The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-04
.Gapifa1 Chat.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise, for the Readers
of the Globe.

Consul General Convey sends from Yo-
kohama. copy Of his reply to an inquiry
from resident OF. New York, relative tc
opportunities Unemployment In Japan
ana also an fFterasting report upon the
emigration of 1aRanese to other countries
as follows:
There are more young men here seek.
Ing clerical and official places than there
are positions 20 be filled. Every issue OF
the English daily newspapers contain
notices from young men seeking posi-
tiohs' many OF them claiming experience
IN bookkeeping OF the silk or curio trade
and the ability to speak and write
French, German, etc
Ihere Is no chahce to obtain positions
under the imperial government, for the
tendency In officiai circles is to discharge
foreigners as fest as practicable and ill
their places with Japanese.
livery year hndS@ an increasing number
OF Japanese Who. have been educated
abroad coming home and seeking posi-
lions, ard it is, Of course the natural
and inevitable thing that they should I'll
the places In their own government.
would not recommend Americans to
come 70 this country unless they have
secured employment in advance"
Inc STATISTICS relative to Japanese emil
eralls abroad at present are distributed
as ioIloWs: In Hawaii 1000; I'm Aus
-''VN' III Odldud, i,UJJ ana IN Peru.
1Z'oou' Besides these, there are OF course
q large number of Japanese emigrants in
CIlna ana Korea. There are twelve emf
stduoh establishments in Japan and two
more III the Course of formation
"A very important move has just been
mace by two or three of the big rail
rU@us Whlch pass through Washington.
Inc latest move under the policy Of mu-
Iud1 interests iS 81
llhe belonging to the Pennsylvania rail-
toao' running from Washington to Guam
tlco. Va. and tho Richmond Fredricks-
puFs " Potomac railroad, extending from
Quantico to Richmond.
II IS proposed to make the combina-
tlon Tor the purpose of maintaining an
open highway for railroad service be-
tween the North and South, and the par
ues named as likely to be in such an
agreement, If consumated. are to be the
pennsylvania railroad, the Baltimore &,
ONO, the Atlantic Coast line and the
southern railroad. One of the prelirn-
lnarles to such a move was affected at
the recent meeting Of stockholders of the
richmond. Fredericksburg & Potomac rail-
road When 1t was decided to do away
WIN the scale system Of voting the stock
oI the company. The proposition to wipe
out this feature was voted on by about
lo,VOo OF the preferred and common shares
Oh the company out of a total issue of
some 1900 shares. 1t received the unani-
nous sanction of the stock represented at
the meeting
Under the scale system Of voting a
majority OF stock, If held by one owner.
ala not mean a control of the company.
as, for example. 500 shares of stock If
divided among fifty owners would have a
greater number Of votes than If held I'm
q block by one owner. The effect Of the
stockholders action Is to give the Allan
tic Coast line the control of the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg & Potomac rail
road. This property, in connection with
the line of the Pennsylvania railroad
forms the neck through which a large
snare OF traffic movement North and
South via Washington flows
The scheme Of a
MUTUALdTY.. OF INTERESTS
is the plan recently inaugurated by the
Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio and
vanderbilt lines to put an end to the
building of parallel lines when the bust
ness can be carried and cared for by the
existing routes. With the charter recent
ly given by the legislature OF Virginia to
the Seaboard Air lire interests, author
lty is available to parallef from Rich
mond to Washington the line formed by
the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
and the line from Quantico The PROPOSE
ton now under consideration is evidently
aimed to do away with the necessity for
the construction of such a line The
Seaboard Air line is a joint user with
the Atlantic Coast line of the existing
route between Richmond and Washing
ton, and the proposed combination would
1t is understood, provide for a continu-
ance Of this arrangement.
1t is said to be the general purpose to
give all lines that may go into the plan
equal rights and make the combined lines
an open highway. There is heavy bust
ness handled now between Richmond and
Washington via Quantico, and the facili-
ties are said to be equal to an increased
business. When the traffic warrants II
the whole line can be made a double
track road. 1t has been kept In mod
ern physical condition, and the prospect
of the need for second track has re-
Gently been considered. The Richmond
Fredericksburg &c Potomac has resources
available TO carry cut this improvement
Of its line whenever 1t is deemed neces-
sary and such q betterment is only a
question Of decision with the Penn
sylvania railroad for It's part Oh
the route. Baltimore & Ohio officials
have had in view for some time the es-
adjustment OF direct connection fol
the South, and the Seaboard Air line is
generally regarded as its probable ally il
this direction.
In connection with the proposed com
| bination the depot question al Washing.
ton is likely to receive some similar
treatment looking to a mutually of In
terests. Some Overtures have already
| been made between Pennsylvania rail
road officials and those Of the Atlantic
Coast line, Southern railway and other
lines entering Washington from the
South relative to a union depot for the
North and South traffic. This may take
| a larger significance owing to the effeort
being made in Washington to have con
gress require all the roads entering Wash.
ington use a union terminal. The Balti-
more & Ohio, as we'll as the Pennsyl.
vania, has plans for new depot and the
elevation of tracks to meet the demands
made in the past by congress. Both OF
these systems contemplate heavy ex.
penditures in this direction, and the ques
ton of unifying this expense and give tC
Washington a great union terminal has
met with some approval from members
of the official family Of both roads.