The record-union., 1898-03-06
London Given Over the Past Week
10 Leca! Politics.
Proceedings in the House Of Commons ex-
cite Much Interest.
The Queen Will Hold a Privy
Counsel Tomorrow, and Clear
Up Business Before Her Depar-
ture for the Riviera on Wednes-
day.

LONDON, March 5.-(Copyrighted,
1898. by the Associated Press.)-
Throughout the week London has been
given over TO local politics. and the
proceedings in the House of Commons
have rot excited much interest. The
Queen will hold a privy council on
Monday and clear up arrears OF busi-
ness before starting for the Riviera On
Wednesday The Princess Louise,
Princess Henry of Battenberg and her
children will accompany the queen TO
the south of France. Her majesty now,
for the first time, habitually uses gold
old-aGe spectacles.
About 100 bills have already been IN
troduceG in Parliament, of which num-
Der eisht are Government measures.
One legislative curiosity, introduced by
Daniel Mac Alees, an anu-Pafheillte
member for North Monaghan, 10 en-
able persons of Irish birth or eXtac-
ton 10 adopt the use of the prefix %
or Mac before their surnames. was
received with shouts of laughter. and
he Furnished a fund of paragraphs Tor
the press The bill. however. is eXclt-
ing unexpected and serious opposition
from the Irish and Scotch members al
ready enjoying these pre1iXes, VINO
claim, according to one statement, that
1T would be an infringement OF the
dignity of their order.
The bimetallists in the House OF
Commons have secured first place on
March 2Sth, when they VIII present a
resolution providing for the closing OF
the Indian mints and demanding the
appointment of a royal commission TO
take up the whole question of bmetal-
lism.
The Bimetallic League has issued a
long manifesto, reviewing the situation
from the time OF Senator Wolcott S
mission. protesting against the pro-
posed adoption Of the gold standard in
India, and urging the Government in
stead 70 resume earnestly the negotia-
tions with France and the United
States.
1t is said in Brussels that when Prince
Albert of Belgium returns home from
the United States he Will be raised to
the rank of Major in his grenadier
regiment, and that his betrothal to his
cousin. the Princess Clementine. who
was engaged to the late Prince Badoun,
will be announced.
Inc lIfl2S, III Its aHHuhl StdtSiIlelii,
says tks drink bill of the United King
dom is nearly E3,500.00J in excess of
that IF 1896.
The English press has universally
printed praises of the statement that
Mark Twain Samuel Clemens) has
paid the last of his Webster * Co.
debts. DR.. McAlister, writing to the
Times" on the subject. says: With
the exception OF the historical case of
Sir Walter Scott, / do not think there
is to be found in the records of ltera-
ture anything equal to Mark Twain's
conduct"
Emperor William is not as the cor
respondent of the Daily Chronicle" at
Berlin telegraphs having a racing
yacht built quietly at Southampton to
eEfer the regattas in German and
English waters next summer. The
story arose from the rechristening OF
the American schooner-yacht Yampa,
recently purchased by Emperor Will
lam. to Iduna-
Large numebrs of people witnessed
the formal opening of the boating ssa-
son at Eton on Tuesday. when a pro-
cession of boats. under the supervision
of young William Waldorf Astor who
now has the proud distinction among