The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-08-11
FIGHT OVER PENSIONS.
London Taxpayers Up In Arms
Against What They Term
'Sociaiistic Legisia-
ton.

Lonoon Iaxpayers Up In Arms
Against What They Term
"Sociaiistic Legisia-
ton.
London, Aug Sit is understood that
one Of the principal government messages
Of the coming session will be old age pen
sions, and there is every prospect of hot
fight oyer the bill. Many supporters of
the government are utterly opposed to
what they term "sociaIistic legislation
the taxpayers are in arms against the
prospective heavy demands upon their di-
minishing income, and it is pointed that
no matter how disastrous it turns out
to be such Il matter could never be re-
pealed in a democratic country like Eng
land. 1t is recognized Oh every side that
increased expenditure will be requisite to
| meet the fierce rivalry Of the United
States and Europe. While signs are not
| lacking that Great BrItains income is
| nearing high water, and there is wide
spread feeling that there is 10 time to
sacrifice millions which might be spent
| in insuring the country against hostile
| fleets As to the old age pensions scheme,
! many people think it would fatally de-
crease the sense of duty towards the
| families, render the citizen less thrifty
and energetic.
EilIjnDs Nay 1.Ey an Irjand.
Interesting information comes from the
| British North Borneo country in that it
| has received request from the Philip
pines asking the company to lease or sell
! to the Filipinos Ban1uey island. just
| south Of Palan1uan island. 1t is only
| srarscly settled by natives. The Filipi-
nos who are eng ineering the deal say
| that i'll case Of their defeat Aguinaldo
and other leaders, with q large section
/ of Filipinos. may settle at Bansuey Is
| land under British protection and the
companys rule. The board is now CON
sidering the question, and it is under
stood the company is not averse to leaS-
| ing the island on very favora BILE terms
! being offered
Lord Pauncefote the British apabas-
sador to the United States, continues to
| receive numberleSs congratulations on
| his elevation to the peerage. 4 repre-
sentative Of the Associated press. yester-
day, saw letters and kilograms on his
table, but singularly none has yet ar
rived from America. The amba ssador
said:
Naturally, am averse to trumpeting
my work at the conference. What has
been done the world knows already. But
| can express my solid conviction that a
| tangible commencement has been not
made in new methods of international
dealing, and especially in the settlement
of the grave issues which are bound to
arise at times between nations.
1T would manifestly be out of place
for me to discuss the Alaskan question.
l am not sure l am thoroughly coDver$-
ant with the later developments. But,
the good sense, tact and wisdom of the
diplomatistS on both sides are sufficient
guarantee of final, honorable settle
ment. l am afraid excessive praise l.:
rendered for the good understanding
,r-hs Tab x-1ctc hot fhn
but it is assuredly flattering and it would
be affectation on my part to appear to
ignore the happy change which has come
about recently and which no one is in a
better position to recognize than all am
bassador.
Owing to tn propagation shall be
unable to take my seat during the pres
ent sessions of Parliament. but | will g"
to Windsor to kiss hands in the ordinary
course
The Castellanes.
Count and Countess Boni de CaSteIlanc
and their party on board the steam yacht
Nalhalla have certainly been the social
success of Cowes week. Their triumph
has eliminated in the dinner they gave
on the vessel Thursday to the Prince of
Wales. Everything connected with the
yacht and the French people Oh board
were the smartest. Countess de Castel-
lane and the French women accompany
ing her completely eclipsed the English
women. They were perfectly dressed OH
| every occasion while the majority of the
English beauties appeared in most inap-
propriate hashy costumes. The arrival
of the Valhalla's gig at the Royal Yacht
Squadron landing stage was always the
| event of the afternoons to the OnIOOkerS
1t is six-oared gig and the sailors wear
the ordinary French sailors costume
little round white caps with red tassels,
white jumpers over blue and white
striped Jerseys and white duck trousers
The counts appearance created almost
as great interest as the women's He
wears generally a white linen Yachting
suit and his hair is always so beautifully
arranged that his hairdresser ''undu-
lates'' it daily. He wears the daintiest
white gloves and carries a walking stick
with massive gold handle
The young Duke of Albany. a shy deli
cate boy. was recently induced by some
enterprising fellows-Etonians of his own
age. to ask the Queen to secure the
Etonians an extra weeks holiday. in hon
or of his impending departure for Ger
many, where he is to commence his edu-
ton as heir to the Grand Duchy of Co.
burg. Her majesty made the request to
the governors of Elton. who. however.
declined.
George Henry Broughton's admirable
picture When the Dead Leaves Fall
has been purchased by King Humbert.
for the International exhibition at Venice.
nicipal gallery At Rome. The works of
Americans at the Venice exhibition have
; been highly eulogized and the sales have
been exceptionally good.
An Unsettled Condition..
Whatever fanciful reasons are offered
for the visit of the French minister of
foreign affairs. NJ. del Case. to St.
Petersburg, it is safe to assume 1t has
reference to- the present unsettled conGi-
ton of European politics. The appear,
. ance of the United States as a world
power is primarily responsible for this
disturbance and there are repeated signs
of latent friction between Germany and
the United States. the latest being Ad-
miral Deweys alleged warlike state
ments, which gave European statesmen
, cause for uneasiness. and are regarded
as the motive for Emperor Williams
overtures for Il rapprochement with
:. France. France is still smarting under
the humiliation of the Fashoda affair.
and is inclined to meet Emperor William
; if once convinced that the Russlan al
lance has no real value. The primary
object of NJ. del Casse therefore is to get
public evidence that the alliance holds
good by persuading the Car to visit the
Paris exposition of 1900 and also by per
sonal contact with the Russian court and
statesmen to ascertain to What extent
the alliance may be relied on.
The visit of Herr Fischer. the special
agent of the Orange Free State: to Pre-
toria is regarded hopefully. His influence
is expected to lead President Kruger to
accept the proposal of the British secre-
tary of state for the colonies, Joseph
Chamberlain, for joint inquiry into the
effect the franchise bill will have upon
; the outlanders. He was the spokesman
) of the Dutch party when the recent con-
l cessions were made by President Kruger.
The condition of India continues serious.
Except in Bengal practically no rain has
. fallen in western or southern India for
nearly forty days. The Bombay govern
ment is already considering means to
cope with the famine which will occur if
the rain fails to come soon. 1t will vari-
: ously interfere with currency reform.
The natives say the luck of the viceroy
, of India. Lord Curzon of Kedleston, is
, failing.
An old lady has written to Arthur J.
,, Ralfour. the first lord of the treasury
and government leader in the House of