The times., 1897-03-28

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London, March calculating opinion
from various centers interested in the
of the United Associated Presses finds in
no quarter anything approaching the dis
may which fell upon British traders when
the tariff of 1890 was announced. The
new tariff has been scanned, of course, with
the greatest interest, but almost with
confluence. 1t conveyed no shock OF sur
prise.
MI W. II. Horribly, NJ. p, for blackburn,
one of the largest cotton spinners in Lam
cashire, says that the changes will not
affect cotton Industries in any material
way. The Current opinion in Liverpool and
Manchester is the same. Sheffield reports
that the cutlery trade Will not be lin "A
worse position than under the Wilson act.
One of the principal cutlery manufac-
turers goes So far as to say that the new
bill is a step in the direction of bringing
about more honest system OF business,
that the object Of the American manufaC-
turers was obviously to stop the trenen-
dous competition they experienced from
the Germans, who, through a system OF
low valuations, really defeated the object
OF the present tariff
America was thus flooded with cheap
German made goods The revision would
chiefly effect the low-priced goods, and
while affecting cheap Sheffield products
- al.
Sheffield in d good position for meeting
German cheap competition. Another large
cutler says it may bother the Germans
who cultivate trade with America in
the cheapest goods. Generally speaking.
he holds that it will make no practical
difference TO the Sheffield trade.
Leeds reports that the new tariff viii
lie prohihitive as far as some classes of
woolen fabrics exported to the United
States are concerned. Worsted Will be
hit heavily, and So Bradford and Hudders
field viii suffer much.
But stringent as the tariff is, it does
not take the Leeds manufacturer 10y sur
prise. Leeds expected as much, and the
manufacturers are rather gratilied than
otherwise by a relief from uncertainty
Thetenor of the reports fIom Birmingham,
Glasgow and Dundee is similar 1t should
be added that every center records Il run
OF orders from the United States for goods
to be delivered before the revised duties
go into operation.
What pressure sporting men in PaIlia-
ment can bring to bear upon the govern
ment to support bill for legalizing
betting in the ring, has been tried without
success. The licensing OF bookuIakers com
mends itself to many members, who see
no harm in legal recognition of a practice
which may he called national. But no
government could face the hurricane of
reproach which would arise in the solid
body of electors whose influence when
aroused decides the fates of governments.
A bill will be introduced by private
members and will get strong support
But no minister will venture 80 support 1t
in his ministerial capacity, and if the
measure gets to u second reading, its re
lection is certain The boOkmakers' shop is
summarily closed and probably forever.
II the anti-betting league follows up its
victory, betting as now practiced by
nearly all classes, Will become impossible
A new London daily paper, something
on the lines of the New York; Herald's
London venture, is projected and will ap-
pear early n April.
The builders are well on their work ut
the west front of st. Paul's Cathedral for
the open-air thanksgiving service of the
Queens diamond jubilee. AS yet the piles
of scarfoIding conceal the intended altera-
tions Unless the roof is used for coignS
of vantage for sigbtseers very few of the
public will see anything of the ceremony.
vicinity from which it would be possible
to get full view of the Queen at the
service. The space around Queen Anne's
statue will be occupied by the suites of
distu guished guests and by troops.
When the political activity of the ad-
miralty has subsided. Mr.. Goschen intends
to return favorably To the consideration
OF the dispatch of an exploring eXpedi-
tiQn to the Antarctic ocean. Everybody
now recognizes that such an undertaking
would have the best chances of success if
carried on with the active assistance Of
the admiralty, assisted by scientific eX-
perts 1t is quite likely that suitable
ship will be commissioned shortly for the
purpose.
The new expenses clause of the Anna
teur Athletic A ssociation'S law is still a
source of heart burning to disqualified
amateurs and to the strcter gentlemen
athletes The proposed rule legalizes
the refunding of actual out-of-rocket hotel
and travelling expenses TO men who may
be taking part in competitions at a dis
tance, and even then the payment must
be made presumably by the club sending
the competitor and not by the club pro-
noting the SDOrtS
The farewell dinner to Sir Alfred Mines,
the new governor of Cape Colony, tonight,
will present a notable burying of the
hatchet among rivals in public life. Around
the same friendly table at the Cafe Monico
will be Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr. Balfour, Lord
Rosebery, Sir William Harcourt, the Mar
quis OF nstiowne, ViscounU Peel, Sir John
Morley and many others. Mr.. Asquith an
OLD college friend OF Sir Alfred Mines, will
preside.
Time has healed the bitterness Of the
home rule battles with most men, but be-
tween Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord Rosebery
and the latter and Sir william Harcourt
there have as yet been only the stiffest
courtesies and bitter-sweet public illusions.