The morning call., 1894-01-12

The project of another ferry across the
bay. with a landing at Emery'S. and rail-
road connection with Oakland and Walnut
Creek, is very definitely brought forward
in letter 10 I. NJ. Smith, the capitalist,
who has considerable railroad interests
now on hand and has built a wharf a con-
siderable distance out into the bay but
not yet 10 deep water. The committee of
Oakland citizens who waited upon Mr..
Smith a few days ago asked him formally
whether, in the event OF subscription OF
S225 coo 10 the stock of bis enterprise he
VIII undertake to complete The railroads
and the ferry wharf and construct TWO
cUmmOdiUuS steamers. The terms of the
propositions embodied IN the letter leave
no room for doubt as TO what is desired,
aud II Mr. Smith Is equally unequiy0cal III
his answer The enterprise may be carried
into practical realization. There have been
5 many slips about ferry and local rail-
road competition, however, that people
may be chary OF pr0phesying rOseately.
Congressman Bryan of Nebraska, one of
the Democratic members of the Ways and
Means Committee, has published IN the
Congressional Record a mass Of infUrma-
tiOn on how the income tax is dealt with
abroad. and rather against bis personal
leanings be has Included some adverse re-
ports on the tax presented by committees
to the British House of Commons. There
cannot be the smallest room for doubt
that an income tax Is not popular any,
where, save as it spares the poorer classes
and reaches the wealthy. 1t is theOret-
cally tentative tax 10 England, going up
or down according TO the eXlgeDcy of the
budget requirements. 1t has never been
graduated tax, but many contend that il
should vary IN It's Incidence, and the
DressuTe Is such that some such change
must eventually be made No income
below 500 Is touched, and on incomes
below $1,000 a considerable abatement is
allowed. Strange to say, Mr.. Gladstone,
when be appealed to the country in 1874,
offered TO abolish the income tax alto
gether, but nevertheless he was severely
defeated at the polls, and the impOst has
continued since that date without posi-
bility Of being repealed.
The methods OF arriving at a verdict in
a French criminal trial strike the Ameri-
can mind as peculiarly direct and certain.
A prisoner who is innocent easily escapes
out Of the tolls of suspicion, but one who
is guilty has a very poor chance to hood.
wink the court and bamboozle the jury.
Iu cases where much depends upon cir
cumstantial evidence our methods are
clumsy and untTustworthy. They give
the prisoner all the advantages, il guilty,
by closing his mouth unless he voluntarily
chooses TO testify, and if innocent he has
long 10 walt for his explanati and exeul-
patton. 1t Is still worse in England, where
a prisoner does not testify al all. But in
France Judge probes the prisoners
knowledge at every turn. He cannot
screen himself through counsel, and he
soon traps himself if his defense is mere
invention. A defendant in France has
not the good fortune to have all The law
arranged in his favor until the verdict is
pronounced. Vailants conviction for
bomb-throwiDg has been swift as we'll as
just. The jury has not found extenuat-
ing circumstances, aud his decapitation
is certain unless he commits suicide. The
effect of such justice on the criminal ele-
ment is wholesomely deterrent.
The President of Brazil is said 20 have
war balloon ready to plump dynamite
down on the decks of De Mello's ships.
This new engine of war is partly dlrigible.
If it can be guided off the wind a few
points of the compass deadly execution
by more than luck is possible, but under
the most favorable circumstances De Mello
would not be at the mercy of the balloon.
With steam up he could easily move out of
its way by cutting across the direction of
the wind. But be might be caught nap
ping at night, and in that event his nap
might know no awaking. A balloon which
could let fall on vessel 100 or 200 pounds
of dynamite might not sink her. but the
explosion would play terrible havoc with
the decks, the guns and the engines. True
aim could easily be taken by a rope
swung over the side OF the car. provided
the height and the travelling rate are well
calculated. Probably De Mello will not
be scared out of bis wits when he sees q
balloon sail aloft.
They still keep up the practice Of fog
ging robbers in England when they have
been guilty of violence. Recently eleven
scoundrels in Liverpool had their backs
ornamented with deep purple welts sunk
into the flesh. that will remain as long as
they live and be brand of shame. As o