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I Current Topics
G? World's ffationat Debts.
A comparative) study of tho' debts of
ill nations, contributed to tho August
North American Review by O. P. Aus
tin, shows that tho national debts of
tho world now aggrcgato $31,800,000,
000, or ten times tho sum owed by tho
nations a century ago. The major
purt of this startling Increase has been
incurred In tho last half century. Wnrs
and tho maintenance of great armies
and navies have been chiefly responsi
ble for this Increase, but In Borne cases
tho debts represent investments -In
railways and other public utilities.
Germany owns most of Its railways.
Two-thirds of tho railways of Russia
O. P. AUSTIN,
are owned by tho government. Tho
debt of Australia represents only pub
lic utilities. Great Britain's debtB
which is $5.00 per capita represents
war and speculations in other coun
tries. Our debt represents war alone.
Franco has tho greatest national
debt In tho world, amounting to more
than $5,800,000,000. Evory man, wom
an, and child in Franco pays $0.28
every year for Interest on this debt.
Australasia, with Us annual per capita
Interest payment of $10.14, is tho only
country that surpasses Franco on this
score. In thb United States the per
capita tost of tho national debt Is only
44 cents annually.
Wo could purchase all tho railroads
In tho country nnd run them through
the national government nnd still havo
less per capita debt than Franco or
Great Britain.
Though f.ho debts of tho nations are
ten times as great as thoy wero a cen
tury ago, tho increase rests on a fairly
solid basis, The century has expanded
tho wealth of the nations fully tenfold,
whllo the 'great Increaso "In Instru
ments of exchnnge probably has pro
duced a corresponding expansion In
tho circulating medium. The lower In
terest rates of today also are nn Im
portant element. Most of the national
debts now draw only Irom 2 to 3V4
per cent, while a hundred years ago
tho rates wero double those figures.
In 18C5 tho United Stntoa was paying
7.3 per cent, where it now. pays 2 per
cent, the lowest rate on any national
dent in the world. If all the nations
showed as strong a determination to
pay their obligations as does the
United States thore would be no need
of tho world's national Indebtedness.
Mrs. Ruffin Uncertain.
Mrs. Josephine St Plerro Ruffln, tho
Boston colored woman who was ro-
MRS. RUFFIN.
fused a seat at the biennial conven
tion of tho National Federation 'of
Women's Clubs in Milwaukee lost year,
has not yet decided whether sho will
try again at California next year. Tho
Northeastern Federation of Colored
Women's Clubs at tho closing session
of Its convention In Sprlngflcld last
week, voted to send Mrs. Ruffln again.
She herself, however, did not know
of this action until yesterday.
"Tho matter will require a great deal
of thought," said sho when asked
about It. "I have other organizations
to consult beforo tnklng nny action.
The convention Is n whole year off,
and there is plenty of timo In which to
decldo."
Anti-American JVettfspap'ers-
A bombshell will bo thrown Into tho
office of several metropolitan nowspa
pors In December whon a certain son
ntor of the United States Introduces a
resolution asking for an Inquiry into
tho ownership of certain nowspapers
that, are advocating antl-Amerlcan
Ideas in this country. It will be
charged that fifteen of the leading pa
pers are owned abroad nnd a remedy
will bo sought. It Is quite likely that
no further, remedy than a thorough ex
posuro of tho black sheep will be no
ccBsary. Journalist.
News and Views
A XVifa's TrMlege.
In New York city recently a hus
band had his wife arrested on tho
charge of going through his pockets
whllo ho slept and taking from them
$57 and a lot of valuablo papers. Tho
magistrate beforo whom tho caso was
tried held that tho wife was guilty of
theft, and, although ho dealt leniently
with hei he permitted It to bo under
stood that she could have been Indict
ed, tried, and found guilty of larceny.
Foj tho defense, as was quite natural,
It was held that a wlfo could not pos
sibly pick her husband's pockets, be
cause, man and wlfo being one, his
pockets were to nil intents and pur
poses her pockets, and tholr contents
to all Intents and purposes wero as
much her property as his. Ono can
not rob one's self, nnd how, therefore,
could tliis woman bo found guilty of
theft for taking what belonged to her
husband that Is to say, what belonged
to herself? For tho prosecution it was
held that tho husband nnd wlfo nro
ono In theory only, not In fact. Tho
law recognizes this, It was contended,
when it deals with husbands and wlve3
ns Individuals. The law treats tho
wlfo us a separate person, It was held,
when It grants her certain "distinctive;
rights and protects her in tho enjoy
ment of them, when sho Is permitted
to hold property In her own name, and
when sho Ib privileged to do many
things which her husband cannot le
gally prevent her from doing. Tho
mnglstrato wnH Influenced by tho argu
ments for the prosecution to hold that,
whatever a wife's privileges may be,
sho has no business to ransack her
husband's pockets or to take anything
j from them without his consent. There
Is little danger that the Now York
caso will establish a precedent; or that
husbands In general will havo' their
wives nrrcsted for going through their
pockets. When tho average man of
good sense, good behavior, and small
means considers how often nnd how
painfully his wlfo is disappointed ns
sho goes through his pockets he will
not think of depriving her of the priv
ilege.
