i RRR RO RR Hi {id and Semi-Weekly by WHIG PUBLISHING LIMITED. Published Dall THE BRITIS C 0. 4. G Elliott . President Leman A Guild ... Managing Director and Sec.-Treas. Business Bditorial Job Office SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (Daily Edition) year, delivered in city year, If pald in advance _. year, by mall to rural office year, to United States ..... ¢ (Semi-Weekly Edition) One year, by mall, cash One vear, if not paid in advance § One year, to United States _.. $ 8ix and three months pro the best job a One One One One ..3§5.00 s $2.60 .$2.50 1.50 vers 31.0 rata. Attached Is one of printing offices in Canad: The circulation of THE BRITISH WIG Is authenticated by the Audit Bureau of Circulations REVENUE FROM BILLBOARDS Tt Whig has frequently been urged to take up the right against unsightly and dangerous billboards, has refrained because it e ut 80 was altogether likely that the gens would think 'that the paper was acting from motives of 6)f-interest rather than from those for the general good. In a sense the bill-boards are competitors with the newspaper from an advertising point of view, but the competition is so small as to be negligible. Even were it a hundred times greater it would not affect our attitude in the matter, Throughout the length and breadth of the land there is today an increasing and insistent outery against unsightly bill-boards which flaunt their crude and glaring pic- tures on all sides. They are a dis- figurement to the landscape, and city councils, boards of trade, city im- provement leagues, and other mun- icipal wad. public bodies. .ape, if not legislating them out of business at least restricting their scope and im- posing high taxes. The Board of Control of Montreal has just agreed on a special tax of n per cent on the gross receipts, of bill-board, firms, a tax which is ex- pected to bring the city an addit- ional income of $10,000. Power is also being sought to regulate bill- boards within the city limits as to location, height and objectionable matter, Our city council is in need of more funds and here is an example they might well follow. It would have the hearty endorsement of the pub- lic. The Montreal method might be followed, or a tax of say 10c per square foot could be imposed. ee ---------------- eral public The German steamer Prinz Fred- rich Wilhelm on the rocks of the ls- land of Ferun. She ought to be on the bottom of the sea if she received the treatment commonly handed out by the Germans in their submarine war. THE COMMITTEE AT FAULT. The discussion which occurred in the city comneil on Mondhy evening demonstrated once more the jrregular and imprudent manner in which the business of the city is sometimes con- ducted.. The wind-up of the debate secmed to indicate that an official was largely to blame. But an examination of the records shows that a committee of the council was also very greatly and inexcusably at fault. Admitting that the repair of Ma- chinery Hall, (for the fair grounds), could not be very well done by con- tract labor, the fact remains that the work should not haye been undertak- en until it had been reported upon by the committee, until that committee had made a recommendation, and un- till this recommendation had been ap- proved. 'There is supposed to be a law, (and it is heard of every little while), which provides that no public] work, of any kind, shall be entered upon unless it has bean anticipated in the budget. - Was the recoastruction of Machinery Hall provided for In this way? If not the proposition was en tirely out of order. Itis a good thing sometimes to have a scape goat--and the council ocea- sionally falls back upon some official, and offers him as a sacrifice--but he should not be made to bear all the sins of the city government. In this case the chairman of the works com- miftee was consulted. He was asked for the name of a man who would make the repairs by the day, and he gave it. That was where he went wrong. He should have at once or dered a meeting of his committee, There was no meeting of the co no instruction with regard * tion #8 to the ¢ inder the circumstanc: 4 f the accounts ivertises a nave presur Lie people, | "LATEST CABINET SHUFFLE. Two days ago there was a meeting of the Conservative ward politiciar of Toronto with the premier in office, und with regard to eertal changes There were in the government, in cou sequence of the deaths of Mr. Foy and Mr. Duff. Two Toronto members | were demanded in place of these, but | who should they be? question of the hour. There were many aspirants. name of W. B. Macpherson, K. ( was suggested for one of the place and there was a decided difference of opinion with regard to