nickel and copper coins are legal tender to the amount of 1 yen. The legal requirement of fineness is 1-1,000th in the case of gold coins and 3-1,000ths in the case of silver coins. The minimum circulating weights of the gold coins are fixed as follows: Twenty-yen pieces, 16.575 grammes; 10yen pieces, 8.2875 grammes; 5-yen pieces, 4.1438 grammes. If, in consequence of friction from circulation, any of the gold coins fall below the minimum circulating weight, or if any of the silver, nickel and copper coins become visibly reduced owing to the same cause, or if any coins become inconvenient for purposes of circulation, it is provided that the Government shall exchange such coins for others of the same face values, without making any charge. It is also provided that should any person import gold bullion and apply to have it minted into coin the Government shall grant the application. MADAGASCAR. March 7.-Ranavalona III, Queen of Madagascar, who had only been the nominal ruler of the island since it was made a French colony in June, 1896, was exiled to the island of Reunion by the French authorities. She is only thirty-seven years of age, and was regarded by her people with more than ordinary love. NICARAGUA. The law abolishing capital punishment on and after July 1, 1897, was signed by President Zelaya on May 9. PERU. April 9.-The Government suspended the coinage of silver at the mint and issued an edict prohibiting the importation of silver coins after May 10, 1897. SAMOA. February 23.-King Malietoa was menaced by a strong force of natives led by ex-King Tamasese, who took advantage of the absence of foreign warships to attack the capital. February 24.-The rebels attacked the loyal islands of Maueno and Apolina, driving out all the inhabitants and sacking the Mormon mission. SOCIETY ISLANDS. On February 17, 1897, a rebellion broke out on the islands of Raiatea and Huaheine as a result of the defiance of the French by Queen Mamai for about seven years. The natives carried on a bush warfare until February 28, when the rebellion was subdued by the capture of the Queen and her chief men. The Queen and 136 of her subjects were sent to New-Caledonia, the French penal settlement, and condemned to remain there for life. SPAIN. June 3.-The Canovas Cabinet resigned, owing to the difficulty the Ministers had experienced in carrying on the Government in view of the Parliamentary situation caused by the refusal of the Liberals to take part in the deliberations of the Cortes. This attitude of the Liberals was due to the personal encounter between the Duke of Tetuan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Professor Comas, a Liberal Senator, May 21, on when the Duke slapped the face of the Senator after a heated debate on the Morgan belligerency resolution adopted by the United States Senate. June 6.-The Queen Regent confirmed Señor Canovas in his Ministerial powers, and those of his Cabinet, and they remained in office with personnel and policy unchanged. August 8.-Señor Canovas, the Prime Minister, was assassinated by an Anarchist, at Santa Agueda. August 18.-General Azcarraga was appointed Prime Minister pro tem., and two days later the appointment was confirmed by the Queen Regent. September 29.-The Cabinet resigned, but Azcarraga was requested to continue in office until a solution of the crisis could be found. October 4.-Señor Praxedes Sagasta became Premier and formed a Cabinet. November 27.-A decree tendering autonomy to Cuba and Porto Rico was published. See article on "Cuba Revolution" on another page, as indexed. URUGUAY.-A revolutionary movement started in November, 1896, for the overthrow of President J. Idiarte Borda. General Saraiva, who a few years previous attained notoriety as commander of the insurgents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, led the revolt. On November 29 Saraiva suffered defeat, and took prisoner General Muniz, the Uruguayan commander, and later won other victories. On December 4 Saraiva suffered defeat, and four days later the rebellion was said to have been sup-pressed. This statement proved untrue, for the insurgents still continued to hold the field, and in February, 1897, many prominent officers of the Uruguayan army were arrested charged with attending a conference of the enemies of the administration. On March 4 a state of siege was proclaimed at Montevideo, and orders were issued for the mobilization of the troops of the Republic. All telegraph wires into Montevideo were cut on the following day. Important towns were reported to be giving aid and comfort to the revolutionists, their number being given at 7,000 men. The rebels captured the town of Artigas, and began collecting duties on goods entering the country from Brazil. Other towns were captured by the rebels in April, and they obtained several victories afterward. On April 22 an unsuccessful attempt was made by a student named Rabocca to shoot the President at the gateway of the official residence at Montevideo, but the shot missed the mark. On July 22 a twentytwo day armistice was signed by Government troops and the rebels pending nego tiations for a compromise. Affairs reached a climax on August 25, when, during the celebration of the independence of Uruguay, which was proclaimed on August 25, 1825, President Borda was shot and killed by a youth named Arredondo. Señor Cuestas, president of the Senate, became President ad interim. On September 10, through the mediation of Dr. Ramirez, terms of peace were concluded between the Government of Uruguay and the insurgents, and three days later both chambers of Congress ratified the terms. The treaty was signed on September 19. ZANZIBAR. April 6.