The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-20
EDITORIAL NOTES.

King Menelek Of Abyssna for dusky ruler
Of Africa possesses considerable determination
and ability. When the treaty with Italy was
negotiated some time ago il was stipulated that
the Abyssinian translation should be an exact
equivalent of the original. The copy which
Meneek peTused declared that his Majesty,
the King OF Abyssinla, may, ii he wishes, avail
himself Of the good Offices OF The Italian Govern
ment in regulating his relations with other
powers" The Italian document however, stated
that "his NJ jesty. the King OF Abyssinia con-
sents TO avail himself OF the good offices OF the
Italian Government, etc" IN vigorous remon-
STRANGE Menelek has TepudIated the Italian YER
sion OF The compact, asserting that be had not
Onsented 10 surrender 10 Italy his power 10
treat independently with European Govern
ments. / am not the man 10 accept such
proposal" said the duSky monarch IN a letter TO
King Humbert land you should not be the man
10 ask me 10 accept H."
To check The disl osi,ion Of "Napoleons OF FL
nance" 10 get away with Other peoples money
deposited in national banks TIE Comptroller OF
Currency keeps a sharp lookout on S655 f1nan-
cial institutions with capital stock ranging from
$4,000 10 100000 and aggregating more
than a billion dollars Each Of these iustiIu-
lions must report its condition five times year
and the Comptroller may call upOn them at any
moment, without warning, for statement OF
their condition on certain day. The Comp
troller is assisted by q force OF about thirty eX-
aminers and niDeiy-twO other employees. Through
his department bank secures its charter; the
division OF issue locks after lis currency; the
redemption division sees thar old notes are de-
slrcyed; the division OF reports serulnzes the
condition Of affairs, and the insolvent division
looks after lqudallons. II is estimated that
The average loss under the system does not ex.
coed one-twenteth Of one per cent.
German and French military experts have Of
late devoted considerable attention to the won.
derfu chain OF forts constructed by France on
her eastern frontier 10 check anything like the
invasion conducted by Won MOllke. The forth
ficalionS, The defense of which wOnld require
hall million OF men In tine of war, dot the
whole frontier. Every fort, or intrenched camp,
is within gunShOt OF the next one is connected
with tile others by telegraph aud linked in one
great chain by double track railway Batteries
between The forts occupy all positions command
ing approaches. In some forts there are from
twenty TO fifty guns and some have as many as
eighty. The slopes are so woven with wires ana
so mined with tOTpedoes that the stand of an
enemy there and the undermining of the walls is
a matter OF impossblity. A prolonged and I'M
interrupted bombardment or lack OF food would
be about all that would compel The defenders OF
one OF these positions to eapitulate.
Preparations are about to be made at the Wa.
teFyllet Arsenal iof he construction OF The nTst
16-inch gun for coast defense. Such weapon
would weigh 125 tons and with powder charge
OF 1000 pounds and projeclile Weighing more
than a ton, would have maximum range Of
about fifteen miles. But fOliy-four OF these i'm
mense guns were Included In the plans Of the
Fertilization Board, and thirty six OF them are
intended for the deiense OF New York, Boston
and San Francisco. They will be mounted in
pairs in turrets, commanding The principal water
approaches Of these three ports.
Russia. If more serious operations do not en-
gage her attention in the meantime, is going to
arrange for extensive military maneuyers 10
1892. TEey will include the investment OF Mos
COW, The occupation OF Volhynia and the pursuit
of an army corps to the frontier. Quite an ex-
teDsye campaign could be conducted with the
great sums devoted by Russia, France, Ger
many and Austria 10 ay the cost Of army ma
neuvers, which each year seem TO be planned on
graDder scale.
Local managers of The Conservative party In
Britain have received instructions to prepare for
the dissolution Of Parliament early next sum.
meF, The Government, il IS asserted, intending
TO stake its fate on the success Of the Irish Local
Cover nment BIZ.