The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-02

BrttisherB OiscuSsinG q. n. PullmAn'l
Small Bequest to His Sons-Tod sloane
Gives British jockeys = Lesson in Riding!
Antj-Grain Gambling crusade in Franc.
Tho French Employers Liability Bill-Efs
forts for Release From Life Imprison.
ment of Captain Dreyfuss
Copyrighted by Associated Press.)
London, October 30-The African sit !
uation has been aggravated by the
French semi-official note, made public
on Tuesday last and reading:
The news from West Africa FORE
shadows great difficulties at Nikki and
in Bergu. The Niger Company (Brit7
ish) is sending officers there to incite
rebellion and distribute arms to the
natives. In view of this situation,
French troops have been dispatched to
that district from Senegal as a pre-
ventive measure. Moreover, the Brit
ish negotiatOrs for a settlement of the
Niger question have been in Paris for
over week, and everything points to
Great Britain seeking to let the mat
ter drag. Seemingly, she does not in
tend to discuss the question; but means
will undoubtedly be found to foil these
tactics"
1t is amusing to hear the worlds
most notorious land grabbers con-
demning France for following her poll
cy. France, however, seems equally
determined not to recede. In fact the
ST. Louis speech Of the French colonial
minister, M. Lebon, seems to show
that the cardinal feature of French
policy in Africa is the extension of
french influence from the west coast
to the Nile valley and thence to Ethio-
pia.
Much interest is taken here in the
cabled account of the provisions of the
Will of the late George nj. Pullman.
and the question is raised as to wheth-
er such precedent is desirable The
Graphic, for instance, says: Many
economists opine that an irresponsi-
BILE heir is the most useful check ma
ture has provided against the efforts
OF the NapoleOns of commerce to get
all the wealth of the world into their
clutches. If all millionaires declined
to pass their savings to sons who do
not share their talent for accumulat-
ing, the terrible power of the money
oag would soon grow to dimensions
endangering society,"
".
who is riding for the Lorillard-Beres-
ford stable here, has been SO success
1ul lately that the newspapers are ask
ing whether the American short stir
rup and tucked up action has not
decided advantage in the case of sure
footed animals. Sloane is still positive
that ST. Cloud won the Cambridgeshire
stakes on Wednesday at New Market
The anti-grain gambling crusade is
taking shape in France. The chamber
OF deputies has appointed a committee
to investigate and report upon the pro-
posed prohibition of speculation in
grain and articles of food generally.
Almost all the members of the COM
mittee are favorable to the idea of
stopping gambling, but they recognize
the difficulty Of doing so without in
terfering with legitimate speculation
The committee, however, is determined
to thoroughly investigate and examine
the reports of commerce and industry
and will try to determine where legit-
innate speculation ends and gambling
commences.
The employers liability bill, which
was adopted on Thursday by the
French chamber of deputies, is of a
drastic character. It imposes upon the
employer the payment of an indemnity
to Workmen who are accidentally dis
abled if they are made idle for over
four days. # a workman is disabled
for life the employer must pay him a
pension of thirds of his wages
lost. In the case Of temporary disa-
Element the employer must pay half
the wages the workman thereby loses,
and in the case of death by accident
the employer must pay a pension to
the wOrkman's widow amounting to 20
per cent. of the wages he earned Pro-
visions are also made for pensions to
re Tn
secure these payments, even in the
event of the employers insolvency, the
bill cOmpels employers to insure their
workmen against accident.
There seems to be some substance
behind the latest agitation in behalf of
Captain Alfred Dreyfuss. the French
artillery officer, who in 1895, on convic-
tion by cOurt1martial on the charge of
selling important military plans to
agents Of foreign government, was
sentenced to Imprisonment for life in
a fortress and who is now confined on
a small island of the French group off
the coast of French Guinea. The prime
mover in the present steps taken in
behalf of the prisoner is M. Scheurer
kestner, one of the vice presidents of
the French senate. NJ. Scheurer Kest-
ner claims to have irrefutable proofs
of the innocence of Dreyfuss, and he
asserts that he knows the real culprit
1t is understood M. Scheurer Kestner
is determined to raise the question in
parliament. He has already conferred
with the ministers Of war and justice
on the subject.
The Patrie, of Paris, tonight, ON the
authority Of a member of the court
martial which condemned Dreyfuss,
declared that the proofs of the latter's
guilt involve state secret which
might become a casus belli
The Dry Goods Market