Healed by a "Pardon.
Some timo ago Judson Arkell who
had been convicted of embezzling
judson Arkell.
funds from a national bank In Rut
land, Vt., was let out of tho peniten
tlary by a pardon. It was granted
becauso It was reprcesented that tho
cashier was fatally 111 and could not
livo but a few days. The petitioners
for his release said it would be an act
of mercy to let him out so that ho
might not die In n prison cell. Last
week this moribund cashier set off, in
perfect health, for a long hunting trip
In tho Adirondacks. It is admitted
now that ho nover was sick at all and
that' ho was "Shamming Abraham" all
tho time ho was In tho prison hospital.
Ho got a pardon under false pretenses,
but It Is an Irrevocable pardon. De
ception pays sometimes, even when de
tected. This cashier Is not the first
man who has been let out of prison to
die and has recovered his health at
onco, nor will ho bo the last, so long
as prison doctors are gullible and
presidents and governors are merciful.
Thereforo It may not bo inexpedient
to substitute for tho unconditional par
dons which It has been customary tc
glvo to those who are about to dlf '
release from imprisonment for '
purpose only, the convict to be mken
back to prison tho day that he shows
any symptoms of recovery.
Goes to Education.'
Mnry Carroll of Boston, whose fath
er, who when ho died, left tho Income
of the estate, valued at about $400,000,
to her for life and then to the Unl-
MARY CARROLL,
vorslty of Virginia, has arranged that
tho income of tho entiro estate, less
$5,000 reserved for horself, shall bo
transform1 to the University of Vir
ginia alter April 1, 1002.
SAYlHuS and DUtiS
Was True to Lost Cause.
Judgo William Cecil Price, United
States treasurer under President Bu
chanan, died In Chicago last week at
tho ago of SG years. Judgo Price had
lived with his daughter for the last
threo years, going to Chicago from
Sprlngflcld, Mo., whoro he had prac
ticed law nfter tho war. Beforo tho
war Judge Price was prominent In na
tional affairs. He refused to contlnuo
In offlco when President Lincoln was
WILLIAM CECIL PRICE.
elected becnuso of his sympathy with
tho southern cnuse, Ho was born In
Russell county, Virginia, April 1, 181C,
and was graduated from Knox collogo
at Nashville In 1835. A year later ho
moved to Springfield. Mo., and prac
ticed law. In 1845 ho was appointed
United States deputy surveyor of lands
undor General Conway. Two years
later ho wns elected probato jutlgo of
Green county, Missouri. His election
to tho stato senate followed In 1854
and three years later ho resigned from
the sonnto to accept the position of
judge of tho circuit court of Missouri.
In 1859 ho was mado commissioner of
western lands nnd a year later, when
Judgo Casey, United States treasurer,
died ho was appointed by President
Buchanan to fill tho unexpired term.
When Bucnnnan was succeeded by
Lincoln tho latter proffered tho samo
plate to Judgo Price. Tho judgo went
to Jefferson Davis and offered his serv
Ices nnd the confederate president of
fered Ijlm a place In his cabinet. This
Price refused, wishing n more activa
field. He wuu appointed major of
cavalry nnd Joined tho army led by
his cousin, General Sterling Prlco, nnd
fought against tho union troops. At
tho battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., ho was
captured. For eight months ho was
bold prisoner ut Alton, 111. When his
exchange occurred ho rejoined tho
army and fought until the conclusion
of the war. At tho end of the war ho
wont to St. Louis and thenco to hit old
home at Springfield, Mo.
Constitution's Skipper.
Captain Urias Rhodes, who com
mands tho yacht Constitution, tho now
cup defender, comes from a long lino
of sailing masters. Ho is a son of that
famous south shoro of Long Island
which has been tho crndlo of most of
me captains or tne cup ueicnuers. mis
fathor, a white old veteran of 73, was
a famous sailor man In his day and
he gave tho present Captain his first
lessons In sailing a racing boat. Sine
he was 12 years old 'Rlas Rhodes has
CAP. RHODES.
practically lived on tho water, Ho first
commanded an oyster schooner. That
wos whon he was but 1C years old,
Iator ho was the skinner af an excur
sion yacht, In which capacity his skill
attracted the attention of a member of
the Now York Yacht club, who gavo
Captain Rhodes his first command of
a racing boat. He piloted tho famous
Lasca to many victories and took It
to Europe in 1894,' making tho trip
across tho Atlantic In fifteen and ono
half days. Captain Rhodes Is 49 yearB
oiu, in tho prime .of his strength and
8K1II.