-Slavery was abolished by a decree of the Sultan. It provides that existing rights over the concubines shall remain as before, unless the concubines claim their freedom on account of cruelty. In general terms the concubines will be regarded as wives. The decree also provides that the Government shall pay compensation for all slaves legally held. POLITICAL MISCELLANY. DELAWARE. The Constitutional Convention decided on June 3, 1897, to promulgate the new State Constitution, and it went into effect on June 10. The following is the substance of the changes made: The State is divided into 35 Representative⚫ districts and 17 Senatorial districts, making the General Assembly consist of 52 members, or 22 more than last year. The next Legislature meets on January 11, 1898. The regular sessions are limited to sixty days and special sessions to thirty days. The members have heretofore been allowed $3 per day and the Speaker $5 per day. The new document increases the pay for members to $5 per day and the Speaker to $6 per day. Each member is to be allowed $25 for stationery and supplies at the regular session and $10 for any special session. Lotteries, the sale of lottery tickets, pool-selling and other forms of gambling are prohibited. This was intended to effectually prevent the establishment of a racetrack in the State. A Lieutenant-Governor is also provided for, who is to be the presiding officer of the Senate and a member of the Board of Pardons. He is to receive a salary of $6 per day when actually serving in the Legislature. In case of a contest in the election of Governor the Chief Justice is to preside over the Joint Assembly, instead of the Speaker of the Senate. No man can be elected to the office of Governor more than once. the districts in which they reside until the end of their terms. The first general election under the new Constitution will take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1898, when the even-numbered districts are to elect members of the Senate for two years and the odd-numbered districts will elect members for four years! afterward the terms of all Senators will be four years. This provision makes an exception in the cases of the three Senators above named. There is also a provision for six State judges, one of whom shall be Chancellor and another Chief Justice, and no more than three in office shall be from the same political party. The bench was unanimously Democratic at the time the new Constitution was adopted. The appointments are to be for terms of twelve years. A Board of Pardons is provided, to be composed of the Lieutenant-Governor, Chancellor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Auditor of Accounts. The article on revenue and taxation renders it impossible to pass any single-tax law for the State. Local option is provided by a clause which says that whenever a inajority of all the members elected to each House in any one district requests the submission of the question of "license" or "no license" to a vote of the electors of the district, the General Assembly shall provide for the submission of such question at the next general election thereafter. For this purpose four districts are created: Kent County, Sussex County, rural New-Castle County Sussex County, rural mington. The poll-tax is abolished and a registration fee of $1 is made the prerequisite for voting. or The provisions against bribery are stringent. Any one who shall receive, accept or offer to receive or accept, or shall pay, transfer, deliver, or shall contribute offer or promise to contribute to another any money or other valuable thing as a compensation, inducement or reward, for registering or not registering, voting or withholding a vote, shall lose his own Voters can be challenged for these offences, and must then swear or affirm that they are innocent before their vote can be received. The superior courts are empowered to recount the ballots in cases where fraud or mistake is charged. Bribery, fraud or intimidation is made a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not less than six months or more than five years, and with either sentence the loss of the franchise for ten years. vote. The old Constitution provided that no member of Congress, nor person holding any office under the United States or the State, could exercise the office of Governor; this clause has been stricken out. In case of vacancy in any elective office, except that of Lieutenant-Governor and members of the General Assembly, it may be filled by the Governor appointing. Governor is also given the veto power. The line of succession to vacancy in the Governorship is: Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, President pro tem. of the Senate, and Speaker of the House. The The Attorney-General and Insurance Commissioner are to be elected for four years, and the State Treasurer and Auditor of Accounts for two years. Persons elected or appointed to State and county offices made elective by the new Constitution, and whose terms expire before the first Tuesday of 1899, are to hold to that day; expiring after January, 1899, and before the first Tuesday in 1901, to hold to that day; expiring after January, 1901, and before the first Tuesday in 1903, to hold to that day. Senators Pyle, Moore and Meredith are to continue to represent (NEW-JERSEY. The following amendments to the State Constitution were voted upon by the people on September 28, 1897: GAMBLING AND LOTTERY.