it How- ever, Mr. Macpherson has got the call, and becomes the provinc ial sec- retary in place of Hon. Mr. Hanna, who remains a member of the gov- ernment without portfolio. Hon. Mr. Hearst undertakes to act as minister of agriculture, with Dr. Creelman, principal of the Agricul: tural College at Guelph, as commis- sioner and acting head of the de- partment This avoids the anxiety of opening a constituency, because in the present tempet of the people there is no telling what they will do, and the government cannot stand an- other defeat. Hon. Mr. Hanna is going out of public life. He is the representative in Canada of the Standard Oil Com- pany, and he will reside in Tordénto and give his law business his whole attention. When he failed to become premier of the province he lost his interest in politics and the keenness which characterized his conduct of public affairs under the administra- tion of Sir James Whitney The new cabinet will be of a temp- orary character. It is meant merely to tide the - government over the session, and then a crisis and possi- bly a collapse. cabinet Ww vacancies a SUPPLANTING THE COUNCIL The Quebec legislature Is tres- passing upon the duties of the Mon- treal council. There may be some provocation for this, but there does not seem to be any right, The coun- cil, for several years, has dickered with the street railway company, with regard to an extension of its franchise. The problem was a per- plexing ome.: The board of control seemed to be willing to make an 'agreement with the company, but it was opposed by the council and the press. Incidentally the council, as a result of its mismangement, found itself again running into debt, with- out the power to borrow money. So it sent a deputation to Quebec to lay the whole situation before the gov- ernment. A remarkable experience followed. The government refused the municipal deputation its request. Something further, and quite un- expectedly, took place. The govern- ment, assuming that the council's position was a serious one, and as- suming further, that Montreal was unable to help itself under the cir- cumstances, appointed two commiss- jons. One will report upon the fin- ancial statug of the city. It will have only one object in view, namely, to get at the facts regardless of con- 'sequences, The second commission will draft an agreement with the rand is meeting with gr Tramways' Company, under whiclt the franchise will coptinue for a cer- tain number of years, and the city | will get its percentage of the rail- way fevenues, . The Montreal Gazette very pertin- {ently remarks: "The commissioners are substituted for the elected repre- { sentatives of the taxpayers and citi- !gzens in dealing with a matter that directly touches the administration of municipal property and municipal revenue. The excuse for the pres- | ently proposed action is that the | constituted municipal authorities {had palpably shown their incapacity to deal in a business-like way with a business matter that affected other | municipalities than Montreal." Once More the truth is demonstrated that the success of municipal insti- | tutions does not depend upon the systemg so much as upon the men who operate them, Give Montreal capable business men in its muni-' cipal administration and scandals and shortages will pass away. EDITORIAL NOTES. Dr. Pyne a senator. Politically em- balmed at his age? Surely not, --a---------------- The captivity of the Belgians-- 100,000 of them so far--is accepted as an evidence of the great want of man power in Germany. i ---------- When the chairman of the works committee knew that, he could not legally or fairly exceed his appropria- tion why did Hie sanction a $2,000 or. der without provision as to the cost? -------- The Belgians carried captives into Germany are not forced into the to wake munitions which are used ( sladly pleasant 'tis, my army, but they are obliged, as slaves, | - THE -DAILY-BRITISH Ir OWE] ightegs and gene have been The That was the n public service, le the Whig print from The arti other column the wheat speculations ial business, interest for those who, expected to ma out of their fuvestments better leave the grain market grain merchant The train ese day delayed somewhat beca much expressage whiskey packag along the cases in one day see the till this tr fu . a (INGSTON EVENTS 25 YEARS AGO T. Fitzgerald says he will Robinson either 100 o $100 or $200 J. J. Behan | 1 ndidate for aldermanic 200 vards honors ii aut Succ The coal dealer usual harvest. weather GRAIN SPECULATORS AND THEIR MARGINS ronts» Mail mpire A few weeks ago wheat was sell- ing for $2 a bushel. The marked scarcity of wheat, on account of the short crops, and the