Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20
PRINCESS BUYS TOYS
London Cold and Fog Does Not Prevent
Christmas hopping.
NEW LIGHT ON SIBERIAN tXILES
DR., Benjamin Howard Reports the Result of
His Studies.
HAS WATCHED THE C0NVlCTS CLOSELY
Gays Condemned Men Can Obtain Partial
Freedom in saghalen.
ENGLAND'S OvERTAXATI0N Of IRELAND
Warm Debate Promised on the Matter
in PnrIinmcnt-London Radicals
Do Not Like the Renewal of
TIA, Ira..wny Lease.
Copyright. 1896. by the Associated Prcss)

LONDON, DeC. l5.-lne WSdlneI tnis
week has been of the most dismal descrip-
tion. Continued cold and fog prevailed all
over England and the atmosphere was so
dense over the Isle Of Wight that the island
was completely cut off from the mainland
for twenty-four hours. But, nevertheless,
London is crowded with Christmas shoppers,
among whom are the princess Of Wales and
her daughters, who have daily been busy
buying gifts and nightly occupied in visit
ing the theaters. The prince of Wales has
been shooting with Lord Derby.
The story that the queen who arrived on
Friday at Osborne for Christmas, has pro-
jected a visit to ireland undoubtedly arose
from the fact that the duke and duchess Of
York will spend a month there in 1887.
After week at Dublin castle they will
make a round of visits to country houses,
including that of the duke and duchess of
Devonshire, that OF the earl and countess of
Dunraven, and that OF the marquis and mar.
choness of Londonderry.
II is stated that the duchess of York will
shortly again go into temporary retirement
and 1t is rumored that the duke OF York
will be promoted to be a rear admiral on
New Years day, at which there is a great
deal of ill-feeling, as he will thereby over
step more than a hundred captains who are
his seniors
Prince and Princess Charles OF Denmark
start for Copenhagen today where they will
spend several months.
FREEDOM IN SIBERIA
DR.. Benjamin Howard, surgeon well
known in England and America, who, since
1859, has made special study of penalogy,
has just arrived in England from a fourth
visit to Russia and Siberia undertaken for
the purpose of confirming and bringing up
to date the observations made by him In
Saghalien and elsewhere since 1883. During
an interview with a representative of the
Associated press, DR.. Howard said: The
special object OF my last journey which
has occupied six months, was to complete
my studies regarding the recapture, reds-
tributfon and means of forwarding Siberian
exiles. | have been through every convict
and exile prison between st. Petersburg and
Siberia. l have waylaid exile gangs by
road rail and river, examined the convict
barges on which they were conveyed when
empty and have had opportunities of speak
ing to every man on board when they have
been full. For hundreds of consecutive
miles l have kept observation on the gangs
so as to see them under all conditions. My
object was not merely to confirm or deny
statements made by others on Siberia but
to bring my personal knowledge Of the Rus
sian penal system up to date" Asked con
cerning the result of his observations DR..
Howard replied: I'm its main principle of
productive labor the Russian penal system
is worthy of imitation. In it's general NAL
administration 1t is worthy of reprobation."
Asked to explain the strangely divergent
counts OF Messrs. Harry DeWindt and
George Keenan,, DR., Howard declined to deny
or confirm such statements.
Comparing the lot of Siberian exiles with
convicts in other countries DR.. Howard re-
marked: "The result of my experience has
been to show that a mans treatment is
largely in his own hands. After a convict's
term of two years Imprisonment is over
there is nothing to prevent him within three
to five years becoming, within certain geo
graphical limits free man. Escape from
saghalen is practically impossible, This
holds good in general way with very spe-
cial exceptions. political exile or muir
derer In Saghalen lives with his family in
well built and often pretty four-roomed
cottage with its courtyard, vestibule and
garden The island is populated mostly by
hiul uSitiS VI W P'isohS sunny VI ~
serious crimes. They work peaceably ana
quietly ON their farms and walk about the
streets to all appearances free men,"
IRELAND'S OVERTAXATIoN.
The agitation arising out of the report of
the commission on the financial relations
between Great Britain and Ireland is grow
ing apace and the question bids fair TO be
one OF the leading matters to be discussed
he OfD rII Tha riSh
unionists are taking the matter up and in
tend to bring the subject of undue taxation
of Ireland before Parliament at the opening
of the session In the form of an amendment
In reply TO the speech from the throne, call
ing upon the state to refund the f2,500,00O
(Sl2 ,O00 of overtaXation. Colonel Sander
son. conservative member for North Armagh,
is expected TO make the amendment and
there is much speculation in view of Mr..
Morley's attitude regarding the position
which Sir William Vernon Harcourt will
assume in the matter.
The London radicals are in sackclOth and
ashes at the decisions of the London county
council this week, regarding the renewal Of
the lease OF the tramways for fourteen years.
The radicals made hard fight against the
renewal but according to the Star London.
by the decision of the council, has lost all
hope OF prohting by electric traction and has
lost 200 year, as the lease was worth
f55 900 instead OF e45 0OO which the company
pays. and has lost all hope of half-penny
fares, which exist on the provincial tram
ways. as well as having no security against
an Increase OF the present fares. The efforts
of the radicals. led by John Burns. were
directed toward obtaining better conditions
for the employees of the tramway companies.
but these steps also failed.
Thieves waive ENtradition Formally
TORONTO. Ont, Dec. l9.--Gaston and
Anna Pelessier OF Detroit, Mich, arrested
yesterday ON the charge OF theft. waived