Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-27

sion We shall see a supplementary grant
for aeroplanes.
During the year 1908 the war Office has
only spent about $50, 900 on dirigible bal
looms. while France and Germany have
for the last ten years been spending large
sums on the perfection of aeroplanes.
There is no question that both these ma
tions are far In advance of Great Britain
in the matter.
When the matter comes before parlia-
ment the conservatives. led by Mr.. Bal
four. will support the liberals in any pur-
chase scheme. for the British army ex-
periments with aeroplanes have been SO
disappointing that all parties are anxious
with other nations in aerial equipment
even If native skill has to be abandoned
for. the work of a foreigner.
Interest in White Plague Report.
The report of the British delegates to
the tuberculosis congress in Washington
has been issued this week and has at
tracted widespread attention. Public
opinion in England. Is growing more
favorable to compulsory notification of
cases Of consumption. 1t is impossible,
however on this side of the Atlantic. to
impose compulsory notification altogether
without fresh legislation. The schedule
of diseases In the public health acts which
may be made notifiable by a local authori-
ty does not include consumption. That Is
why the local government boards circular
last autumn, which was first announced
at the Washington congress. referred
only to pauper patients. All 1t could do
without fresh legislation was to compel
the poor law medical officers to supply the
information II 1t is asked for by the
medical officer of health.
There is no power in the local govern
ment board to compel private practition-
ers to notify tubercular disease. The opin-
ion of the board was. however. that a
great proportion of the cases would be
covered by the circular. for consumption
Is most rife where poverty and over
crowding exist. Compulsory notification
OF these cases at an early stage already
means that benevolent people have by the
provision of comforts and even a change
Of air made great efforts to save the lives
of those whom the disease would ineyita-
bly, have killed had the cases not been
notified.
In Scotland and Ireland better progress
has been made toward compulsory noti-
fication than in England. In ireland the
Countess OF Aberdeen, the wife OF the
lord lieutenant. Is intoxicating hygienic
and to illustrate her doctrines is sending
round a travelling tuberculosis exhibit"
for public inspection. ireland is terribly
smitten with the white scourge. but i'm
Woman Suffrage Advocates.
The woman's suffrage advocates are
still hard at work. and cabinet ministers
cannot speak at any gathering what
ever, political. social or religious, with
out interruption. They essayed a great
suffrage meeting two days ago In the
heart of the city. but the keen business
men were skeptical of the suffrage the
cries and the speeches were badly riddIed
by caustic comments A. still worse fate
befell half dozen OF the militant ladies
who attended the annual meeting Of the
Children's Protection League. The cause
was one close to the average woman
heart. yet the meeting was disturbed by
cries of Votes for women"'
Up got co!ored nurse blazing with
wrath. She turned on the suffragettes
and. disdaining assistance. lifted them
bodily one by one from their seats and
strength was such that the militant
danes seemed as wax in her hands
But there Is a bill in preparation by Mr..
Godfrey Howard. MP. to provide uni
versal suffrage for men and women alike.
and another by Scotch member, Mr.
Gulland to, admit women to practice as
law agents in Scotland This is a change
which can only be effected by legislation
I am told that the different law societies
are not greatly averse to the change
nations emitting them to practice as law
agents and / believe that in some cases
fathers will admit their daughters to
partnership II the blu becomes law. The
bill is backed by several members, in
Guiding a number OF lawyers
Taft and the Embassies.
Just how the assumption of Office by
Mr.. Taft is to affect the embassies abroad
is occupying the minds of European So
cety good deal So far as London is
concerned Mr.. Whitelaw Reid seems to be
settled for this year, despite reports as to
his successor. / understand he would
like to be here in An official capacity
when Mr.. Roosevelt arrives in London in
1910. Anyway. he is booked for all this
year with social engagements and is max
Ing no preparations yet for quitting his
paIatiaI house In Park lane. AS to his
successor. the people of England arc
quite confident that America will send
Of her best to maintain the excellent am
bassadorial strain that has always repre-
scented the United States at the court of
ST. James.
The chief Anslo-American social event
of this week has been the success OF the
Countess OF Granard Miss Beatrice Mills)
as an entertainer. So far she has given
and has charmed them all. Next week
Ter first official political dinner and re-
ception will be given at the Granard res
idence In Charles. street. Berkeley square.
which has been turned into a bower of
floral beauty. The magnificent reception
rooms and the noble staircase are to be
seen to their full effect this season for
the countess henceforth will be one of
the leading political hostesses OF London.
with all the lights of liberal parlia mentary
life. from the premier downward at her
social commands. At the last dinner she
gave she wore a gown Of exquisite bro
cade and splendid diamonds that showed
TO perfection Her petite figure crowned
with quantities OF fair hair. ELECTED COM
plimentary remarks from all sides. among
which could be heard the adjactives
stately and quite charming" The
Granard residence, by the way. was first
built for the late Lord Revelstoke, but he
did not live to occupy 1t.
Plan Reception for Gompers.
Trade unionists are preparing recep-
ton for President Gompers of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. when he pays
his Compromised visit to this country in
the summer. The Federation of Trade
Unions has invited him to take part in
It's annual gathering at Blackpool in
July. but in order to do that Mr.. Gompers
would have to leave the United States a