The San Francisco call., 1899-09-17
CONFEDER RATION
is PRAYED FOR
Petition of South Aus
tralianS.
Copyrighted. 1899, by the Associated Press

Copyrighted. 1889. by the Associated Press
LONDON, Sept I6.-The first address
praying for confederation arrived this
week from South Australia. Others are
expected soon. The Secretary of State
for the Colonies, Mr.. Chamberlain, Is eX-
pected TO bring in the Federal enabling
bill early next session, which is the only
step now required to fill the desire Of the
Australians. The joint majority in favor
Of the commonwealth bill in the colony
is estimated at 200 900. Lord Jersey, IT
is surmised will be the first Governor
General and Sir George Turner the first
Premier.
Lord Rosebery's speech September at
the dinner of the Caledonian Railway en-
ployes, comparing British and Ameican
railways, has created comment.
The Saturday Review contests the for
mer Premier's solution by pointing out
that Great Britain has borrowed many
railroad improvements from the United
States and might borrow more.
The Speaker says: America has prob
ably not much TO teach US in railway
management. Unless We can bring our
selves to adopt American ways We prefer
our very modified OligarchS TO the rail-
way autocrats Of the United States.
The president Of the Board OF Agrlcul-
ture, Walter Long, is the latest victim
of the church dispute, his Liverpool con-
stituents censuring him because he voted
against the church discipline bill, there
by gaining a reputation as a december Of
the rituahsts. 1t is likely he will resign.
The irony OF this lies in the fact that Mr..
Long is an extremely low church man and
from legal point OF view. Such an eX-
planatiOn, however, is powerless against
the no popery cry Of his constituents
The British Admiralty is experiencing
the same difficulty as was encountered by
the United States Navy Department last
year in finding good machinists for ships
at smaller salaries than are paid by the
merchant marine. The British navy
lacks 500 men of the number OF these arti-
fcers required to man vessels, To remedy
this serious defect ii Is proposed to divide
the country into five marine engineering
recruiting districts, each with an admir-
atty agent, with civilian engineer in
touch with the shipping centers, and
maintain a substantial salary and so
much for each recruit. The system has
just commenced at Liverpool and Sun
derland. with signs OF success.
The Secretary Of War, the Marquis Of
Lansdowne. has issued circular to the
general officers saying he has noticed
that a predominant fashion exists among
young officers to shave the upper lip, and
adding that this is much to be regretted
The result is that many unfertile lips
are being coerced. The regulation against
shaving the upper lip has been little OBJ
served of recent years, and its revival is
unpopular.
The Globe commenting on the letter of
the United States Secretary of State,
Colonel John Hay. anent the treaties,
says: There can never be anything in
the nature of a combative alliance be
tween the two great Englsh-speaking
peoples until each is in position to offer
the other an equitable quid pro quo"
Reports from the great royal gathering
in Denmark say the Car is amusing him
self playing tennis. chiefly with the Prin-
cess Victoria Of Wales. In the evenings
King Christian has a rubber of whist and
all retire early, except the Gar. who
works into the small hours on state pa
pers, which are brought daily from ST
Petersburg. Russian and Danish detec-
tives surround Bergsdorff Castle.