New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19

The last of the general appropriation bills was
reported to the House of Representatives yes
terday and 1t will not be the fault OF the lead
ers of that body If the adjournment OF Congress
Is DELAYED hey ond May Is. the date proposed by
the Ways and Means Committee. The House
I'm this Congress has been emphatcally work
ing body, and has devoted itsef 10 business
with commendable diligence. On Friday III 'ne
Senate Mr. Aldrich made proposition TO dis-
nose at once Of all unfinished business. so that
the country might be relieved from protracted
session This offer, however, did not meet the
approyal of Senator German, who announced
that the Democrats did not intend to be hur-
r;ed With the case thus plainly stated, the
country will know where to put the response
bi,ity IL adjournment Is long delayed
There has been such q phenomenal Increase
IN ,be number of fatal duels in Germany during
the last few weeks that the Government as
we'll as the various public bodies are seeking for
some new means to put stop to the practlce'
the existing laws, In spite Of their prescribing
severe penalties, having proved poweriess 10
check the custom. Indeed, as Is shown IN the
article upon the subject which we publish
elsewhere In our columns to-day. the very
methods devised to act as cheek nave
a Numerically opposite effect. Under the cir
cumstances we would recommend the people
Of Central, Southern and Eastern Europe to take
a leaf out of the book OF our French friends
among whom, in spite OF their excitaole char
scter. there are an infinitely smaller number OF
fatal duels than anywhere else on the CONT
rent. this immunity being due to the fact that
n duellist has the misfortune to Kill or NOR
tally wound his adversary be Is not only sub
tacfed TO severe Imprisonment. but also mulcted
IN damages Of the heaviest kind for the dement,
OF the family Of his victim. The fear OF being
called upon to pay indemnities OF this kind has
contributed more than anything else to convert
a,,e,s in France into ipnocuous AFFAIRS.
TIL. situation in South Africa Is becoming
.or,ous and there are indications that crisis
~ the utmost gravity is at hand. The Matabele
insurgents are reported In the dispatches from
Cane Town printed to-day TO be within half an
hours march Of Buluwayo. where most OF the
white settlers OF the Chartered Company's terri
tory known as Rhodesia have sought refuge.
That any successful defence can be made OF this
two-year-old city appears to be In the last de-
gree improbable. For at the close OF the last
Matabele war which resulted In the disappear
ancc Of Lobengula, the fortihcations were razed
70 the ground as no longer necessary, ana the
Town has since then spread far beyond Its for
mer limits The population have now In
trenched themselves In the big market place
INT A they are badly of for provisions and
ammunition, and as. moreover. the houses be
vond the earthworks will afford shelter FOL
/. the advance Of the enemy, it is to be feared
mat the latter will carry the place before any
Of the promised reinforcements can arrive. The
ysr,tish Government, realizing too late the mis-
taks which II made In 30 rashly disbandins tnt
Chartered Company's military contingent II
now taking steps to send large body OF troops
out from England to the scene OF the conn'ct