It is sa(d by a good authority that
me American snipyarda, whoro steel
vessels aro built, havo orders which
will keep all of them busy for tho next
iweivemontn, and somo of them for
longer time. This nnnlles to tho vnnls
on tho great lakes as well as to thoso
on tho seaboard. Somo of tho yesselB
under construction aro battloshlns or
crulsors for the American navy. Oth
ers aro to bo used In the coasting
trade. A fow aro to bo employed In
oversea commerce undor tho American
flag. Six largo freight boats aro being
built for tho Atlantic transport lino.
Two steamers of about 'tho samo di
mensions as the lmmenso Celtic of the
White Star lino nro being built to ply
on tho Pacific in connection with tho
Great Northern railway. Two large
vessels for tho Pacific Mall Steamship
company nro nearly finished.
SHAFFEU
Should the steel workers' strike as
sume tho worst form -that It possibly
could nearly ono million men would
quit earning wages. When ono comes
to a full wnllzatlon of what such a
condition might bring about the pros
pect Is nothing less than appalling.
Suppose that a million men should tako
it into their heads to reopen tho mills
on their own account, It might bo n
long timo beforo thoy could bo dispos
sessed. Or suppose they should or
ganUo into an army. As n Chicago pa
per says, tho result "might stagger hu
manity." Thus n dlfferenco between
capital and labor that Is trivial In Its
Intrinsic merits ns related to tho
masses of the peoplo In general, In tho
absence of compulsory arbitration
machinery, might lead to conditions
so far-reaching that all would suffer
Jtom Its effects.
Muster of Men.
Men called out at first 70,000
Men called out by second order 330,000
Federation of Labor (may
Joln).. ;. 2,000,000
The army of workers 2,400,000
Mutter of Money.
Stock of steel trust $1,100,000,000
Underft-rltlng fund 25,000,000
Other nvallablo money. . 50,000,000
TMnl trust fund $1,176,000,000
Destruction
Tho British torpedo boat destroyer
Mper, which was wrecked on tho rocks
off Aldemny Island, in many respects
was tho most remarkablo boat afloat.
Sho was tho first vessel to bo fitted
with the famous steam turblno engines
Invented by C. A. Parsons, younger
brother of tho Earl of Roso and fellow
pfy.tho Royal Society. Sho vas also
tho fastest ship In the world. On her
trial trip about one year ago sho
steamed at the rate of 43 miles nn
hour. Those who saw tho trial said
that tho ship passed them with a roar
Indescribable, and a display of power
grand to behold. Tho Viper was built
for the British government. She was
Uhc K.atipunan Secret Society.
Colonel Kennon of tho United States
army contributes to tho North Ameri
can Revipw the most complcto .account
of tho Kittlpunan 4hus far published.
Ills article makes It easy to understand
the important part this murderous se
cret society played In tho recent Insur
rection in the Philippines. Tho Katl
punan sprang Into exlstenco at Manila
nlno years ago and spread rapidly
through tho Tagal provinces, taking Its
membership chiefly from tho most Ig
norant classes. Its avowed object was
to agitato for reforms, and It Boon in
curred tho hostility of tho Spanish
government. Colonol Kennon saya
Agulnnldo nnd othor prorulnont" mem
bers of tho Kntpunan suddenly begun
tho Insurrection of 1890 In ordor to es
cape arrest. By tho time the Ameri
cans urrlved in 1898 tho society hud
become a powerful Instrument for evil
In tho hands of Us leaders, says the
Chicago Tribune.
Tho secret Initiations of tho Katl
punun aro of a terrifying naturo and
lncludo tho signing of tho candidate's
nnmo with his own blood. Evory de
vice Is used to Impress credulous mem
bers with tho fact that they must obey
tho orders of their Katlpunan chiefs
on pain of death. When AgulnaKio
and his fellow-leaders decided to as
sume control of tho lslnnds they began
by declaring all Filipinos membors of
tho Katlpunan, and his alleged repub
lic was made practically identical with
LABOUR,
COLOSSVS.
of the Destroyer "Xiper.9
fitted with engines especially designed
for speed by Mr. Parsons. Her length
wns 210 feet, her beam 21 foot and her
displacement 350 tons. Her horse
power wnB 11,000. Tho hulk was
driven through tho water nt oxprcss
trnln speed by four Bcrow shafts en
tirely Independent of ono another. Two
Bhnfts on, ono, side wore driven by ono
high and ono low pressuro turblno res
pectively. Her great speed and her
compound engines mndo tho Viper In
teresting as n suggestion of tho pobsI
blo ocean passcngor ship of tho futuro,
In 1884 Mr. Parsons constructed tho
first compound steam turblno directly
coupled to n dynamo. It ran at 18,000
this secret society. Tho peoplo wero
forbidden, under pain of death, to nc
copt any offlco under tho Americans.
