January 21, 1899:]
BIMETALLISM AND THE RATIO.
to one when the market value of the metal had sunk far below that level. Theoretical
bimetallists have all along held that the
ratio was a mere matter of detail and that
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS.
45
office when both defendants, who were butchers, came in and asked him if they might kill their sheep. The Inspector asked them where it nedytown wharf. He told them to bring it up was, and they replied that it was down at Ken-
went away and returned in about a minute and he would inspect it. Defendants then with a live sheep, but the Inspector said he could not allow the sheep to be killed, as he could see that it was ill and suffering into his office and sat down at his desk. from diarrhoea. The Inspector then went back
seconds after, First defendant followed the Inspector a few in the doorway. On the Inspector asking second defendant standing
him what he wanted, first defendant said, "Let me kill it." and the Inspector answered "No." First defendant then said his master had given him a dollar to give to the Inspector to buy drink with, and asked second defendant for the dollar. Second defendant then handed the do lar in five 20-cent pieces to first defendant, called his shroff and told him to ask defendants who handed it to the Inspector. The Inspector what they meant. First defendant said his master had given Lim the money for the Inspeo- tor to buy wine with if the Inspector would allow him to kill the sheep. Defendants were then arrested and charged with this offence. The Inspector's orders were that if any animal was not to be slaughtered until it had been brought for slaughter looked sick such animal inspected by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.
Prisoners were found guilty and were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
IN SUMMARY Jurisdiction.
(Daily Press, 18th January.)
(Daily Press, 20th January.) Under the influence of the comparative regard the proposals to be submitted to the It is not surprising that the Times should steadiness of exchange that has for some CZAR's Peace Congress as visionary and time past prevailed, and the belief that impracticable. These proposals include the silver is more likely to rise as expressed in prohibition of submarine torpedo-boats, terms of gold than to suffer any further ships with rams, new and more powerful decline, local interest in the currency ques-ventions. The object of war is to destroy weapons or explosives, and any new in- tion, and especially the bimetallic phase of the enemy's force as expeditiously as pos- it, has waned. Bimetallism indeed has sible, and so long as the art of war endures come to be regarded almost as an extinct
so long will the inventive powers of man- faith. The cause is not absolutely dead, kind be applied to the perfection of death however, but on the contrary has perhaps a
dealing weapons. Inventions designed better chance of success than ever before. merely for the infliction of suffering without The mistake that has hitherto been made affecting the tide of battle may rightly be by the majority of bimetallists has been in orbidden by civilised antions, and it is on trying to rehabilitate silver in the sense of that principle that explosive bullets are restoring the old ratio of fifteen and a half Prohibited, but considerations of that kind cannot be applied to such a weapon as the ram. The object of two vessels in action being to sink or disable each other the ram is an eminently suitable weapon to use the object to be aimed at was the establish for that purpose. So also with torpedoes, ment of equilibrium at any point at which and if torpedoes of any kind are allowed it might be found practicable. The opinions we fail to see any reason for prohibit of this section of the party, however, haveing submarine torpedo boats. Moreover, hitherto commanded little attention on
statistics that have been compiled with account of the noisy agitation of that larger reference to great historic battles show that section who har private axes to grind in fact been attended with a diminution in improvement in the weapons of warfare has and whose object was either to get four shillings for their two-shilling dollar or
the carnage wrought. Modern weapons, to bring about a cheapening of gold with therefore, while more effective in securing a consequent rise in gold prices as the victory speedily and decisively, are prefer- case might be. The idea of establishable from a humanitarian point of view to ing stability of exchange as something
those of ancient times. It would seem also that would be of advantage to trade in general, irrespective of the ratio that it might be found possible to fix, and regardless of the particular interests that might be momentarily affected adversely or favourably, has had comparatively few supporters. Looking back on the history of the agitation we think there can be little doubt that the decline in silver might have been arrested almost at any point had the bimetallic party as a whole been prepared to accept a ratio corresponding to that pre- yailing at the time in the open market, but the chance was thrown away in the vain endeavour to get back to the old ratio of fifteen and a half to one and by a legislative enactment to increase the value of silver and all silver securities. The hopelessness of this endeavour seems at last to have been partially realised, and in a recent telegram received by way of India we were informed that a settlement of the currency difficulty has been proposed on the basis of India opening her mints to silver and the United States opening her BEFORI SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF and $100 in September last. He repaid $25 at
that the improvement of armaments offers the best hope for the permanent preserva- tion of peace, for with the advances that are being made the time may come when nations will regard the risk of war as too great to be undertaken so lightly as in for- mer times, not on account of the weapons causing greater suffering to the individual components of the respective armies, but on with which the resistance of the weaker side account of the speed and completeness
have our best wishes in any efforts it may may be overcome. The Peace Congress will make to promote friendly relations between the Powers and diminish the chances of war, but any attempt to stem the tide of invention as applied to weapons of war must inevitably prove futile.
