his remains be taken out to sea for bu- Tial. “Can this be done without violating the law?” A permit can be obtained for the purpose of burying a body outstde of the limits of the city and county. A per- mit in the case might be obtained to re- BRITISH NAVAL ONSTRUCTOR TO BE RETIRED —— HERE are persistent rumors of the early retirement, of Sir William H. White, director of naval con- struction in the British navy. The reason assigned is that of ill- health,” which, no doubt, is the result of worry dver the flasco in the design of the new royal yacht. Sir William is 36 years of age, and has had a phenomenally distinguished career as . -the foremost warship designer in the world. He en- tered the Devomnport dockyard in 1859 as an apprentice, and was appointed eight years later on the admiralty staff under Sir Edward Reed. In 1881 he was ad- vanced to chief constructor, and resigned in 1883 to accept the position of naval constructor to the Armstrong firm at Elswick. Two years later the admiralty invited him to accept the office of di- rector of naval construction, offering a salary of $12500 a year, and Sir. Willlam returned to the admiralty. During this service of sixceen years he has desiy, 174 vessels, aggregating 861,000 tons, rep- resenting an expenditure of $250,000,000, be- sides a couple of hundred smaller ves- sels, such as destroyers and torpedo- boats. The unfortunate climax’ to such a hitherto successful career in the build- ing of the royal yacht was the blunder in calculations by a subordinate for which Sir William has accepted the blame, and the British navy loses an of- ficlal which it will be difficult to find an equally competent successor. Another one of the frequent changes in French naval policy has been announced. The special committee appointed to ex- amine the naval estimates has refused to allow the appropriation for building mere heavy battleships. It also recommends that all old sailing vessels and steamers, whether armored or not, which are un- able to take their place in the fighting Hne, should be either sold or destroyed. The opposition to battleships s a de- batable question, but the recommenda- tion to rémove vessels that have Become obsolete from the navy list Is in the lino of eeonomy and efficiency. Most of the naval powers expend vast ameunts upon vessels of doubtful utility, which money could be expended with better results on new censtruction. Some amusing incidents are reported from Toulon, indicating how difficult’ is to obtain in practice the results aim at by a theoretically perfect organiza- tion. At L’Orient those in charge of the tor- pedo-boats forrot to embark their am- munition. The mechanics taken on board were unfamiliar with their work, and several accidents were caused from this. At Toulon torpedo-boat 62 was sent to sea in a leaky condition, and its crew, unaccustomed to the erratic behavior of the boat,”became seasick. The French submarine boat Triton had an experience while being tried off Cher- bourg last month which its crew wiil never forget. When in about seven fath- oms of water a new plunging apparatus was tried, which acted so prompty that the boat styuck bottom and sustained considerable damage. Water began to flow in, but the engineer, with rare pres- ence of mind, had the detachable weights cast adrift, and the boat rose to the sur- face, where the pumps were set to worl, and a tug towed the beat into Cher- bourg. The Bousasque, a new French sea-go- ing torpedo-boat just completed at Nor- mand’s, yard, Havre, made an excellent run October 26. She left Havre at 10:45 a. m. and arrived at Cherbourg at 113, p- m., making the trip at an averag® speed of 23 knots. The Bousasque is of 160 tons displacement and 4400 Norsepower, M1.7 feet length, 16.7 feet bedm and 8 feet draught. Henri IV, a second-class battleship in course of construction for the French navy, is still far from completion, al- though the ship was intended to be ready for sea in 130. The delay is owifig to ndn-delivery of machinery and guns. The keel was laid at Cherbourg July 15, 1867, and the launch took piace August 23, 1399. ‘Her general design has been severely crit- icized by foreign experts. the general opinion being that the ship would be a failure, and it is possible that a realiza- tion of this possibility may account for the delay in completion. & 9 50 Navy building in Germany is progress- ing at a rate highly creditable to the of- ficials and contractors. With the Jaunch of the Mecklenburg, November 9, there are now 20 battleships affoat and 10 are on the stocks. The United States has 12 battleships afloat, including the Maine and Ohio, which are not to be completed within eighteen months, and 6 ard build- ing. It is quite certain that the 10 Ger- man battleships will be completed within three years from. date, and also most likely, judging from past experience: that our ships will not be ready withi contract time, and that, therefope, th German navy will have 30 battleships ready for service by January, 1905, against 18“in ‘our navy under the most favorabls circumstances. The strength of a navy exists in its actual available number of ‘battleships rather than in the number on paper, and the United States navy is therefore not entitled at the present time to take fourth place in the rank of naval powers. gy Y Russfa is' evidently not satisfled” with home-made guns of large caliber, as the Minister of Marine has ordered batteries of 12-inch guns from France of the Canet type. A torpedo-boat was launched last Au- gust from the Neva shipyard at Port Arthur, being the first of a number to follow. The vessel is 216.5 feet in length, 21.25 feet beam and displaces 390 tons on a draught of 7 feet.. The engines are of 6000 horsepower, to give a speed of 31 knots, and the armament consists . of one 2.%-inch and three 185-lnch rapid firers. - . A mammoth shipyard for the construc- tion of vessels of war and other purposes ‘move the remains to Honolulu or China and on the way there the body might be committed to the sea, provided the con- sent of the captain of a vessel could be obtained to do so. The y could not be ‘“buried ‘at sea” if within the three-mile limit of San Francisca’s shore line. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM-— A. R, City. Referendum may be defined in general as the referring of legislation to the people for final rejection or ac- ceptance. The initiative is the giving to the peo- ple the right of propesing legislation to be acted upon. According te the referendum as it is now generally advocated no law, save a strictly defined class of urgent measures for the public peace, health and safety, which require a twe-thirds or three. fourths majority to rass, would go Into effect without walting a fixed time, y ninety days. If during such time a of the vaters, say 10 per cent, sign a titlon for the referend:im on that law, would not go into eftect until the ne r When the people would vote upon it, and if a majority vote no it “The initistivei a cortain percen The a of the voters, say 10 per cent, sign .t-;’ tition for a law and file it with the authorities it must come fazis proper before the Leg- referred to the has been completed at Palermo. It has five slips, ranging in length from 323 feet to 500 feet. the latter length being capable of a further increase to 865 feet. The bulldings, - labor-saving a ces and machine tools are all up to-the lates: modern standard. Y L A The British battleship. Formidable made her commission trial of three hours Octo- ber 2, and averaged nearly 17 knots. The British battleship Mars recently scored 11 hits of 26 shots from her biz guns and 62 hits out of 112 rounds from her. 6-lnch quick firers. . w e : The Japanese cruisers Nutaka and Tshushima are to be fitted with Niclausse boilers. The vessels are the first of Japanese design, and are building in worse than losing 2 when you want to keep it YOu want to lose it. is keeping it whea Best_eyeglasses, spees, idc, 4. Look out for 81 4th st,, front barber and grocery.” ola - forget that there are the werld worse % whole lots r 2 —_——— information supplied dally to and pu men by the 510 1t- gomery ne v R