strength of the European demand, were said (o a count for the continued rise at $2.50 or $3 was prophesied day wheat is selling close to §1 per bushel. The drop occurred in a few days. Is wheat worth less day, intrinsically, than it was or three weeks ago? Of course not. It is the same wheat. There is a lit- tle smaller stock of it. The differ- ence between the $2 mark and the $1.50 mark represents, purely and simply, the effect of market "pecu- lation A few weeks ago, when the shortness supplies created a "bull" atmosphere, everyone was buying wheat for a further rise Those who had bought it lower down were holding. There were few, sel- lers and many buyers. Then it be- & 1 & | To- 50 of gan to appear that trouble was im-| which might make difficult the shipping of wheat Europe. The speculators began J more to to pending arket overheld en came | "han » market ANISIR HOTEL C105 INTIRE BEING SOLD fas Been Serving the Public Over Forty Years, And is One the Rest Hotels of Known in Eastern the ern Ontario has result "'stand- windsor, of inown hotels in Ea losed its doors Kingston has lost an hotel. Frank M the pro- is selling it the entire shings by auction he sale ymmenced on Woednesday. This hotel has been serving the public for over forty years, and was particular- ly well-known to the farmers Mes- "Jack" and Frank McCue had charge of the hotel for upwards of twenty years, and previous to that condneted Albion hotel About two ago "Jad retired from he hetel busines Frank McCue is ester, where he will ta the leading hotels res the year leaving for Roch- ke over one of As an hotelkeep- Ontario, | best-| Neckwear Elegance 50c, 75¢, $1 ri) cv ee pn: ibbys Beautiful Silk Scarfs $1.50 to $5.50 -------- ier Store Open Even high grade clothing. and hair lines. .r he was regarded «5 one of the best in the business, und his host of riepds in and around Kingston ex- tend to him t i Ontario Ward, | Wheat | to- two! | enterprise | has compelled him { busines This i has since Ontario the jritish-Ameri ! closed its doors & is understood tha | hotel on Prinees slosed next May. There is a rumor going the rounds to the effect that a big departmental | store will take over the Wind { tel and open a branch. | JOHNNY CAN'T PARADE IN KHAKI UNIFORM | An Order Against it Has Been hotel the « went an hotel hort time ago. It leading will be the second ity lost "dry," anot treet er | Issued by the Militia | Department. (Speci the Whig.) Ottawa, Dec. 2u.--No longer may little Johnnie Canuck parade about in a diminutive reproduction of the | uniform of his soldier daddy. Or- | der has gone forth from ajlitary headquarters that persons wearing uniforms, which even resemble those of military, will he heavily fined or given terms in jail. The order is issued, it vent parent of all form of dressing their in khaki sol all ranks Yiitiaren dier uni- ages A. B. Calder has been appointed assistant general passenger agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, with offices at Montreal. United States Steel broke to and closed at 112 on Tuesday 108 5 5 A A AAA AA A A A A NN Random Reels "Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax, of Cabbages and Kings." --- THE MATCH The Match is a mild explosive whith is used to set a cigar on fire The only time it fails to accom- plish this qrject is when it runs up against a campaign cigar which has been carried around in the vest poc- ket of some candidate who does not smoke for fear of alienating the church vote. During recent years the making of matches has been reduced to an exact science. The first attempt in this line was highly disappointing to people whose olfactory nerves were in a sound and rugged state. All matches used twenty years ago were provided with a large head and a slim body which had been soaked in kerosene, so that when they were ignited they would throw off an as- phyxiating gas capable of strangling an innocent bystander at a distance of one hundred yards. When a handful of these matches, carried in the hip pocket, rubbed against each other and caught fire, the owner of the pocket would wither be cremated on the spot or choked to death be- fo help could arrive, Intlate years, however, the safety Match has become all the rage. article is put up in a neat box and is shelled out of a slot machine. It is a protective device and cannot ignited by drawing it across the right hip with a careless, sweeping gesture. One of the most madden- ing things that can happen to a lone| hunter or fisherman is to discover | a cluster of safety matches in & pair | look of khaki pnts and find that the box which they are supposed tq bite | upon has disappeared. The art of striking at possessed solely by