The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-02

| After the first of October there will be a. change in the weighing and valuable system Advocates df the decimal sys- Item of weights and values are in high glee over the decision of the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' association and the Cotton Manufacturers associa- | ton to adopt the decimal system for ex- | pressing weights and values In the cot l ton trade.
 The trades and labor unions will hght to upset or nullify the so-called Osborne | decision rendered by the house of lords | and 100 mass meetings have been ar ranged with that end in view. The lords | held that trade unions had no right 10 make compulsory levies upon mempers for the purpose of parliamentary and municipal elections, and the maintenance of labor representatives In parliament.
 The matter was considered at joint board representing the parliamentary committee of the Trades Union Congress, the labor party and the General Federa- tion of Trades Unions The deliberations resulted in the passing of the following resolutions:
 | The decision denies the right of trade unions to carry out their nominal statu- l tory purpose of regulating, the relations between employers and employed" in so far as modern conditions of industry | and the highly organized state of capital
 
 render parliamentary action necessary for this purpose
 If is not likely that there will be any more airship meetings in this country, since those which have been held proved | financial failures
 l An official report for the first six months of 1910 indicate that the fall in wages. which began in 1908, has been ar rested. and that the market rate for lapor | is beeinning to feel the usual effect of 4m- proving trade and employment. | It is practically settled that the King and queen will visit Ireland next year, when it is stated that they will De ac | companied by the Prince of Wales ana | princess Mary. The visit is expected to | eytend a week, and a round of festivities will take place at Dublin castle. IL IS too early vet for definite arrangements to he made, but the king has discussed me matter in an informal manner. The King has considerable acquaintance with Ire land and has many pleasant recollections of his visits there.
 The king will in the near future pur- chase an estate in Ireland. When Prince lof wales he fell fin love with fine do- nesne in the South of Ireland. It was not at that time in the market. The own CT however, has recently died, and his heirs have expressed their willingness to sell Game abounds on the estate, which makes it all the more attractive to the king.
 The old parish church at Chatteris' | Cambridge, has been restored through inc generosity of a man who had long heen A. gardener at the White House grounds. Washington, D. c. In this con- nection there Is an interesting story told by his relatives.
 Robert Wright was sexton of the church
 ,, the first part of the last century and his son William was helper. The lad, however. set out for America, where he obtained position at the White House.
 yaars after he paid a visit to his old lhoroa and found the church crumbling
 away He returned to America, tending the White House gardens under the pres-
 idencies of Hayes, Garfield, Grant, Cleve- Hand and Harrison. Eventually retiring he me hack to Walthamstov, Where he
 snent the remainder of his days.
 Tn his first will he left f500 for the re- hair of Chatteris church; later he left the residue of his property to the restor- ation fund, and in all the legacy amount ad to nearly a5O00, and now, six years I after his death. the object of his am lbition is completed.
 Recently there was celebrated the semi centennial anniversary of the introduce ltion of the first train car in Europe. It a was run at Bukenhead by the late George
 Francis Train. MT. Train had an office lbov named Clifton Robinson, now grown
 into tbe English tramway king. Sir Cliff ton Robinson on the tramways jubilee
 day. described the modest beginnings of the splendid system of tramways which Lis to be found in most towns in this country.
 l Speaking of the future of tramways in England, Sir Clifton thought it lay in the \ Idirecton of combined tramways, tubes II and railways, under one management.
 Underwriters, who often have opportu- mites of studying interesting trade cur rents, confess to have been much inn pressed lately with the large amount of
 war material now being shipped from this
 country and the continent to the near least. Ordinary movements of ammuni-
 ton call, of course. for no comment. but