NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1440, 5 October 1899, Page 10

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

OLD AND NEW WOKLD ITEMS. The following items axe extracted.from San Francisco newspapers to the 6th -instant : ' THE PHILIPPINES. Although the Philippine •campaign is being pushed so earnestly many Americans continue to be bitterly opposed to expansion, and are desirous of leaving the Filipinos to govern themselves lis their own way. This does not promise tobecome a party issue, -as the Democratsseem unable to grasp their and continue to support Mr Bryan and his doctrine of free silver. TRADE CONDITIONS. ' -. American business agencies continue to report enormous transactions, and' heavy business is already booked for the balance the year, which has, so far,. heen one of great.prosperity. Firm prices. are quoted for all lines of goods except cereals. The market for these is weak,' notwithstanding reports from home and abroad, which show conclusively that the grain supply of the world will not be equal to the demand. Cotton is quoted rather low, and promises to be- a good crop in all the southern States, except Texas. Orders for machinery continue to come from abroad. A recent one will bring a quarter of a million dollars from Glasgow to the car shops of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wages are high in all sections, but the general prosperity is not shared by the people in any such measure as it is poured out upon trusts, which have multiplied alarmingly during the year. AMERICA CUP RACES. Sir Thomas Lipton and his yacht Shamrock have- arrived at New York. A flotilla of tugs and yachts met Sir Thomas. Lipton, who was ft passenger on the Campania. Sir Thomas was invited to fiftysix clubs and to lead the marine division of the celebration in honour of " Dewey'sDay," which is to be held when the Olympia, now on her way from Nice, France, to New York, reaches her destination. The visitor was interested to leam that the betting was 100 to 75 in favour of the yacht Columbia, though he declared he never wagered himself. He will be aboard the Shamrock in all the races sailed. He- is not confident of winning, because the Cup has been on the American side- for so long. He said hodid not know what the event was costing. him,'"as money did net enter into hisconsideration of the matter at all. FUTURE OF CUBA. General Fitzhugh Lee has just made an elaborate report as to the conditions inCuba, showing strong grounds for Cuban independence under an American Protectorate. General Lee recommends a Republican form of government, with a,President and Congress, and advises that elections be held scon 1 . He says the United States should keep strict supervision over Cuba until its government is firmly established. American troops should be maintained for the protection of American and other foreign residents. RELIGIONb IN -JAPAN. Japan's new law relative to religionshas excited much discussion. Ail sects,. Pagan or Christian, are placed under the control of the local Governor. Without permission, no church can be built or meetings held. The regulations demand detailed information regarding the pastor before cne beginning of religious work. The propagators of a faith must go btfore the Governor, with full details; of the scheme of faith, and i-iie finances must be accounted for, and the personal history of the aun'Jicant, the preacher and the members outlined in writing. Among: the questions to be answered are why such buildings are necessary, and others. bearing on the method of the religion,, and the reason for the selection of thepastor. TRUSTS IN AMERICA. The Civil Federation of Chicago has. called for a conference on the subject of Trusts, and the Governors of twenty-one-States have appointed delegates to attend a convention at- Chicago on the 13tb September. The United States Industrial and Inter-State Commerce Commissioners and many prominent men 'willparticipate. The Governors of many States will attend. Delegates have been appointed by the Chambers of Commerce and kindred organisations, and the colleges and universities will send their professors of political economy. The subjects to be discussed are trusts;, railways, and labour.