man. woman wants to light a Match she] cannot make use of her anatomy, but is obliged to draw it briskly over the top of a cook stove. This teaches us that in some respects it is| an excellent thing to he born in the masculine gender. Match is When a! ~~ 1 Fwd oot pata posi vio PROFITLESS TALK It is a pleasant thin mind, whose spiel is tingéd with sparkling wit, whose every comment makes a hit. delegate upon the street who springs a subject not so old as to be spotted green with mold. Your grate- ful eye upon him beams--for one grows whiskered themes, of hearing people say their say on ancient topics, day by day. thoroughfare, to get some goose grease for my hair, 1 see my friends toward me walk, when they are _ distant half a block, "Now here comes Jinks," I sadly sigh, "and he will talk of prices high, and give the government rebuke for being such a beastly fluke. And here comes Eben about the war; and bh tomes J. Leander Bain, with wqman suffrage Rippling Rhymes they all will say--1I hear them say it every day. if I could, and climb an elng t mad i: friends, to view the mdn Who Tolls UP Be to find a man of cultivated It isa luxury to meet a tired of When I go down the Dorr, who'll rant away on hisgbrain." I know just what rd hing new! & AW having | or Ho-| is said, especially to pre- This | Christmas be | | We are headquarters for all mani- know. Blue cheviots $20.00 and $22.00. See Our Young Men's Suits New pinch back model at $18. Fabrics are English Patterns are neat plaids, checks, See Our Young Men's Suits The Derby, very English you Pin dot and fancy worsteds, a er a er er ar ~~ N « A NI Apr at Handsome Suits and Overcoats Full ba style, with The ~ Knee style, dou vet collar. cheviots. and serges. ots. length, - We are showing a gathering from the best and foremost makes of The New Belcourt Overcoat at $18.00 ck, double breasted new two-day collar. Broadway Overcoat form fitting ble breasted, silk vel- A beauty for $15.00. Blues, browns and fancy chevi- Try Bibbys for Boys' Suits and See Bibbys Fancy Vests $2.50, $3.50, $4.00. It Overcoats will pay you. I Electrical Christmas Suggestions 7 - | {| Table Lamps. Electric Irons. Electric Toasters. Electric Vacuum Cleaners. | Il WE CAN SETTLE THE CHRISTMAS QUESTION FOR YOU. 9 Moore's Electric Wellington Street. Shop A A i WHITMAN FOR PROHIBITION. | Claimed That He Made Statement at | Washington. New * York, Dec. 20.--Governor | Whitman, it is said, has placed him- | self on record as prepared to support | prohibition legislation in announcing | that he is in favor of the general temperance sentiment Just what | kind of a prohibition measure the | Governor has jn mind is not known, { but it was learned last night that he | will sign any local option bill that | comes before him for approval. - Just in Tuesday--300 lbs. Huy- { ler"s Christmas candy, at the Red { Cross drug store. Christmas delivery as usual. | The Montreal Stock Exchangeé ! house of McDougall & Cowans, which | has made a custom of substantial {distribution to its employees around time, staff that it had decided to grant a | bonus equal to fifty per cent of the employees' salaries for the year. Our stock is the city., At | cure and toilet goods. | the largest range in Best's. X Neutral opinion is that things véry hopeful for a peace | conference shortly. A McLeod's Drug Store Brock Street. Djerkiss Perfume 1 ounce bottles announced to its) Sunkist First Car New R At all Grocers. XMAS WANTS Table Raisins. New Bulk Dates. New Package Dates. New Package Table Figs. Fresh Prunes. Wagstaffe's Mince Meat. New Nuts, all kinds. Moir's Chocolate Bon Bons. Christie's Plum Pudding. Christie's Fruit Cake. Malaga Grapes. Full assortment of mixed candies creams and chocolates. E. H. BAKER Montresl and Charles Sts. Phone 1263. Downeys Garage Open Day Night. Repair Work of All Kinds, Cars Stored Until May 1st: Small Cars, $10.00. Large Cars, $12.00. Cars for Hire, Gasoline, Oils and Greases Always on Hand. Cor. We Store Furniture Déwney, Prop. Phone 864 Street. 186 Queen. Tom Smith's Christraas Crackers The great fun makers for both young and old. See our splendid assortment. JAS. REDDEN & CO. Raisins Insist on SUNKIST EE DALY GARAGE 335 King Street. Phone 363. We furnish auto supplies of all kinds; gasoline, motor oll, ete. » washed and stored at rea- sonable rates. Repair work promptly attended to, Satisfaction guaranteed. J.-P. Daly, Prop. J ------------------------ Weight? Yes! Wait? No! er It's Too Big for The Christmas Stocking But--a ton'of our coal is a gift that will receive a hearty welcome, ' COAL is our "stockin" trade Good old Santa recommends our coal fo those who insist on real quality. CRAWFORD Foot of Queen St.