Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-12
CURRENT TOPICS IN LONDON.
British seamen Fear That Their Vocation 10
Leaving Them.

Britain 6esmen Fear That Their Vocation A
Leaving Them.
LONDON, March 12.-The Ssamen and Fire
mems Union claims to have discovered that
vessels running to European ports are largely
substituting foreigners for natives Of Great
Britain in their crews. II is said that in Ham,
burg alone several hundred Germans have
found employment on British vessels.
which have gone out short-handed and
filed up the quota of their crews at that port.
Ship owners claim that the Germans and Scan
dinavians are quite as efficient seamen and do
not give as much trouble as the English, and
most Of them understand or readily acquire
enough English to be of service. The situation
is regarded as very menacing TO the seameus
union The Dover Steamship Company. which
engaged French crews during q recent strike,
still has most of them in its employ.
PHoToeRAPHISa CRIMINALS.
A good deal of opposition is developed in
parliament to the home secretary's bill,
power of photographing prisoners before con-
viction, they only having the right now to pho
tograph after conviction. The provision in
question is regarded as infringing the principle
that man is to be treated as innocent until
proven guilty.
THE ROYAL LABOR COMMISSIONS.
Earl Derby has signified his willingness to
become chairman Of the royal commission on
the subject of labor 1t is stated. on the
authority of a member of the cabinet, that the
commission will report before the close of the
present year. Legislation will then be adopted in
accordance with its recommendations, and then
the government will be prepared to 60 to the
country on the strength of TINT legislation. 1t
is certain that there is no intention of dis
solving parliament until the conservatives have
acted upon the labor issues now before the
country.
STRANGERS IN BRUSSELS.
A Brussels dispatch says that the police Of
that city have noted within the past few days
an unusual influx Of strangers from Germany
and France. Some Of them have been
recognized az active socialistic agi-
tators. Soon after their arrival they have
disappeared into the quarters Of the city where
the socialist movement has its strongest hold
The government maintains the utmost vigilance
and suspicious strangers are carefully watched
1t is feared that a riot may break out at any
time.
THE KAIsER's NEW CHuM.
According to Berlin dispatch everybody is
talking about the new relations of intimacy and
confidence between the kaiser and Count Wal
dersee. The opinion is expressed that the en-
peror, on looking around his list Of
effective generals has come to the
conclusion that Waldersee is the best man for
his lieutenant in the event Of war. The favor
of the count also extends to the Countess Wal
dersee, who, upon her visits to Berlin, is show
cred with attention by the imperial family.
TOBACCO MONOPOLY IN PORTUGAL.
The Portuguese cortes has agreed to grant q
tobacco monopoly for thirty-five years to sus-
tain the issue of bonds to the amount of ten
million Of pounds. No settlement has as yet
been arrived at between Great Britain and
Portugal on the African question, former
dispatch to that effect having been erroneous.
SEC. BALFoUR's EXPENDITURES IN IRELAND.
The lavish expenditures of Chief Secretary
Balfour in carrying out the peculiar methods
of the royal Irish constabulary have resulted IN
deficiency of E15O, 1000, to made up FROM
the imperial exchequer. and parliament will
be asked to vote the amount. As the con-
stabulary has been used for purposes entirely
distinct from police business the request for
the allowance will, it is expected, call out
much opposition and severe criticism.
PREVENTING SOCIALISTS FROM ORGANIZING.
At Dresden, Germany, an attempt to organ
ize aworkingmens society, composed largely Of
socialists, was broken up by the police, who
did not actually forbid the meeting but in
sisted on being present at every meeting and
interfering officially with the business.