The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-23
ECHOES FROM ACROSS SEAS.

l. The prospects for voluntary and gen.
eral GiminUtiOn OF naval ornaments on
the part of the European powers are not
particularly rosy. In the Italian chamber
OF deputies the other day Radical dep
uty asked Signor Baccelli under secre-
tary for foreign affairs. whether. in view
OF the recent ministerial statements in
the British house Of commons. any pro-
pcSal regarding a simultaneous reduc-
ton in the strength OF the fleets Of the
powers had been received from the Brit
ish government. II so. he asked 10 be
informed as TO the views OF the Italian
government on the matter. Naturally.
Signor Bacceili made his reply as evasive
as possible. but nothing could be much
clearer than its purpOrt- Great Britain.
he said, professed to be ready To re-
duce her naval ornaments as soon as
other powers expressed their intention
of setting an example in that direction
As she had made no proposals on the
subject 10 Italy, the latter was not called
upon 10 say whether or not she would re-
gard them favorabiy Much would de-
pend upon the nature OF them Ii would
scarcely be reasonable. however, just ut
this time, to ask Italy TO reduce her arm
aments, for that was exactly what she
had been doing for some time. under the
pressure OF financial stringency. while
other powers had been adding 10 their
fleets at a great rate. Moreover. italy.
he said. needed powerful navy, any
how. which probably means that she VIII
build one as soon as she gets the money
On the whole. the manufacture of iron
clads promises 70 be lively for some time.
How TO put a stop to the progressive de-
population of the agricultural districts OF
Great Britain is and long has been a most
important and difficult problem. II was
the subject Of a discourse which Mr..
Rider Haggard delivered the other day
in London before the Royal United Ser
vice institution. He advocated the estab-
lishment Of credit banks under govern
ment control. which should advance
money at a reasonable rate OF interest 10
enable laborers to erect cottages More
over, the functions of the parcels post
ought to be enlarged. he said. so as TO
enable the little men TO get their products
TO the big markets cheaply and promptly.
This movement of the people to the
towns was one of national significance.
Education had something to do with IL.
Under the town system of education boys
were kept at school until they were too
old TO become accustomed to work upon
the land. But the real reason of the eX-
odus to the cities was that the rural
population had no prospect of advance on
the land The rural depOpulation COM
mittee of the Central and Associated
Chamber of Agriculture had just issued
n report on the subject which supplied all
his conclusions. On the question OF
small holdings they pointed out that
cooperation was essential, and that under
certain conditions state aid should be
granted. He had been asked whether any
system could be adopted by which the
jewellers in towns suitable for agricultural
labor could be drafted to places where
there was a demand for labor. He sup
posed something of the sort could be
DONE but II would be expensive. Anyhow,
Ii would be OF no use to send men to
the country unless they were physically
competent. The problem was to keep
the cOuntrymen where they are. One OF
the greatest inducements, he thought,
would be the purchase of large lots Of lad
for subdivision into small individual hold
ings.