The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31

unions "a with employers. klch unions IL
can fine. Penniless unions are unable To
hsht it. Hitherto. moreover, at its back
has been the mighty force Of public opinion
which Is sick OF labor wars. and determined
that the experiment, Of judicial adjust
ment shall have full and fair trial
Mr.. Reeves denies himself the pleasure
OF specializing on the possibility OF apply
ing the principles OF the New Zealand Arbi-
tration act to older countries. he does
not presume to preach sermon on Inc
economic wants OF old and great com
munities. He recognizes that the very
nature OF = compulsory arbitration act
demands, as q condition precedent TO 1t. not
only that reformers in a given community
Ahall desire to see II made trial Of. but that
public opinion also shall have been edu-
Gated up to wish for It. Compulsory arbitra-
ton in any country lie likely 70 have to wait
until the public catches at it as an irstru-
ment OF relief, and until trade unions are sick
OF industrial warfare.
An old-age pensions act went into opera
ton In New Zealand in Jan. 1899. The law
10 not OF universal operation, nor does 1t
involve any scheme OF payment OF contri-
buttons by prospective benefciaries. Al
is . little over $4,000. the number OF per-
sons entitled to receive pensions at the end
Of March, 1902. turned out to be but 2,776.
That is less than one-haH OF the aged OF
all classes in the colony; but 1t must be re-
membered that aliens, nomads and Ash
atics, as we'll A. criminals, drunkards, wife
deserters and those living VIGOROUSLY i'm
moral life are excluded from the benefits
Of the act. The law provides for an annual
payment to the deserving whites and Maoris
Of sixty-nve years and upward. provided
they have lived in the colony for twenty
Ave years continuously. The maximum
OF payment is els sterling a year, but this
is made only to those whose yearly income
from all sources is less than f34. No PEN
sion at all can be claimed by any one with
an income OF esq. For those who pos
sess from E34 to esq Of income the pension
diminishes by eighteen steps. 81 being
taken away for every 81 OF income.
A claimant who is getting free board
or lodging from friend or relative is re-
garded as having an income OF twenty
FIVE pounds. Paupers living in State homes
are entitled to pensions. but. unless they
leave the homes, their pensions are paid TO
the charity authorities. TO be set against
their maintenance. The would-be pensioner
must bring evidence satisfactory to Magis-
tTate that he or she has for the previous
i've years been leading q sober and repu-
table life. and Is OF good moral character.
This provision excited some criticism dur
ing the debate on the law in the Colonial
Parliament. a man will have to be a saint
10 earn a pension in New Zealand said
s5, 1t Is high time for him TO be a
saint was the retort. According TO
Mr.. Reeves, the frst three years experience
OF working the pension law has confirmed
the expectations OF its advocates. The
difficulties. which a. pessimists predicted.
would attend the operation OF the meas
ure, have not, in fact. been encountered
The benefits Of the law are generally rec
o8nizsd. The annual drain to which the
colonial exchequer is subjected by old-age
pensions 10 now about a million dollars.
1t In admitted by the author that were .
similar Law in force In the United Kingdom
tho proportion OF pensioners to the whole
number Of Inhabitants over Is year,
Of age would be very much larger
and the cost Of the system oorrespondingly
heavy.
N. W. II.
France American Ambassadr 60 IN Lo0don.
II was a unique career. that OF William
Henry Washington, who played conspic-
nous part in the affairs OF the Third Repub
Ito during the twenty-three years preceding
his death in 1904 We call his ca reer unique
because, although born in France, he was
the grandson OF an Englishman, and was
educated at Rugby and later at Trinity
College, Cambridge As an undergraduate.
he rowed in the Cambridge boat in the uni
versity race Of ls4s. Elected in 1871 to the
National Assembly, he became successfully
Minister OF Public Instruction and Minister
Of Foreign Affairs, and in 1878 represented
France at the Congress Of Berlin. He was
Premier from February to December. 1879.
In May, 1888 he WAS sent as Arnbassa dor
Extraordinary TO represent his country at
the coronation OF the Gar Alexander Ill,
and upon his return from Russia was ap-
pointed Ambassador at the Court OF St.
James, a post which he held until the year
before his death. His wife Miss Mary King.
q daughter Of Charles King. formerly presi-
dent OF Columbia College, accompanied
him on his missions to both Russia and Eng
land, and her observations were set forth
In her correspondence with her sisters.
selections from which ara now published
under the title OF Letters From a Diplomats
Wife GScnbner's). The letters are worth
publishing. not only because Of the interest
attaching to many Of the persons described.
but because the writer is evidently woman
of exceptional cultivation and insight. The
reader will turn with particular curiosity to
the ges In which Nine. Washington dis
courses Of Bismarck, Of Gladstone, of Lord
Salisbury and Of other eminent persona ges
in public life.
We find the first reference to the Glad
stones under date Of March IS. 1885, Nine
Waddngton had met them that day At
breakfast at the English Embassy in Paris
She says. Il thought Mrs. Gladstone looked
older than her husband He. OF course.
did most Of the talking. He has a fine voice,
bright, keen, dark eyes, holds himself very
erect and apparently knows everything
about everything When the men were
smoking after breakfast. I had quite
talk With Mrs Gladstone. who told me about
the murder Of Lord Frederick Cavendish.
She said her husband heard it at big Lon
don party and had TO go and tell Lady Fred
eriok. Mr.. Gladstone was more upset by
the whole thing land the having to tell the