SUPREME COURT,
18th January.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
JUSTICE).
mints to silver as well as gold at a ratio of twenty-two to one (equivalent to a one-and- fourpenny rupee.) It is said that it has been ATTEMPTING 10 BRIBE A public servant. decided to press this project on the Indian Leung Yau and Wa Kan were charged that Currency Committee and the Government offer as a bribe a sum of $1 to John Thomas on December 17th, 1893, they unlawfully did and that it is influentially supported both Cotton, a public servant, holding the appoint by monometallists and bimetallists. Havment of Inspector of Nuisances, with a view to ing got so far there is perhaps some little incline him to do an act contrary to his duty prospect of a ratio, approximating to that as such public servant, and allow them to of the open market, say something in the slaughter a sheep for human food, although neighbourhood of thirty to one, being ultim- such sheep was not in the opinion of Inspector ately accepted. There is a great difference Cotton in a condition to be slaughtered for between supporting an existing value and restoring an extinct one, and it is only on the former principle that bimetallism can hope to succeed. The establishment of the ratio of twenty-two to one could have been effected without difficulty when that was the market ratio; it cannot be established now. The mere fact of a ratio below the old fifteen and a half to one heing seriously proposed, however, marks a considerable advance of the bimetallic position.
this
purpose.
Prisoners pleaded not guilty.
The following composed the jury - Messrs. A. H. Valery von Bohnssenics (foreman), Henry Reeves, F. A. de Carvalho, William Farmer, W. J. Mayson, P. José Maria Vaira, A. Luis Alres.
Mr. Pollock (Acting Attorney-General), in- structed by Mr. H. L. Dennys (Crown Solicitor), case he said Inspector Cotton was in charge of appeared for the prosecution. In opening the the Animal Depôt at Kennedytown. On the 17th December, about noon, he was in the depôt
|
BEFORE MR. JUSTICE WISE (PUISNE JUDGE).
ROBINSON V. SPRINGFORD.
George William Springford was sued by money lent, and $370-32 expenses of passage Walter George Vaughan Robinson for $145, front,
Mr. Hastings appeared for plaintiff.
Plaintiff said he was a musical manufacturer in Hongkong and elsewhere. Defendant was engaged by his agent in Liverpool in March of last year. He produced the agreement. Defen- dant arrived in April. last year. The salary
$100. Defendant admitted this loan. He had month. On September 3rd be lent defendant was £13 a month. Witness paid him $195 a
paid defendant $135 for September but de- also had an advance at Singapore. Witness ducted $90 for the advance and gave him $45. On Oct. 5th defendant barrowed $45 on account of salary. He produced the counter foil, which defendant admitted. He never saw defendant after that, defendant leaving his employment on that day without leave or notice and never coming back. He heard he had gone to Japan about October 7th. He had paid £36 158., being cost of passage in advance, and this at 1/11 came to $375:32.
There was no cross-examination. Defendant said he admitted he received $50 at Singapore. $60 was advanced in Hongkong,
Singapore to plaintiff's manager, Mr. White- field. Plaintiff stopped $45 out of his salary for September. He admitted owing $145. At the beginning of October plaintiff said he would the rate of $15 a month, and as he did not think deduct the money advanced for his passage at plaintiff was entitled to do this he left without notice.
His Lordship gave judgment for plaintiff, remarking, however, that he did not suppose plaintiff wished to push defendant down to ex- tremities.
Mr. Hastings-What we want is that he shall not work against us.
In the Straits Chinese Magazine for Decom- ber a Straits Chinaman describes the reform movement among that section of the community as still active enough for him to counsel the Chinese of Malaya to start à college and: technical school to prepare pupils, who will be sent to China to open schools and spread the girls and the revision of the Chinese moral and light of civilisation there. The training of social codes are recommended as the next points to be taken in hand by the reformers.