The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24

!
The Ohio Senatorial prize has been
hung up, but whether for fight or a foot
race is not settled yet.
1t looks as if the Nicaragua canal bill
were knocked out, but it may prove to
have been foul blow.
Democratic organs continue to show
greater ingenuity in discovering signs of
a split in the Republican party than plans
for harmonizing their own.
The much-talked-of Spanish concessions
to Cuba are subject to two drawbacks:
Spain doesn't wish to make them and
Cuba doesn't wish to have them.
Since foreclosure is Harmon's way of
dealing with the Union Pacific the people
will be glad to see the dispute with the
Central Pacific harmonized also.
An Illinois barber wishes law impos-
ing tax of SO on every man who wears
3 beard and while this may not be a cinch
bill it Is evidently intended to shave close.
The Government has been assured that
it viii receive for its lien or the Union Pa
citic and Kansas Pacific lines at least
$45, 754, 600 and that is good enough for
starter.
The Germans have a law against stock
gambling and dealing in futures, but it is
said to work so badly that even the Kaiser
doesn't consider its violation as an insult
TO his uniform.
As the amount which England found il
necessary to expend for her navy last year
was over $109000 900 it is not strange that
her taxpayers are eager for arbitration
with Uncle Sam.
At the present time all the William
Astors are out Of the United States, and
still New York bravely makes a metro
politan show and tries to act as if it were
not deserted village.
The legislators who stood W. and ac-
knowledged their share in the payroll scan
dal and took their medicine like men will
receive a degree OF commentator from
the public, but they mustn't go wrong
again.
Judging from reports, the resolution of
Senator Lodge demanding the abolition of
the Congressional Record was motion of
such unex xpected suddenness that it made
all Washington osciIate like an earth
quake.
4 great deal of useless comment has
been written on the fact that majority of
the Kentucky delegation in Congress has
expressed disapprobation of the use OF
wine in the White House. The Ken
tuckians should have been asked about
whisky.
A fellow who processes to know declares
that most of the sardines consumed
in this country are caught on the coast OF
Maine and are preserved in oil made of
cotton seed. From this statement it seems
the only genuine sardine in the case is the
consumer.
During the last four years Massachusetts
has expended $3.50 600 in exterminating
the gypsy moth with a degree OF success
which is amply demonstrated by the
report Of the State entomologist, that the
war will require $500, 900 a year for the
next five years.
CHICAGO is always con sidered the city of
rapid development in this country, while
Philadelphia is regarded as slow of
growth, but in the last year $24, 8l9 700
was expended for buildings in Philade!-
phia, while Chicago put only 500, ,730, ,615
into new houses. It is evidently time 10
revise some of our popular ideas.
The Greater Republic of Cent raj
America has begun its diplomacy by OBJ
jecting TO the Nicaragua canal bill be-
cause it places the control of the canal in
the hands OF the United States Govern
ment, but before long that same G reater
Republic will be very eager to have the
power of Uncle Sam exerted there to pro-
tect things.
As one way of solving the convict la Dor
question Governor Tanner of Illinois has
recommended that the inmates of prisons
in that State be set to the work Of making
schoolbooks. The proposal sounds hum
orous, but as the scheme would break up
the schoolbook trust and furnish edifying
labor for the average prison intellect there
may be virtue in IL.
A new poet has been discovered in the
East in the person OF Mr.. James Ballard of
Georgia. He sings of things whereof he
knows and his poems have plenty of that
local color" which higher criticism in
cessantly calls for. By way OF example,
take this wood note wild of his native
town OF r. doak:
Afonopolists this town has none
Very greatly troubled
For, within the last three years,
Its business nearly doubled.
II the verse be not accounted poetry, it
is at any rate good advertisement for the
town and gives it enough feet to stand on.