Items of Interest May 30, 1903 Issue

Items of Interest

Plans have been undertaken by a number of the patriotic societies to prevent the improvement of Manila at the sacrifice of the ancient wall of the city. The old wall is forty feet wide at the base, twenty feet high, broad enough at the top for two teams to drive abreast, and three miles in extent. It is surrounded by a moat, which is spanned at intervals by interesting and massive stone bridges. The mercantile interests desire the removal of all this, which they regard as "rubbish." The plans for beautifying the city involve the retention of the wall, the prohibition of any building to obstruct the view along the beautiful river drive between the wall and the bay, the flanking of the boulevard on the other side of the city with government and public buildings, the gradual clearing away within the walls of many of the small and unsanitary buildings and the erection of parks in their place, and the liberal setting of tropical plants, flowers, and shrubbery.

Some of the non-blockading Powers are said to be objecting to the assignment of Wayne MacVeagh to represent them at The Hague Tribunal on the question of preferential treatment, because they were not permitted to see or consider the terms of the protocols with the blockading Powers before the signatures were attached. Mr. MacVeagh, however, represents Venezuela, the United States, and Mexico on the question of preferential treatment in accordance with the terms of the protocol, and the other Powers having claims against Venezuela may adhere to the protocol if they so desire. Judge Penfield, solicitor of the Department of State, and Mr. Bowen are also on the commission.

The Bailey automobile bill has been signed by Governor Odell of New York in spite of much opposition from automobile clubs and manufacturing interests. This bill limits the speed to eight miles an hour in closely built portions of a city and to fifteen on streets where the houses are more than one hundred feet apart; It allows twenty miles an hour in a town or village; limits to eight miles an hour in passing a horse or a foot passenger or in crossing an intersecting highway; in passing a schoolhouse during school hours on school days, or a church during service hours, the speed limit is ten miles, and the speed within one-half mile of any postoffice is limited to eight miles.

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