Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

LONDC &, April 1s.-(special)- lone Of the
most valuable results Of the colonial confer
ence which begins on April IS will be the
education It will supply to the British
public on imperial questions.
Problems affecting the relations between
the motherland and her colonies are TO be
dealt with by men who have been trained
in the hard schools OF practical experience
Every side OF every question will be dis
cussed and upon fiscal arrangements and
the subject OF imperial defense, for In
stance, highly interesting speeches will be
delivered. speeches the more interesting on
account Of the opposite Views taken by re-
snectivs premiers.
For instance, upon certain important
questions Sir Joseph Ward. premier Of New
Zealand and Mr.. Deakin. the common
wealth premier are avowedly divided
Hence the debates upon these particular
topics are looked forward to with an in
terest seldom found in everyday politics.
On the subject OF an imperial navy, for
instance, there is n wide difference NJ opin-
ion. The representatives Of certain de-
pendencies will urge that the colonies
should contribute TO the cost OF maintain
ing a powerful navy for the defence OF
Great Britain and its possessions and that
colonials should be encouraged to Join the
navy On the other hand, some ministers
will hold that the adoption Of such proposi-
tions. insofar as finance is concerned, would
not be to the best interests Of the empire
or the colonies.
Arrangements are now practically COM
plete for the conference. G. w. johnson
OF the colonial once will act as Joint seere-
tAry with H. w. Just, and w. A. Robin
son will be assistant secretary.
The delegates will be welcomed by the
earl of Elgin on behalf OF the government
and IN all probability there will be an In
formal reception, when the visitors will be
introduced TO the ministers OF the mother
land During their stay In England all
OF the premiers will have suites at the
Hotel Cecil
Numerous banquets have been organized
in their honor. Soon after their arrival
they win be entertained at luncheon by tho
CITY corporation They win also be the
guests of the London Chamber Of Com
neroe the Pilgrims club the Goldsmiths
cornpany. the 1900 club and the National
Liberal club, while the Mercers' company
will give a luncheon to which many dis
tinEuished men viii be invited to meet the
colonial statesmen.
Life insurance In Britain.
A
Truth, figured out that II the growth OF
life insurance in the United Kingdom was
allowed TO continue unchecked 1t would
he less than a quarter of a century before
the life insurance companies owned In fee
sirnnle all of the real estate and every
vested interest in Great Britain and Ire
land. According 10 reports just issued II
would appear that there are H,sl,SOO peo-
nile whose lives are insured in the United
Kingdom. and the total value OF the poll
oies in force amounts to the enormous total
of over s5.OO0,Oo00oo
The ninety-five companies which carry on
life insurance business here have assets OF
mora than 81 10000 value and receive in
premiums nearly SiS5. 100000 a year. The
most remarkable fact IL the large proper
tion of the insurance in force which have
been undertaken by the eighteen companies
doing industrial business. The figures are
as follows: Ordinary insurance, Ssa,slS
persons, amounting 10 $S,TSo,oooooO; indus
trial insurance. B.54.o+6 persons amount
ing to 81, $50 10000. The significance OF this
fact is seen when It is pointed out that the
total premiums are divided between the
two classes Of insurance, as follows: Or
dinary, Sl25OOO 900; Industrial, seO,oooooo
From these figures It 10 dSduced that,
taking an average, the insurers in indus
trial NOIllAnleA most OF "nOil dAo WI AAho
,eopie. pay premiums of about s. for every
SlO5 insured while those who have their
policies In the ordnRry companies obtain
an insurance value Of $50 for every s. pre-
MUM.
Change in Naval Bases.
Many changes are TO be made within the
NEXT year in connection with the naval
bases and dockyRrds
A complete reorganization of the defenses
., ,ba east coast will be undertaken. and
a base win be established midway between
Dover and Rosyth on the Lincolnshire
coast probably in the Humber A noat-
ing dock capable Of taking Dreadnaught
a tornado dock and a coaling station will
be established
Davenport Is to be the great naval CEN
ter Of the future. and Portsmouth will be
the headquarters for ceremouisAs as OF
yore. Pembroke may be further reduced
and greater attention will be paid 10 Bere-
haven. where the Atlantic feet will In the
future bs based. St. Helena's future Is
stnl under consideration.
Sooner or later the nation will have to
face the question OF serious financial en-
barrassnient of he older universities Only
n month ago was published an appeal from
tbe duke q Devonshire on behalf Of Cam
bridge university. The duke stated that
An all a capital sum OF nearly S7,5OooOO,
aDsrt from any question OF pension fund
vas required for immediate educational
,,,yroses. Now oxford university 10 con-
templating a similar appeal While some
- the colleges are rich, the university is
notortousIy poor. II has hard work to
r,sk. both ends meet and things are going
90, from bad 20 worse And unfortunately
ore,t britain has no John d. Rockefeller
nv Andrew Carneg'e TO come to the rescue
. higher education every time there Is
shortage.