Disobedience of tho secret orders of
tho Katlpunan was followed by secret
or open niurdcr.
Colonel Kennon gives n startling list
of authenticated cases In which men
nnd women wero put to death In cruel
and shocking ways by this pitiless bo
clcty.NcIthcr sex uor ago was spared,
and tho natives dreaded the secret,
swift, and sura vengeance at tho Katl
punan moro than thoy feared tho Am
erican soldiers. Tho reign of blood
and terror maintained In tho last two
years, and only now ceasing, surpasses
that of tho Kti Klux In their worst
days. ColonoL Kennon says tho vic
tims murdered by tho Katlpunan In
tho last two yearB number hundreds,
If not thousands.
Tho effect of such a reign of terror
upon tho ignorant nnd timorous na
tives was to glvo tho Insurrection an
apparent vitality which It nover really
possessed. From timo immemorial tho
Filipino peon has obeyed tho authority
which ho feared most. In this caso ho
obeyed tho Katlpunan, and.Tjvon whon
ho was robbed or his relatives woro
murdered ho dared not denounce) tho
perpetrators of tho crimes to tho Am
erican authorities, This was tho
power by which Agulnnldo pressed
many of his recruits into Bcrvlce and
forced supplies nnd monoy from every
vlllugo visited by his agents, His own
President Shaffer of tho Amalgama
ted association says that tho question
to bo settled is "whether unionism is to
Btand or fall." To tho oxtont thnt that
Is tho Issuo In tho present contcatjt is
ono of his own making.
It is "alleged by htm and by other
members of tho organization at 'tho
head of which ho Is, that tho men who
control the great Btcol companies have
long been determined to undermine anil
finally destroy tho Amalgamated asso
ciation, nnd that tho demands mado by
that association wero in tho nnturo of
sclf-dofenso. Thoso who mako thoso
BtntomontB presumably bollovo them to
bo true, but thoy havo prcsontcd no
ovldonco to show that they nro true.
They havo called attention to tho fact
that In dull times union mills nro
closed whllo non-union mills nro kept
running. This hns been complained of
as discrimination. It so happens that
tho non-union mills wero tho better
equipped ones and goods could bo mado
moro cheaply In them. Chicago
Tribune.
In Hongkong there nro only 409
women, nnd In Hawaii 533 women, to
every 1,000 men.
About 15,000,000 pounds of foreign
macaroni nro linportod to this coun
try yenrly.
revolutions per minute and its sim
plicity, npeed of revolution and porfect
steadiness mado n great Impression on
the engineering- world. Tho discussion
which followed brought out tho pre
diction that tho timo would coon como '
when ocean ships of tho first class
would travel nt tho rato of CO to CO
mlcs an hour. The only drawback to
tho ubo of these peculiar engines Is the
difficulty of reversing tholr action.
Slnco going into commission tho Viper
had been tho object of groat curiosity
nmong naval architects generally. As
a torpedo boat destroyer Bho wbb of
course considered tho most efficient
vessel of that kind In. tho world.
T
collnpso li, in' part, a reaction from,
that reign of blood. 1
Canada Wfiini Vp. ,
Homo rule In Canada Is so far ac
complished that a colnago system will,
bo established and n mint will Issuo
tho now money. Herotofora Canadian
coins havo been minted In London un
dor Imperial supervision. Decimal
coins have been Issued, but they wero
of imperial weight and ilnoness. Tho
now coins of Canada nro to havo a
nuiiio entirely unknpwn herotoforo In
tho vocabulary of flnanco. Thoy aro
to ho called "beavers," that animal bo
lng nu emblem on tho Canadian Aug.
A ' beaver" wH bo tho samo ns nn
American engle, $10; 'half "beavers,"
$5, and "double boavors," $20, llko our
doublo cnglos, also will bo coined. Tho
Spanish decimal system will bo main
tained In tho silver colnago. As four
fifths of tho travelers In Canada aro
Americana, they must study with In
terest tho now Canadian colnago. It
Is pccullnr, but not unintelligible.
Last year the markets of New York
paid as revenue Into tho city treasury
$258,000 from rentB, exclusive of $18,
000 collected from stalls and privi
leges In Wallahout market, Brooklyn,
and $3,000 from market collar rents, a
total of more than $300,000.
Venlco has a cafe which has been
opened day and night for 150 years.
