Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-22

concern considers himself insulted or reflect ed upon in the least. In fact the desirability of the system is so universally recognized that if there is any feeling at all on the part of the investigated, it is that of cordial well come to the investigator, as freely extended as to any other business visitor. Frequently the employe whose work is under review is sent off on 8 holiday. and as all are alike sub ject to this inspection, nobody puts on the cap unless he thinks it fits him.
 The importance of establishing zero of longitude and standard of time through the world gives to the approaching international conference to be held in Washington unu- sual interest. The reason of the selection of this country as place of meeting was the fla vorable results expected from the great ex- tent of continuous longitudinal area possess ed by this continent, the largest of any eoun- try traversed by railways, and possessing postal and telegraphic facilities. At present most of the great commercial nations adopt the meridian of Greenwich as the zero of longitude, the latter being reckoned east and west to the z180th meridian This circunl- stance introduces an element of error for navi- gators who make their calculations near zero or this meridian and who are liable to make serious mistake by the misinterpretation of sign, which would place them on the wrong side of the meridians. The use of several prime meridians is fraught with danger where two vessels signal each other under
 stress of weather possessing different stand
 ards and attempt to exchange longitudes
 There are now some half dozen prime merid- ians in use by maritime nations.
 Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, president of Mid dlebury college, is one of the college men who are not free traders. He says: The great issue between the parties is that of protec- tive tariff or free trade. England studies our politics with intensest interest, and she is all agog for Cleveland and down on Blaine England is our great industrial and commer- cial enemy. She is wise, patient. prudent, sagscious, powerful, greedy and selfish She has destroyed every nation that has been in veigled or forced to yield to her commercial policy of free trade. I once believed in
 England, but I have followed her policy in Portugal, Spain, Turkey. Egypt, India, China and Japan. Destruction of native industries, poverty, bankruptcy and extreme misery have marked her course. Her opium wars in China are the most atrocious events of this century. Tho man who favors the com mercial policy of England is an enemy to his country and to the human race. Should we
 become the industrial slaves of England (what free trade would soon make us) it will
 be an iron bondage which we shall not be able to bear. Who can foresee what blood
 ransom we shall be compelled to pay for our freedom, or if the country will survive the shock2
 A striking feature of the German munich pal system is its entire independence of na-
 tional politics No issues but those arising out of municipal questions are allowed to in- duence the city elections. Every male inhab- itant A years of age has right to vote on municipal questions, provided that he has his own household and is not dependent on father or mother; that he has not received aims from the public funds within twelve
 years; that he has paid all municipal dues that he occupies house or pursues a trade
 with two employees; that he pays an income tax or class tax. Under one or another ot
 these five conditions all industrious persons
 in the city are included. That all votes should count equally is regarded as unbusi ness-hke. The arrangement adopted to meet ! this point of view is this: Voters are divid cd into three classes, each of which elects one-third of the City Council. To the first class are assigned so many of the largest tax, payers as pay one-third of the taxes assessed to the second so many as in the aggregate pay the second third of the taxes; to the third class belong all not included in the first and
 second. Each of the three classes elects forty two members of the Council, it's inf1u ence upon questions of finance being kept il
 strict equality with it's tax payments The City Council of Berlin has long been conspic ' uous for the educational and financial stand ing of it's members. Election to it is ac counted an honor to which the ablest men oi the city aspire.