The morning call., 1890-12-13
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Apportionment Bill, presented by Repre-
sentative Frank of Missouri, has been favOrably
reported to the House by the Cepsus Committee
and will no doubt be pushed TO an early consid-
GRAFTON. 1t provides that after the Sd OF March,
1893 the House of Representatives shall be COM
posed of 800 members; that whenever new
State is admitted to the Union the Representa-
tive OF Representatives assigned to it shall be in
addition 10 this number; Mai Congressman shall
be elected by districts composed Of contiguous
territory and containing as nearly as practicable
an equal numbar OF Inhabitants. and that In case
of an increased representation such additional
Representatives may be elected by The State at
large, unless The Legislature shall redistrct the
State. This plan ADDS tweniy-iour members to
the House, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Col.
orado, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, Missouri. New Jersey, Oregon, Washington
and Wisconsin each gaining one, Illinois, Min
nesota, Pennsylvania ana Texas each gaining
Two, Willie Nebraska is credited with gain OF
three. 1t was recently reported that in order to
make the increase lake effect In the Fifty-second
Congress the Senate might attach an amendment
authorizing special elections to be held in those
States In November, 1891.
The British Naval Defense Act, passed last
year, authorizes all expenditure of S100.0oo,000
in the Improvement of The navy. The programme
includes among the armored ships one turret
ana seven barbctte battle-ships Of 14,150 tons,
and two secODd.class battle-shlps Of about 600
tons each. The eight great Dalte-ships are TO
be $50 feet long and 10 feet beam. with
draught OF 271a leet. The armor- belt win be is
inches thick at the water-llne and on the bar
bettes and turrets il will be the same thickness.
The battery will consist of four 131a-iDch g.
ton guns and ten 6-inch rapld-fre guns. The
maximum speed with forced draft, Is 10 be l71a
knots These vessels are now being constructed
and are TO be completed by 1898.
Benicia's natural advantages have won for her
the ordnance foundry, which Seattle, Tacoma,
san Diego, Galveston, indianapolis and Rock
Island made such strenuous efforts to secure.
The selection OF the commission Is a wise one,
for gun foundry at Benicla, similar to the one
al Waiervliet, VIII, when the plans OF the Gov
eminent are carried out, be able TO supply to the
best advantage the weapons needed for coast
defense and other purposes There should be as
little delay as possible in carrying out the pre-
limnaries and utilizing as promptly as possible
the funds provided BY the Fortifications APP
preparation Bill.
The great objector, Congressman Holman, be-
lieyes that in The new apportionment the best
interests OF the South would be promoted by
Keeping the membership Of the House of Repre-
sentatives at 332, the present number, but
under this plan Indiana, Maryland. Kentucky,
Tennessee and South Carolina would each lose
member. The delegations of these States are
unwilling to make such sacrifices; but even II
they were they would prove of little avail. for
the indications are that the Republican majority
VIII cary out its own wishes.
The fortIiicatlons Appropriation Bill, which
was so eXfediliously rushed through The House
as prepared by General Cogswell OF Massachu-
sets, appropriates more than 81, 500, GOO, pro-
vision being made for The pr osecutlon of work at
New York, san francisco and Boston AS soon
as il receives tile approval Of the Senate and the
President the War Department should not be
slow i'll carrying cut tile task intTusted TO 1t. .
The Nlhilists now awaiting trial at ST. Peters.
burg are said TO be SO numerous that they are
tined In patches before a section of the Senate.
Unlike in This country, The Senate of Russia is
the highest juricial court of the empire, as we'll
as the most important legislative body. In its
character as High Court OF Cessation the Senate
has three departments or tribunals. dealing with
civil, criminal and disciplinary cases.
The prospects are that the site for the new
Postofice will be acquired by condemnation.
There is good reason for believing that the ad-
vantages and Disadvantages of the property
bounded by Taylor, Turk and Eddy streets are
being carefully considered.