Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24

kaiser in the northwest of Cape Colony.
This Is the region which bounds Walnsch
Bay, where the German government has
been credited with the design of Obtaining
the site of a coaling station. The value of
the place from naval point or view is
very considerable, and there Is little doubt
that until a few years ago the kaiser had
| a firm intention of getting the small piece
of territory in Walfisch Bay which still be-
longs to the British empire. Later events
have changed the kaiser's mind, and 1t Is
reported now that another bargain has been
struck between Lord Salisbury and Count
Won Buelow. by the terms of this agree
ment 1t Is said that German Southwest
Africa will in future belong to Britain, so
that South Africa in future will in truth
be British territory from the Zambesi to
the Cape. The map makers will soon be
ish by painting the whole lower part of
Africa red. Delagoa Bay Is already prac-
tica,ly British.
A Check on Money Lenders.
One of the best acts that parliament
passed in the last session was that COM
peiling the registration Of money lenders.
These silent leeches working under various
aliases. were veritable bloodsuckers anu
accomplished the ruin of hundreds Of those
who suffered extortions in silence rather
than make their troubles known.
One. Isaac Gordon, of unsavory fame,
now dead, was the most notorious, and his
victims were officers gentlemen and women
who found themselves in want of a few
hundreds of pounds, for the accommodation
Of which they were ultimately forced to
pay as much as 400 per cent: This Gordon
did business all over England under a
dozen different names. 1t was due mainly
to the final publicity given in court to his
workings that the bill was passed.
An Extensive Business.
In accordance with the provisions of the
act the register of money lenders is now
in process of compilation All registrations
have to be completed before the end of the
present month under penalty of f1O0. The
first list of names registered has just been
published and SO far. it appears, 149 per-
sons have given in their names The list
contains several features of interest. The
hlgh-sounding names under which many
money lenders have been in the habit of
doing business now lifted like veil and
the personalities under them are revealed.
The multiplication of offices by single
money lenders is a feature of the list. Thus
twenty-three money lending establishments
in the northern counties are registered in
one name, and the majority of firms appear
with more than establishment. The
money lenders again are apparently not
content to describe themselves money
lenders. There are a number of gentle
men, on the list. besides a"warehouseman"
and other business descriptions, while in
dustry is represented by such returns as
stevedore. blacksmith and a coach driver.
Drumming Up Trade.
The touting of these individuals is ex-
tensive.
About once a month I receive at my
house kindly worded letter from one of
them cordially inviting to borrow
money, without publicity, of gentleman
who having large sums on his hands. is
willing to lend it without security to re-
liable persons"
If | get these letters of course, my
neighbors do. The tendency of the act will
be to show them up, at any rate. and make
it less easy to bamboozle the public.
To Boycott the United States.
The Hispano-American congress. now in
session in Madrid, is a pitiable spectacle
from some points of view. It's raison d'etre
is a desire on the part Of the Spanish
speaking countries of South America to
associate themselves socially and CONNER
cially with Spain. which they call the
mother country and strike blow at
the hated Anglo-SaXonS, especially those Of
the United States.
Spain has received the delegates hos
pitably and all happy in the idea of
putting a check on the aspirations Of the
greedy Yankees.
The congress is pitiable because any bust
nesslike man could tell the sentimental
congressioners that trade cannot be com
PEELED but must follow natural causes.
Spain and the Latin republics of South
America can never be sufficient to them
selves, because .tfleE are not IN a position
to satisfy their mutual wants.
Make Big Mistake.
The United States. kick against her as they
Will. is the natural source for South Amer
lea as England is for Spain.
The congress is pitiabie too, from another
point of view. and that is the reflection
that the South Americans seek to cut them
selves off from an active helpful and civil
izing alliance with the United States, and
connect themselves with the dying COM
merce and baleful ignorance of Spain.
While the delegates are exchanging gran
eloquent Civilities and Spain is entertaining
them extensively. petition now being cir
culated by the schoolmasters of Spain is a
startling contrast. The schoolmasters ask
to be protected from want and hunger.
Public Schools in Spain.
1t seems that the government owes them
9.G56503 pesetas nominaly 81 ,S07 ,3O0).
Among the pedagogues are many who have
not been paid for three four years.
The salaries are miserably small, 81 546
ranging from about $50 to $3.50 year, $50
receive from 5000 to SiOO and only $50
more than the latter magnificent sum.
The Door Wretches threaten, if not paid
to close all the schools in the country and
some in the last stages Of misery have
asked permission to beg aims OF the public
Acmording to statistics there are 3,543 595
c....uren in Spain obliged to attend school,
but there is accommodation for only 1,1O4,-
II3 scholars, and the compulsory school at
tendance law is a dead letter.
The last census shows that there are
G,u00,C0u iliiterates in Spain; that is. ::5 per
cent of the whole population, who do not
know how to read or write!
And this is the nation with which the
progressive South Americans wish to ally
themselves.
Doesn't Like Submarines.
In view of the recent estimates for the
United States navy for the coming year.
and especially the large vote demanded for
submarine boats, it is interesting to learn
that Mr. Thorneycroft of the Well-known
English firm has no very high idea of the
value of these boats. His principal con-
tention seems to be that it is of small
utility for England to build submarine
boats to fight the submarine boats of 9TH
ers. Whatever may be the merits of this
type of vessel, its value at present is lin
tied to harbor defense against a biockad-
ing squadron, but as long as England MAIN
tains the command of the high seas the
enemy's vessels cannot blockade her har-
bors; and submarine boats would be of
small her navy