The morning call., 1890-07-16

EDITORIAL NOTES.

to the price of the exported article.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
The Eastern papers have recently de-
voted considerable space to dispatches on
the Behring Sea controversy, 10 which
sensational tinge was given by the declara-
ton that negotiations had been broken off,
and that Britain was assembling pretty
strong fleet at Esquimault, including the
Champion, Daphne. Nymphe and Espegle,
while the Amphion was out in the Straits of
Fuea every day at target practice. Besides
these dogs of war, the Warsprlte was ex-
pected at Esquimault not later than July
Goth. Some of the comments on the situa-
ton excite smile. Sir Julian Pauncefote,
however, fastened to deny the declaration
that negotiations had been broken off, and
made the assurance that there is no rea-
son to expect a disturbance Of the friendly
relations existing between the two Govern
ments." Congressman McCreary of the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs asked
"what do all these preparations mean?"
and maintained that Congress should be
furnished with the correspondence on the
subject, while his associate on the commit
tee, Congressman Hit, said the reports of
and Great Britain were purely imaginary
and the correspondence called for would
disclose that fact. Captain St. Clair of the
Champion, when questioned at Esquimault
day before yesterday, pronounced the idea
of two nations going to war where the
only question involved was matter of
$50, 900 preposterous. As senior officer of
the squadron he had opened the dispatches
fyop ulapd N Ordars had hppO
ceived regarding Behring Sea.
A leader in the Boston Journal, comment
ing on China's threat TO retaliate against
the country for the passage of the Exelu-
sion Act contains declarations little
unusual for a New England periodical.
After abiding to the fact that, according to
the report of the American Minister few
years ago, there were 1892 Americans in
China of whom 100 were women, 81
children and SIS men, an estimate,
probably, under the actual figures, it
points out that more than half of the Amer
lean men in China known to the resident
American official are missionaries, number
ing SOC in all, and declares Ill China should
permit her resentment at the Exclusion Act
to lead her to the extreme of commercial
non-intercourse, she will have more to lose
than to gain by the operation, since the
balance of trade with US is heavily in her
favor In 1887 our exports to the Chinese
Empire Gncluiing Hong Kong were about
100000 while our imports were fully
twice as much" 1t is safe to assert that
China will think twice before carrying out
any such threat. The Americans in China
generally belong to the privileged classes,
and the Exclusion Act only applies to labor
ers. There can be no serious danger of the
cessation of trade and commerce, so salts
factory to the Flowery Kingdom, merely to
retaliate for the exclusion of the riff-raff OF
her seaboard communities.
By means of electrical counting devices
the Census Office is now able to tabulate
100000 names day, which fact, it is
claimed, would enable the Census Superin-
tendent to lay the returns of the country's
population before Congress by the 1st of
next month. 1t has consequently been sng-
gested that Congress might at once proceed
to make the customary reapportionment.
Ii is expected that the returns will show
decreases in the South and East and in
creases in the Northwest, a fact that would
have a tendency to materially shift party
representation in the House. The proximity
of the November elections for which anum-
Der of nominations have been made, is con-
sidered by many an insuperable obstacle
to the proposition. 1t has, however, been
suggested that until the Legislatures of the
different States affected adjust their Con-
gressional districts to the new apporton-
ment, Congress might provide for the rec
ignition of the districts as at present
formed.
Some Eastern papers note with distrust
the growing power of the West and its
probable effect on national legislation and
the next Presidential contest. New En-
gland and other sections may view with
alarm the prospect of diminished influence,
but any apprehension Of danger is not justi-
fable. 1t may be safely asserted that the
influence of the West will be eXerted to pro-
mote the general welfare Of the country
and make its power and influence respected
abroad. So far as the next national cleo
ton is concerned, Republican managers in
making their estimates of the electoral vote
reckon upon sixteen votes from the new
States of North and South Dakota. Wyom-
ing Idaho and Washington. They also
count upon the census returns to give the
Republicans from ten to twenty more cleo
toral votes Than the Democrats.
Senator Edmunds is credited with desire
to defeat the River and HarDor ApprOpria-
ton Bill, which, as passed by the House,
appropriated S21,000000. The Senate passed
bill appropriating S6,00O000 for Galveston
Harbor and S4,000,000 for the Hay Lake
Channel. connecting the upper and lower
lakes, which will be added to the River and
Harbor Bill. The Commerce Committee
has added to this 100000 for the Missis-
sippi River, which increases the total to
S32000000. 1t is hoped the bill will be able
to get through in some form or another. as
the Coast appropriations are badly needed.
A suggestion worthy of careful consider
alton is that of the Chamber of Commerce
urging the Board of HarbOr Commissioners
to extend the sea-wall to Van Ness avenue
as soon as possible and pointing ont the ad-
visibility of constructing tidal basin
within this sea-wall extension, which would
largely increase the wharfage facilities of
the port at a point convenient for commerce.