The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-03

III tbO PLCsSs anu ndo ohoAS
of no toriety in illustrations and jokes. 1t
Is indeed edifying 10 see the man who has
debauched election machinery treated as
an ordinary criminal When he reached
Sing Sing he was stripped OF his jewels
and had to don convicts apparel and get
bis hair and beard barbered to suit his
degradation. 1t was a little strange he
should have persisted 10 tho last moment
in wearing diamonds, and he had good
supply. His jewelry was part OF the man.
1t enabled him to rank as person of con-
sequence am NJ associates impressed by
flashy habits. Now that he is in Sing
Sing for at least four wears, out of total
sentence of six wears, he has time to NOR
alize on the perils of political corruption,
and the community may rejoice that thrre
is once in awhile some limit to the rascal
lily so fragrant in the manipulation Of
affairs.
William Astor's journal in London has
scored success in political prophecy. II
was unanimously berated for It's an
nouncement of Gladstone's retirement.
made while he was enjoying the breezes of
BiarrilZ. but three weeks after his return
the resignation is a step all but accom-
plished. Lord Rosebery will prubably be
announced as the Premier on Monday. l
is a matter that rests with tile Queen
nominally. Sh e will take Gadstone's
opinion as TO his successor, and this there
can be little doubt will be in favor of
Lord Rosebery, who. as the phrase goes,
would be asked 10 form a Ministry. Sir
William II rcourt will be the leader In
the House Of Commons. 1t is said there is
considerable danger of his eyesight going
the way that Mr.. GladstOne's has, but he
IS a younger man. The fact that Mr..
Lab0uchere is in revolt at the bare thought
of peer being chosen Premier portends
trouble. Although his following is not
numerous the Ministerial majority is
small, and If the detection were apparent
in a division it might mean the wrecking
of the Government. The Irish members
would generally prefer Lord Rosebery to
HarcouTt, and their support is more i'm
rortant than that of Labnuchere and his
following. Altogether English politics are
perturbed.
1t is said the French are about to intro
duce new rifle. The one in use is the
eight-mllimeter Lebel, and it is u be re-
placed by a six-millimeter magazine weap-
on which has the very high initial velocity
of 1852 feet per second. This gives very
low Trajectory and great range, and the
soldiers can carry 300 rounds of ammuni-
iiop. The smalness of the bore must give
high penetrating power. and the bullets
would make very small clean opening.
In tie next war marksmen will be pre-
ferred TO those who fire at random At
a mile or mrre OF range the shooting would
be very wild without taking ime and
steady aim. AS smokeless powder is now
recognized IN every army the BATH fields
of the future are not likely to be ohseurpd.
and unless there is good cover afforded BY
trees or hills, masked movements will b.
difficult. IL Will be- curious to watch the
results of invisible firing on the morale of
TROOPS
case of wife-seling has occurred in
Russia, which shows that the value of a
betier-half is considerably more than re-
pute assigns her i'll the neigh borhoOd of
Sheffield, England, where lately an ex-
change was effected for 81 so and the
drinks all round. The Russian vile was
very handsome and her husband sold her
for 100 rubles and gave properly worded
recent for the cash. Regretting his trans
fer, however. he proposed 10 buy her back
in fortnight and the purchaser was quite
willing to MAKE restitution. The woman
declined to return To her mercenary lord
and the case went before the communal
authorities, who came to the conclusion
that a DISPUTE about a wife did not con-
Germ them. The wife remains with the
purchaser. Russia is semi-b barous, but
England claims to be very enlightened.
The fishermen of Monterey are in luck if
they obtain from the Natural History Mu-
scum in London. which is now separated
from the British Museum, as much as
$1,000 for the skin and bones of the huge
basking shark which has been caught in
their nets. II will give them little trou-
BILE to prepare for transportation, but
" hen all expenses are allowed for the re-
l-1. A II
ready has specimen and is not likely to
cnme into competition, aud Berkeley is
not eager to acquire odd fish at a great
price. For very rare natural history speci-
mems the museums of the world will pay
almost any price to make their collections
complete.
The amendment OF The California Debris
Commission act suggested by Colonel Men
dell is intended to remedy a practical diff
Guilty. 1t is not easy 10 make an eXamina-
ton OF mines promptly in all eases, and
the modification proposed gives margin
of time ana allows the examination to be
made by one or mDre members of the COM
mission or by an engineer aching under its
orders. Under The latter provision the
commission to sume extent delegates its
| powers, but its responsibility remains and
| should be strictly observed. AS matters
are the members have many other duties
in nand.
In California. at all events, there is little
danger of the population falling into the
| absolute submissiveness to power and
authority which Buckle describes as in
| herent In the people of India aud other
countries OF old civilization. OF the inde-
| pendence and self-assertion characteristic
| of our people the land dispute now being
fought ont in Tice Valley, Contra Costa
| County, affords striking example. The
claimants t. the ranch hold possession
with rifles and sboiguDs, and MIR. Naph-
! taly's patent requires to be supplemented
by some other legal forms or force before
1t is acknowledged. Thus far IL is only
rieDdly war. and there is no need of ex-
tremities II the matter is gone about in not
too brusque manner. The law and not
the shotgun will ultimately prevail.
The navigating officer Of the kearsarge
is Of opinion that the Roncador reef is moi
correctly laid down on the chart. The
survey was taken so long ago that there
may we'll be some error in the longitude
If not in the latitude. as the means OF
taking close observations were not ther