The Washington times., 1901-07-16
FOREIGN TOPICS.

the lobby of ladies'
For an hour in the afternoon there are
more ladies there than men. The Ter
race is as fashionable and gay as in any
previous year. The ladies' like to stand
in the lobby and peep into the House be-
fore going downstairs to the Riverside
to have tea
Smoking. too. in the House of Com
mons is apparently on the increase A
committee has just reported that more
accommodation for smokers in the House
IS urgently needed. There are at present
the members smoking room and the
strangers smoking room The commit
tee recommends that two other large
apartments should be devoted to the
same purpose.
William Redmond said in the House a
Few days ago that the cigar which sold
age man does not indulge in such a costly
luxury. Nest of the members take their
own cigars with them to the House, and
not few smoke pipes,
The determination of Japan to become
in every sense a modern nation is in no
line of development made more plain than
in the matter of shipyards. The Tokyo
shipyard, covering fully sixty acres. is
reported as employing 5000 men, who have
all the latest machinery, including pneu-
matte ri -eters, and six steamers of 1S0. 900
tons are on the stocks, two of them for
the Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The fact that
the works are equipped with electricity
is further indication of the progressive
spirit now ruling.
The shipbuilding yard at Nagasah is
also going ahead, but special interest at
taches to the new Government steel
works. SoraS 5,O00,0V9 yers have already
been spent, but 100000 yens have been
cd no orb tha
shores OF kiushiu, the most southern of
the large islands forming the Empire, and
are, therefore, contiguous to China. The
establishment, which covers go acres Is
close by the coal fields. connected with
the railway, and seaport having over
twenty feet of water will be convenient
for the shipping of the finished products
to the northern islands, and also to China
which ultimately must become large
customer. The woras are thoroughly
equipped. In addition to blast furnaces,
there are coke ovens. and in the steel de-
partment open-hearth Bessemer furnaces
with a full set of rolling mills for rough
ing. three bar mills as well as rail, sheet
and plate rolls. There are steel and iron
foundries, boiler shops, laboratories.
testing and other departments. The
works will soon be put in operation, con-
struction being far advanced.
The report of the commission appointed
to consider the advisability of New Zea-
tralian States has now been issued. 1t is
adverse to the proposal. the commission
ers being OF opinion that for New Zealand
to join the Commonwealth would preiu-
dicially affect her interests.
Lord Ranfurly, the Governor, in his
speech at the opening of Parliament.
said that developments in other coun-
tries, and also in New Zealand, in
connection with the formation of trusts
and combinations, with view to fixing
abnormal rates for the purchase and
sales o. products within the colony. were
worthy OF attention. His advisers Were
of the opinion that should the evil con-
tinue precautionary measure should be
passed, making it illegal for persons, coz
porations, or companies to enter into con-
tracts or agreements fixing an abnormal
price for foodstuffs and coal. The in
creased prices payable for coal for State
requirements, the Governor said, made 1t
essential for State coal mine to be es-
tablished-
Our British cousins are even initiating
our pension system. There is a bill in
Parliament providing a scheme for pen
sioning the widows and orphans of sol
diers who have died in the South
war This measure is be-
ing hastened by the officials of the War
Office in order to stimulate enlistments
in the army, which are now very slow.
1t Is not proposed TO pension the widows of
and it is stated in the preamble
OF the bill that pensions cannot be
claimed as right, but are granted as
an act of charity and a reward for faith
full service.
Only the widows of non-commissioned
officers and men who have been killed
since October II. 1899, are eligible and
the Secretary of State for War is to have
authority to reject any claim for any
reason that may seem good to him, and
when the widows are i'm
moral. or have married again. or are 50
situated as to be self-supporting- The
husband must have been married before
his enlistment and his death must have
occurred within twelve months after the
receipt of the wound or injury or after
the disease
Thus it will be seen that the restric-
tons are quite numerous and severe, and
would not be accepted by the Grand
Army of the Republic in the United
States. The amounts allowed are also
master sergeants are to receive so a
month, those of color sergeants So of
serSeants S.32, of corporals Sc, and pri-
Yates 50, with 50 cents a week for each
girl under the age of sixteen except
those who are already supporting them
selves.
tax collectors in Austria are source of
great annoyance to self-respecting citi-
zens. They pry into every family secret,
however delicate. But now they do even
more than that. They attempt to check
he income of a man by finding out what
is sent him by rail. The inspector of
taxes at Myslenice. in order to give the
screw another turn, has applied to the
for
IN official to Makow station for a GER
ain time in order to examine all parcels |
sent there or thence, and find out to !
whom or from whom they have been sent |
)f course the purpose of such a demand |
3 clear. Proof is required that certain |
PERSONS spend more. and therefore have
greater income than they have declared |
hus ignoring the fact that man may |
possibly live beyond his income. At the |
ame time 1t must be confessed that there |
5 a great difficulty in getting people to
1--WE truthful declarations.
The municipal government of Milan has |
'ecently inaugurated peoples hotel. the
ceremony taking place in the presence I
# large number of officials. The hotel,
ines as tine Mills hotels in New York City,
vas planned in imitation of the Rowton
houses in London. The late King Hum
,ert bestowed a large sum for erecting
he building, which contains $50 bedrooms,
besides. dining. reading. and smoking
ooms bathing halls. a library, and large
,itchenS. In 1899 two Milanese engineers
listed London, in order to study the |
aowton houses and the system on which
hey are managed. Besides this, Lord
Sowton paid a visit several months ago
o Milan and inspected the new edifice.
of working associations
n other towns attended the Inauguration.
With view to studying the system of