The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-21
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The treaty OF Berlin, about which so much has
been recently said in dispatches on the critical
aspect of the Eastern question, whilst setting up
the princpality of Bulgaria and the autonomous
government of Eastern ROumella, admitting
Austria as administrator OF Bosnia and HeFZe-
goylna, extending the frontiers OF Greece and
Montenegro aud assigning Turkish territory in
the delta of the Danube 10 Russia, also con-
tanned guarantees for the better government of
the empire. The Porte undertook scrupulously
TO apply in Crete lie organic law of 1868, and'in
regard to the remaining provinces OF Turkey 1t
was provided that analogous laws adapted TO
local requirements should be introduced into
other parts of Turkey In Europe, The Sublime
Porte should appoint special commissions to
elaborate the details of these new laws for each
province, and a renewed pledge was given OF re-
ligiouS freedom throughout the same provinces.
Side by side with the treaty there was an ar
rangement between Great Britain and the Porte
whereby Cyprus was placed under British ad-
miuistration and conditional protectorate over
the Turkish provinces in Asia Minor was under
taken by Great Britain, the double step being re-
garded as a counterpoise to Russia's acquisitions
in Armenia. This treaty, number OF whose
provisions have remained dead letter, was the
result OF the deliberations OF some OF the ablest
men in Europe-the plenipOtentiaries OF the va
rouS powers being: Bismarck, Won BulOw and
Prince Observation-Disclosures for Germany;
Lords Beaconsfeld, Salisbury and Russell for
Great Britain; Prince Gortchakoh, Count ShuY-
aloff and Baron d'oubril for Russia; Count An
Grassy, Count Karolyl and baron Haymerle for
Austria; NJ. Waddipgton and Count de s.. Val
lier for France Counts Corti and Launay for
Italy; Alexander Caratheodori Pasha. Sadoollah
Bey aud Mehemet Ali Pasha for Turkey.
The Pennsylvania Board OF Prison Directors
is about to inaugurate system OF classification
of prisoners that will conduce to the mainteu-
ance OF discipline and encourage their charges
to prepare for The duties OF citizenship when Ie-
leased. Tie new wing of the Western Peniten-
tlaTy is to be occupied By prisoners OF the honor
grade. Their cells Will be a rrlfie more comfort
able and the furniture grade better. The most
significant change VIII be suit Of plain gray
clothing In place OF the obnoxious stripes OF a
convict. They are also to enjoy special privii-
eyes. New prisoners will be placed in the inter-
mediate grade, and by diligence good conduct
and progress In education may be eligible for
promotion 10 the honor grade at the end OF six
months Bad conduct will be punished by
transfer to the third grade, in which the prlvIl-
eges are restricted, and there they must remain
for six months before improved behavior can
gain a promotion to the intermediate grade. The
clothing or the various grades will be dstin ctve
As further incentive for good behavior no CON-
mutation of sentences win be allowed in any but
the honor grade. About the only honor grade
known in the California pententiarles has BEEN
"the beefsteak" table.
Owing to the prevailing belief in Great Britain
that there viii be general election some time
next year, the Conservatives and Liberals have
been reviewing the situation throughout the coun-
try, the prospect presented being a rather dis
couraging one for Salisbury and his adherents
The Central Conservative Bureau from the data
obtained by local electoral agents estimates that
an immediate election would give the Ministry a
majority of twenty. The Liberals are sauguine
that an election would return the party to power
with majority of $780, including So Parnellites.
The Dlssident Liberals are meeting with tue
usual experience of third parties. Their counsel
has been a cause OF embarrassment to their allies
aud their Influence Is on the wane.
Hazng at the Ecole Militalre de st. Cyr, the
French West Point, has been carried to ex-
tremes, leading TO challenges by the wholesale,
forty having been given aud accepted. The con-
diton of affairs became such that the military
authorities had to resort to severe measures to
stop the outrages. :" The plebs" at West
Point have at times found life burden
owing to this obnoxious custom. General Mer-
rift is credited with having vigorously applied
the check rein while Superintendent and made
such pranks unpopular by Diminishing the cul-
prits, but still the newcomer Will find his daily
routine enlivened by little pleasantres that pro.
woke acts OF retaliation.
The Senate debate on the Tariff Bill, 1t Is ex-
pecied, will commence this afternoon, and for a
season there promises to be surfeit OF thread
bare free.trade arguments.