New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
NAVAL SUPREMACY STILL UNDER DIS
CUSSION.
ENGLAND MAY BE FORCED TO ABANDON
FREE TRADE-MUSICAL. THEATRICAL
AND ART NOTES.
Copyright: 1902: Ry The Tribune Associstion)


AND ART NOTES.
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Associstion)
Especial n The Tribune by French CableI
London. May 3-whct Henry Laboucherr
in Truth" describes as the neurotic cond,-
tion over naval supremacy continues The
newspapers and members of Parliament are dis
cussing day after day the menace Of the Amer
lean shipping ring and fdgeting over the pros
pect of having the British commercial marine
put under the command of Captain Morgan and
the food supply left dependent upon the caprices
and avarice of American mllionaires and specu-
lators.
Meanwhile the country remains in the dark
and does not know what cause there is for pub
lic apprehension. Practical men in the shipping
and food import trade take more sensible
view. They assert that the steamship lines
have been compelled to build faster and more
extensive ships until the business has become
Improbable for half the year and that sub
ventions and mail payments made by the Brit
Ssh Government have not sufflced for the main
tenance Of remunerative business. They add
that Mr.. Morgan. with all the talents in the
world an organizer. could not have brought
the lines together if there had not been an
urgent necessity for the avoidance Of destruc-
tive competition and the readjustment of freight
and passenger rates.
Since there are substantial reasons for the
transatlantic pool. it is assumed by in the
shipping and export trades that neither Mr..
Morgan nor any manager associated with him
has any intention of creating formidable rival
ries by transferring ships from one flag to an
other and compelling the very government to
subsidize new lines in sef-defence. and securing
the carriage Of food supplies at moderate rates.
While the organizers of the shipping ring can
not be suspected of altruism in becoming the
self-appointed guardians Of the Atlantic carry
ing trade and Of the collective commercial fort
unes Of the progressive maritime world, it is
evident that naval armaments will be less i'm
portant and war less probable among the ma
tiOns foremost in sea power If the capitalists Of
all countries have part and common interest
I'm the maintenance and regulation Of the com
hined merchant marine. Mr., Morgan is not an
enemy Of the peace Of the world IN bringing
about the shipping deal International trusts,
as keen observers in the weekly press here per-
ceive. may raise the prices of food supplies but
they viii not set one nation against another by
combining business interests.
One significant effect of the immense impress
sion made by the shipping amalgamation is the
widespread acknowledgment from the press and
public men that the old fashioned ideas Of
iaisseZ faire competition and the system Of
economics based upon them are no longer adapt
important changes must be made. The fact
that America under the protective system has
become so rich and powerful that its million
aires order and direct the collective COM
mercial destinies of England and Europe has
opened John Bulls eyes to the complete failure
Of the free trade cause. One of the largest
dining halls rang with applause few nights
ago when a prominent colonial proposed a COM
hinaton of the mother country and the colonies
for defence and for trade and suggested 10
per cent tariff on all foreign imports in every
British and colonial port. Mr.. Chamberlain
without doubt will be ready to discuss the ques-
ton with the colonial premiers in July. The
adoption Of revenue system much wider in
scope than the present tariff may be a natural
consequence OF the incessant squeezing to which
income taxpayers have been subjected since the
opening Of the Boer war.
The funeral of Consul General Osborne was
attended by considerable number Of American
friends this morning at Merton Park Church,
Wimbledon. 1t was a simple but unaffected
tribute to the memory of a good and useful
man, who had never made an enemy during the
five years Of his official residence in London.
The last Of six concerts comprised in the short
circuit Of the London musical festival attracted
thls afternoon large audience at Queens Hail.
"here Hsaye and Miss Ella Russell heart
'3 received as soloists. Saint-Saens conducted
lhe orchestra in three of his own works, includ-
ing the entire acte of -Phryne." which per-
formed Tor the first time in London. Another
novelty was Elgar's overture TO "Cockaigne."
Inc interest in the festival has centred less In
me novelties than in the presence Of the dis
uhgulshed conductors Of the orchestra. Vein
eartner, Ysaye. Nikisch and Saint Saens have
renewed Henry ". Amod $ the leader Of the
orchestra in rendering familiar works. Niksch
was the most energetic of these conductors, and
eo' into close touch with the musicians by dis
penslng with the score. Weingartner's sym
phonic poem, King Lear" was one Of the chief
novelties
me opera season will open next week with
Lonengrn." II promises To be an unusually
brilliant social affair. with the ordinary musical
results produced The Coyent Garden old opera
mouse has been redecora ted. and a good deal Of
lresh scenery provided The most impressive
feature on the gala night when six boxes will
he converted into royal box. decorated in am
her ano white will be the rendering Of Elgar's S
coronation ODE by a massed choir from York
Continued fourth page.