Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12

IN the hands of the Irish department of |
agIicu!ture criticism of the step will be |
seired. The subsidy. however. is sub |
ssidE. and the free traders will probably |
nave something to say about this latest |
violation of free trade principles by a |
pIofesSedly free trade government.
Moreover. Scotland desires to grow to- |
pacco also by government assistance. |
ana Wales has already produced samples
vi the weed cultivated in that corner of I
treat Britain. In all cases. however. the |
smokers are actuated by keeny developed
local patriotism rather than by the strict
taste of the connosseur.
Lord Beresford's Troubles.
That pugnacious British admiral. Lord
CHARLES Beresford. will. after the naval
ihaneuvers which are about TO begin. re-
sign his command. The relations between
MN and Sir Percy Scott. the gunnery eX-
pert. are said to be still unsatisfactory
nut apart from that it is understood that
LORD Charles desires to be able to discuss
naval affairs from a position of greater
freedom and less responsibility. Whlte
IN active service he is tonSue-t1ed: WneH
ne retires he is free to go on the plat
FORM or into the house of commons IL ne
tdh md seat. What exactly is NE
quarrel with the present naval policy Is
not known. but | should not be surprised
II he joined the party of the naval alarm
lists
The lates; exhibition of the temper of
Lord Charles was given last week at
reception, when Sir John Fisher, the Hfst
lord of the admiralty. came toward ms
subordinate officer with extended hand
LORD Charles, however. who Is one Oh the
bltterest opponents of Sir john haNai
views. deliberately ignored the actlon ana
placed his hands behind his back. Many
people witnessed the incident and have
since commented strongly on the length
To which Lord Charles considers nj to
carry his independence of OPINION ana ac-
ton
Nothing has been more noticeable this
summer than the meager attendance at the
Henley regatta. The cause is VerN gen
orally attributed to the influence of the
motor car which is said to be killing all
the old-fashioned pleasures. The house
boat population has seriously declined
this summer in spite of the perfect
weather. And river sport Is not the only
thing that is suffering from the motoring
craze. TailorS complaining that
smart clothes are in very little demand
by men. who wear any old clothes While
motoring. Many men confine their ward
robe to lounge and dress suits. Every one
knows that the silk hat trade is lanSuish
ing through the same cause, and the
slump In West End house property is at
tributed also to the new fashion in trav
cling quickly and necessarily from place
to place.
The hot summer has contributed to the
rush to leave London. For nearly three
weeks there has been no rain whatever.
but the days have had the suns rays tenn
pered by breezes and the nights have this
week been made notable by the vivid
aurora boreais effects on the noi thern
sky. AT l o'clock in the morning it has
been almost light in the daytime
and the northern section of the sky has
been suffused in orange and red shades.
Throughout the night 1t bias thus
manned till the opening dawn has taken
up the task of lighting the earth. Similar
reports come from Germany and Scandi
navia. but from Russia and Austria the
tale is mainly one of hail storms. drought
and impending famine. The tailOrS con-
alpaca coats. delightfully."- cool and light
additions to male attire.
The British Companies Act.
In view of the discussion as to how far
American corporations should be under
federal control it may be interesting to
consider the British companies act. which
came into operation Wednesday. 1t is
based on the report of departmental
committee of the board of trade. and its
policy, in so far as it deals with fraud,
is to insist on publicity. With this OBJ
ject in view it compels every public com
pany not issuing a prospectus To deposit
with the registrar of joint stock COM
paneS a statement embodying the same
information as would have been con-
tanned in prospectus If one had been
issued. Though it has long been a legal
obligation that material facts should be
made known to the world at large, il is
notorious that many promoters, hndlnS
this inconvenient and irksome, have
driven coach and four through the
Law by getting rid of the shares without
issuing a prospectus al all. Under the
new act. however prospectus or no
prospectus, the disclosures will have to
be made. and thus. it is anticipated.
straightforward prospectuses will become
more common than they have hitherto
been. By means OF a better registration
of mortgages creditors will be in position
to see how far a company has committed
itself in its borrowings The act pro-
vides. moreover, for the filing by COM
panies registered outside the United
Kingdom of fuller particulars than are
now required, that a promoter will
not be able to evade the law altogether
by formally registering his company in.
say. Guernsey-hither:o favorite scene
of such operations-or South Africa.
In future accounts and other particulars
must also be filed annually and meeting
held every year, and in this way cOmpa-
MES will not be able any longer to re-
main silent for indefinite period. but
must show their position to shareholders
and the public at reasonable and fixed
intervals.
Engiishmen. especially those engaged
in trade with the far east. are getting
FESTIVE about the lack of advantages ac-
cruing from the alliance With Japan. The
Japanese are gradually closing the door
in Manchura and Korea against foreign
trade alliance or no alliance. The matter
is TO be ventilated in parliament. and
many members are in favor of negOtlat-
ing for a Pacific ocean agreement with
America rather than continuance of
the alliance with Japan.
There was a touching little ceremony at
University College Wednesday afternoon,
when the memorial portrait medallion of
John Oliver Hobbies was unveiled by
Lord Curzon of kedleSton. The element
of personal friendship and esteem for the
brilliant novelist was represented by an
interesting company, which knew Mrs.
Cragie and esteemed her much for
what she was for what she did. nj
versty College is a fitting place for the
memorial, for there John Oliver Hobbies
spent d lengthy period. ending only six
years ago. student. Her association
with the college will also be kept bright
by a scholarship. l.. II. MOORE.