The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27

next Congress must be induced TO make an
exception of prunes in the proposed revi-
sion of the tariff.
Tie two crack liners of the Inman Com
pany are next month to hoist the American
flag and be under the command of American
officers. In a small way it is a restoration
of share in the Atlantic trade TO American
shipping and under the terms of the priv.
lege. granted by Congress the company is
bound To have several other steamers built
in the United States. The City Of Paris
has the honor CT having made one voyage
faster than any other steamer, and the City
OF New York is little behind her in speed.
Both steamers Will be patr0niZed 10 the fun
extent Of their accommodations this year
should all GO well and the specter Of chOl-
era not stalk over the land. As 10 the lat
ter contingency there can be no guarantee.
The scOurge has again cropped up in
Europe, and If quarantine is left in the
hands Of port officials under local authority
the Gordon of prevention is almost certain
to be broken. What then?
The go-aheadness OF Chicago is even Illus
trated in the recklessness with which
people are killed on the lines of the % or 20
railways which enter the city and give it
unriyaled facilities for business. The cross
ings are level, trains are frequent and
usually in a hurry, and the wayfaTer or
employe who has not eyes In the back of
his head is apt TO 20 down. The only intel
ligent warning yat devised 10 tell people
that they are in danger is the locomotive
whistle or bell. and as it is always gOiUg the
ears become indifferent to its music. The
fatalities AT crossings last year numbered
SIC, almost sufficient TO provide the Coroner
with a corpse to sit upon every day. If paid
oy fees the Coroner probably considers
Chicago most healthy city 10 live in-
which it really Is not, for II has more typhus
fever than any other populous center.
While they are wrangling about what the
Central ana Southern Pacific system OF rail-
roads really cost, ana what fair rates should
be upon that cost, it is worth while to con-
slider what has been achieved by the Great
Northern Railroad, which now stretches
from ST Paul, Mimi. to Seattle. That line
doubtless had difficulties of route to over
come, probably just as many as Hunting
tons roads, with the exception Of the much
OveT-estlmated Sierra grades and twist
Ings, yet the expenditure per mile is de-
clared 10 be only S24, COO. This Is Of good
omen for the Salt Lake road. 1t need not
cost more. The Great Northern is free
from fictitious capital and Overhondedness,
and 10 IS IN position to take freight al low
rates and earn a dividend. The SarIa-
mentO S0lOns need not hesitate to brush
aside the sOphistries and misleading state
meuts Of the Southern Pacific. There never
was such a railroad for unblushing men,
dscity.
So the chartered steamers Of the Spanish
American line to Central America are to be
Withdrawn IN Difference TO the cut rates of
the Pacific Mail Company. The contracts OF
tie scarcely ledged company so. in fact. with
more or less goodwill, to the Pacific Mail,
and the latter now is prepared to return to
rates prevailing before the recent wholesale
cut was announced A company that has
n staying power ought not 10 be started at
ali N tie shipping business as teebleness
aud vaclllatlon produce widespread dis
enlargement The mercantile community
has still the North American Navigation
Company TO rely upOn-au enterprise which
VIII ne inausuTated within few weeks Ii
our merchants do not reach out for the
South American and Eastern trade when
the terms with the Panama Railroad are so
favorable, but allow the line 10 be starved,
they viii only have themselves TO blame
should the Pacific Mail again become the
enemy 10 trade It has been.
The report that the British Government
is try ing 10 obtain possession of the Nicara-
qua canal is about as silly rumor as ever
was started. Some English capitalists might
take a block of the stock and many other
millionaires besides; bu. the Government
Itself would hold aloof. England would not
have hall the shares Of the Suez canal but
for the coup de theatre OF Beaconsfeld Had
the matter basn discussed IN Parliament,
the purchase would have gone by the board,
but all was finished ere the nati4n was taken
into confidence. As matters have turned
out, the shares are good value. Except in
lid 49,. tor Ia
sary in carrying cut pubic works. or in the
construction Of naval harbOTs and coaling
stations, the policy of England is TO leave
commercial speeulati0ns 10 investors. She
went out Of her way in Egypt. bat there are
many things 10 show, as Ia Argentine. that
il is not her policy 10 interfere on behalf
of spectators who get nipped.
Still there is no termination to the Lam
cashire cotton strike. Two months have
passed. The operatives are starving in the
coolest of weather, and the millionaires
have their machinery lying idle and their
capital running down. Many of the owners
are half-hearted about resuming on any
terms. Some would sell their mills for half
what they cost, for, in the face Of comDe-
titi0D in dIa and elsewhere, the struggle
TO earn profit is hard In India three per-
sons are needed TO do the work of one Eng
lish operative, but then the wages OF Him.
doc spinner only amounts TO cents
day, and be saves money on this and Is able
TO retire after a few years Of factory labor.
Lancashire mll-woman will earn from
IL shllings week upward, and man will
earn a sovereign or more. Before long
India may become an active exporting
country. and England will not put tax
upon cotton fabrics. Should China take TO
weaving with machinery. an economic
earthquake may be apprehended.
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
has reported In favor Of constructing bat
tle-ship. two armOred coast defense vessels,
ten gunboats and eight torpedo-boats, This
is desirable programme to increase the
efficiency OF the navy, as undoubtedly more
ships are needed. We may get along with
a small army, but good navy is requisite
for emergencies. 1t is hoped that the House
viii concur with the proposals of the Sen
ale, but the probability is that il will not.
Great Britain goes steadily ahead with her
navy. The Hood. a battle-ship costing So
0O0,OO0 is almost ready for sea, although
begun only a year ago. She carries four
67-ton and'ten 6-ineh guns.
PE0PI r TAI KED AROIIT