, 1900-05-17

is now operating, at the date
of its termination in July, 1902. and
make n new one with the United States
government which will give us control
of the isthmus. The de facto govern
ment at Bogota, in the person of DIR.
Saclamente. constitutional president of
Colombia. has recently extended the
Wyse concession for six years, until
1908. and is said to have received g.
900, 900 francs therefor from the Pana
ma AT the same time that
company is released from the payment
of certain ines and penalties and from
certain annoying obligations that have
been imposed upon ii from time to time
by the government, but neither these
releases nor the extension of the ca
nal concessions are valid without the
ratification of the Colombian Congress.
Senator Mcmillan of Michigan has
introduced a bill for n new kind of
money TO be called post check notes.
fixed so that they may be made paya-
BILE to the order of any person to whom
they may be sent through the mails. 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
a check he can take IN ordinary bill,
fill the blank lines with the words,
pay to the order of Richard Roe. Chi
cago, Illinois. John Doe and stick on
n two-cent stamp, which is intended to
pay the government for the trouble and
expense of doing the business. Thus
this note is worthless if it falls into the
hands of any other person than Mr..
Roe, who, however. is compelled &c go
10 the pOstotiiCe and have himself iden-
tilted before he can get it caShed. The
postmaster forwards the notes to the
treasury for redemption and new ones
are issued to a similar amount and in
similar denominations. The notes of
the Bank of England. which are print
ed on white paper with n good deal of
blank space. are frequently used in
II similar name by common consent,
although there is no law authorizing
such II practice. Mr.. McMillan's bill
receives considerable favor from the
pOstoffice authorities. as they believe it
will he a great advantage to the postal
service, but the treasury people do not
regard ii with favor.
Charles Dudley Warner. president of
the American Social Science Associa-
ton. created "A sensation at the annual
meeting here Tuesday by reading n
paper in which he took the ground
that the colored race is going backward
instead of forward under unwise lead
eIS and false ideas of education. He
sustained his arguments with Statis-
teal 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 cen 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 TO 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 a taste of education they in
siSt upOn living lives of idlencss or
seek official positions and the excite
ment of politics and vice. Mr.. War
ner takes the position that industrial
training. with a knowledge of the ell
emental branches, II moral instruc-
ton are the only methods by which
the masses of the negro race can be eX-
pected to improve in character and use
fulness. Negro suffrage. he claims. is
d NhlSt W lnt Iu't. anu negro colleges
n universities and all institutions for
higher education do more harm than
good.
Those who are Interested in the ar
my canteen can obtain a 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 be
detailed TO sell drinks. and thar moth
ing can be sold except beer. light wines
and soft drinks" The sale of beer is
limited TO week days; il must be con-
sumed upon Ii premises. and the
practice known as treating is pro-
hibited. The sale of beer Is left 10 the
discretion of the commanding officer
whenever lie is satisfied that diving
10 the troops the opportunity of obtain
ing SUCH beverage within the post lin
It's VIII prevent them from resorting
for strong intuNicants to places with
out such limits. and tends to promote
temperance and discipline among
them The exchange or canteen is
managed by an officer, assisted by n
steward, who may he a non-commis-
stoned officer. an enlisted man. a re-
tired soldier or nm honorably ~discharg-
ed soldier who is capable of keeping
books and enforcing discipline about
the premises. a subcommittee of non-
commissioned officers is appointed TO
confer regarding the agem of
the exchange. Gambling is forbidden
but the sale of tea. coffee. nop-alcohol-
ic drinks. soup, sandwiches, etc, is
permitted. Reading aud recreation
rooms, billiard and pool tables are pro.
vided. and all forms of games. with a
supply OF newspapers, magazines and
books, which are paid for out of the
profits of the exchange.
In the discussion in the Senate of the
question of providing armOr plate for
battleships now being built a notable
speech was delivered by Mr.. Lodge of
Massachusetts upon the necessity of
building up the United States navy
without delay. The speech was deliy-
cred with the vigOr and earnestness
characteristic of Mr.. Lodges discussion
of public questions. and attracted much
attention. In opposing an amendment
Ia delay hnVinp amman rInt, ,,-.1 -