The state herald., 1900-05-18

+! government which will give us control
Of the isthmus. The de facto govern
ment at Bogota, In the person of DR..
Saclamente, constitutional president of
Colombia, has recently extended the
Wyse concession for six years, until
1908, and IL said to have received g.
100000 francs therefor from the PAM
ma company. At the same time that
company is released from the payment
OF certain fines and penalties and from
certain annoying obligations that have
been imposed upon 1t from time to time
by the government but neither these
releases nor the extension Of the ca.
nal concessions are valid without tho
ratification Of the Colombian Congress.
Senator Mcmillan Of Michigan has
introduced bill for a new kind of
money to be called post "check notes."
fixed 80 that they may be made paya-
bic to the order of any person to whom
they may be sent through the malls. On
the back Of every note blank lines are
to be left to write the name, postoffice
and state Of the payee and the sigma
ture OF the payer, as on ordinary bank
checks. Thus when John Doe owes
Richard Roe $50. instead of making out
check he can take nm ordinary bill,
I'LL tho blank lines with the words,
''pay to the order Of Richard Roe, Chi.
cago, Illinois, John Doe" and stick on
a two-cent stamp. which Is intended to
pay the government for the trouble and
| expense OF doing the business. Thus
this note Is worthless II 1t falls into the
hands Of any other person than Mr..
Roe. who. however. is compelled to go
to the pOstoffice aud have himself iden-
hafnrl hn aup rat I tnI rl.,
postmaster forwards the notes to the
treasury for redemption and new ones
are issued to n similar amount and in
similar denominations. The notes OF
the Bank OF England. which are print
ed on white paper with good deal OF
blank space, nre frequently used in
Il similar manner by common consent,
although there Is no law authorizing
such n practice. Mr.. McAfillan's bill
receives considerable favor from the
postoffice authorities. as they believe 1t
Will he great advantage to the postal
service. but the treasury people do not
regard 1t with favor.
Charles Dudley Warner, president of
the American Social Science Associa-
tion, created sensation at the annual
meeting here Tuesday by reading
paper In which he took the ground
that the colored race Is going backward
instead of forward under unwise lead
cr,s and false ideas of education. He
sustained his arguments with statis-
tical reports Of crime and illiteracy In
the southern states. He shows that the
Increase OF crime among the negroes
in the southern states has been twen-
ty-nine per cent. and only eight per
cent. among the whites. In the north
ern states. where slavery never pre-
vailed, crime has increased seven per
cent. among the white population and
thirty-nine per cent. among the negro
population. He attributes this phe-
nomenon 10 improper education and
political influences. He declares that
none but illiterate negroes will work;
that as soon as men or women OF that
race get taste OF education they In
sist upon living lives of idleness or
seek official positions and the excite
ment of politics and vice. Mr.. War
ner takes the position that Industrial
training, with n knowledge of the ell
emental branches, and moral instruc-
ton nrc the only methods by which
the masses OF the negro race can he cx-
pectcd to improve In character and use
fulncss. Negro suffrage. he claims. is
and universities and NIL institutions for
higher education do more harm than
good.
Those who are Interested In the ar
my cnnteen can obtain pamphlet copy
OF the regulations for their govern
ment by applying to the secretary OF
war. Those regulations provide that
no officer or private soldier shall he
a. ,.l .l,.l,,
Ing can be sold except beer. light wines
and soft drinks" The sale OF beer IL
limited TO week days: II must be con-
sumed upon the premises. and the
practice known as treating Is pro-
hibited. The sale OF beer is left to the
discretion OF the commanding officer
whenever he IL satisfied that giving
TO the troops the opportunity of obtain
Ing such beverage within the post lin
Its will prevent them from rcsorting
for strong lntoxlcnnts TO places with
out such limits. and tends to promote
temperance and discipline among
them" The exchange or cantccn is
managed by nm officer. assisted by n
steward. who may he n non-commis-
stoned officer. nm enlisted man, u re-
tired soldier or nm honornbly discbarg-
ed soldier who IL capable OF keeping
books ana enforcing discipline about
the premises. A subcommittee OF non.
commissioned officers IL appointed 10
confer regarding the management OF
the exchange. Gambling is forbidden,
but the sale OF ten. coffee. non.nlcohol.
ic drinks. soup, sandwiches, etc. "
permitted. Reading and recreation
rooms. billiard and pool tables are pro.
vidcd. and NIL forms OF games. with u
supply Of newspapers. magazines and
books. which are paid for ou, OF the
profits OF the exchange.
In the discussion In the Senate OF the
question OF providing armor plate for
battlerhips now being built n notable
speech was delivered by Mr.. Lodge OF
assnchuse,ts upon the necessity OF
building MP the United Stntcs navy
without delay. The speech was delly. |
cred with the vigor and cnrncstnes~
characteristic of Mr.. Lodges discussion |
OF public questions, and attracted much
attention. In opposing nm amendment
10 delay buying nrmor plate until the
United States could erect It's own plant
he said: II hope and believe TINT we
shall have no wnr. but n great fleet Is !
the greatest assurance Of peace. How.
ever. we would bc foolish. indeed, II |
we should close our eyes 10 the possi.
biliiicH of the situation. We could ncv.
or allow the Danish Islands TO pass In.
to nny hands hut ours. The European
nn,ion which should undertake 10 take
possession Of those islands. right on
the rond to the cnnnl, md make them