The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-30
EDITORIAL NOTES.

their convention I'm New York exchanged many
a brilliant idea on the maryels of electricity. In
me peaceful arts electricity now occupies IA
prominent position. Electricity lights the mine
plies The drlll, digs the coal aud hauls it forth
In war 1t is probable that electricity viii here
after play prominent part. As the correspond
ent Of the Globe Democrat puts it, a popular be-
lief exists among the engineers that the time is
not far distant when the entire conduct OF a
naval and possibly land warfare will be en-
trusted 10 competent electrical experts who will
annbilate the enemy by pressing button. AL
ready they have completed many naval applica-
tons Of motors for armament. They can fire Cat
ling gun more rapidly by an electric MOTOR than
the human hand can turn the crank OF one. Such
a weapon can be fired 5000 times a minute by
electricity. The application of electricity to
armament and heavy ordnance aboard ship is a
branch of the science which has many possbili-
ties for future development. A new aud very
important application OF the motor is in the
training Of guns, by which they can be ranged
and sighted by means OF a switch. No hosting
machinery is required TO move the gun either up
or down or sideways, the switch doing that work
without any effort on the part of the operator.
That this potent force is bound 10 play a more
conspicuous part in the affairs of the world may
be seen from the fact that there are more than
100000 people engaged in electrical pursuits in
the United States, ana their number is increas-
ing daily.
The Mckinley tarif has fallen with crushing
effect on the cOtlOn-tie industry OF England.
The WheelOck iron Forge is the only Institution
that has devoted its whole attention TO the
manufacture Of this Que articl- the entire plant
and machinery having been made particularly
for this one branch Of the iron industry. OF an
annual expectation OF 25, 900 tons, about Ii, 900
tons were produced az these works. The new
tariff imposed specific duty of IL cents per
pound on band-iTOn and an additional twC-tenths
Of cent per pound on band-iron wholly manu-
featured into Ties against al yalOTem rate
OF 80 per cent under the old tariff. Formerly the
duty was Sl1 90 tOn while at present 1t Is
S29 II. Having been shut OUT of the United
States market the company has been compelled
10 close its works, In which quarter OF million
dollars are locked up. Instead OF investing more
capital IN the enterprise and rearranging The plant
for the manufacture OF some other line OF iron
product, The Directors have decided 10 walt and
see whether the next Congress, or at least The
next Administration, Will not so modify the
tariff as to permit profitable resumption OF
operations The chances are, however. that
meanwhile American capital and enterprise Will
take advantage of The situation aud still further
lessen the prospect OF foreign competition. Even
pronounced tarif-refOImers are now realizing
that protection is too strongly intrenched 10 even
dream OF dscardiDg IL.
a new journal has been started In New YORK.
II is called the Italian 4duOcdte and purposes
TO be the mouthpiece of the industrious and law
abiding Italians in the United States. The Id
vocdte proposes TO doubt the existence IN This
country of such society as The Malta is said TO
be- and claims the idea owes It's origin to the
rantings OF penny-a-lineTs. 1t adduces nothing
in support OF Its position save The purely sen
tmenial consideration that such society is too
dreadful thing to believe our italian citizens
capable OF belonging to- just how much weight
should be attached co this sort OF argument each
reader will determine for himself An assertion
of the nOn-exIstence OF the Malta suggests the
same thought To the average American mind as
flashed out in the reply of the man who, being
told that the devil does not exist, said: "S0me-
one is doing his work, anyway"
The italian Advocate declares that one trouble
10 this country is that I'VE have not enough
naturaZed citizens in The United States who
have not forgotten their native land II we had
we would not see so many lamentable occur
fenees, and the newspapers would not be covered
over as they are with enuSOns calculated to
make the heart bleed with modification and grief
and Indignation The United States Govern
ment does not demand of the naturaIized citizen
fOrgetfuiness OF home, but it ought to and does
demand his first allegiance TO itself. The man
who by virtue OF acquired citizenship claims the
protection of this Government owes his first
thought and allegiance here. If he cannot give
these, forgetting, In that sense. the land OF his
birth. then he should be reminded that the route
TO Ibis own, bis native land" lies right back by
the way he came here.
The trade Of this country with Mexico Is on
the increase, and San Francisco merchants
should take advantage OF the growing demand
for American products. Figures recently fur
nisheG by Minister Ryan show that MeXicO's I'M
-
S94 80, and more than half came from This side
of ibe border the amount being So. 669,42 IL
against $6.337; $50 30 from England, S4.956,
5GS Al frOIn France and 81 ,842, 1872 30 from
Germany OF the imports from this country
Sl0,293. 30I Ga are on the free list and on the
remainder imDorters paid duties amounting to
S9.169.767 81. The cotton shipmen valued at
IS, 1884, 7S4 % produced dulles 10 the extent of
s2,742.S2S 81, and nutritious substances farm
products and Inc manufactures thereof, valued
at s2,1l5.08S 10, paid duties TO the amount of
SLAP 1G5 rs.
Sixty-fiVe applicants for the fourteen foreman
SHIPS at the Brooklyn Navy-yard have been ex-
amined as to their qualifications, aud like ex-
animation VIII be held at the Norfolk Navy yard
in about two weeks The next step in Secretary
Tracy's plan will be the appointment OF boards
10 register all applicants for employment Ia the
department of unskilled labor 10 be selected as
Ic4uHSus Ou tue hiluCiplc vi Hlol COWb, IISt
served" preference being given to those already
having bad experience, and the registration OF
all applicants for places OF skilled labor who can
give evidence OF experience al their trade and their
employment on trial for period Of probation
after the necessary test OF proficiency, be ulti-
malely graded or discharged, according to their
merits.
The Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum Of
Art in New York have at last yielded TO popular
pressure and will open the doors OF that institu-
ton Tor portion OF each Sunday. This step has
long been opposed by the advocates OF enforced
Sunday observance, who claim. aside from their
arguments along the line OF right and wrong. that
tile museum will only be frequented by those
who could as well visit il through The week. The
New York wOrkngmau. they declare, does not
care for such place OF resort, to which 1t is
replied that lie has not yet had an opportunity to
find cut whether he cares for IL or not
New York is beginning TO find her Chinese
population troublesome. Considering the wis
dom aud perSplcacity or the New York journals
in dealing al long range with the Chinese ques-
ton In San Francisco. we are somewhat sur
prised that they should experience any difficulty
10 settling the same question at home
The first vote taken in the Dominion ParlIa-
ment shows that Sir John Macdonald commands
more votes than the Grlts formerly conceded TO
the Conservatives. The Governments majority
by provinces was Ontario 4, Nova Scotia IL.
New brunswick TO- Manitoba 3, British Colun.