-No lottery shall be authorized by the Legislature or otherwise in this State, and no ticket in any lottery shall be bought or sold within this State, nor shall pool-selling, bookmaking or gambling of any kind be authorized or allowed within this State, nor shall any gambling device, practice or game of chance now prohibited by law be legalized, or the remedy, penalty or punishment now provided therefor be in any way diminished. Carried by 70,444 for, and 69,642 against. APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.-No person who shall have been nominated to the Senate by the Governor for any office of trust or profit under the government of this State, and shall not have been confirmed before the recess of the Legislature, shall be eligible for appointment to such office during the continuance of such recess. Carried by 73,732 for, and 66,296 against. The Board of Canvassers made the official count on October 19, when the vote was declared as above given. The proposed amendment providing the right for women to vote, at any school meeting held in any of the school districts in which they might reside, for members of Boards of Education and other school officers, was defeated by a majority of 10,059. NEW-YORK. ANTI-SCALPING LAW.-The law of the Legislature relative to the sale of passenger tickets, approved May 18, 1897, provided that no person shall issue or offer to sell any passage ticket or berth or stateroom ticket upon any vessel or railway train, unless he is an authorized agent of such company, or unless he has received authority in writing therefor, and then only at the office designated in his appointment. Every person who shall have purchased a passage ticket from an authorized agent of a railroad company, which shall have not been used or shall have been used only in part, may, within thirty days after the sale of said ticket, have the same redeemed at the office of the authorized agent or of the company. A wholly unused ticket shall be redeemed at the price paid therefor, and a partly used ticket shall be redeemed at a rate which shall be equal to the difference between the price paid for the whole ticket and the cost of a ticket of the same class between the points for which said ticket was actually used. Mileage books shall be redeemed within thirty days after the date of expiration thereof in the same manner. ELECTION LAW.-The Governor, on April 15, 1897, approved of a law making it a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for any person to vote or attempt to vote at a political caucus, primary or convention without being entitled to do so; or who by bribery, menace or other corrupt means, directly or indirectly, attempts to influence the vote of any person entitled to vote at such caucus, primary or convention, or obstructs such person in voting, or prevents him from voting thereat; or who fraudulently or wrongfully does any act tending to affect the result of an election at such caucus, primary or convention; or, who, being an officer, teller or canvasser thereof, wilfully omits, refuses or neglects to do any act required by the election law, or refuses to permit any person to do any act authorized thereby, or makes or attempts to make any false canvass of the ballots cast at such caucus, primary or convention, statement of the result of a canvass of the ballots cast thereat; or who induces or attempts to induce any officer, teller or or canvasser of such caucus, primary or convention to do any act in violation of his duty; or, who directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person, pays, or offers to pay, money or other valuable thing to any person to induce any voter or voters to vote or refrain from voting at such caucus, primary or convention for any particular person or persons; or, who directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person, receives money or other valuable thing, before, at or after such caucus, primary or convention, for voting or refraining from voting for or against any person at such caucus, primary or convention. Any person who causes his name to be placed upon any list or register of voters in more than one election district for the same election or upon a list or register of voters knowing that he will not be a qualified voter in the district at the election for which such list or register is made, or who causes his name to be placed upon the rolls of a party organization of one party while his name is by his consent or procurement upon the rolls of a party organization of another party, or aids or abets any such act, is punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars and not imprisonment for more than five years. FOREST PRESERVE BOARD.-A law of the Legislature, approved April 8, 1897, authorized the appointment of "The Forest Preserve Board," to be composed of three persons, selected from the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forest and the Commissioners of the Land Office. It was provided that the members of the Board should not receive any compensation for their services as such, but should receive actual and necessary expenses. The duties defined were to acquire for the State, by purchase or otherwise, land, structures or water, or such portion thereof in the territory embraced in the Adirondack Park, as the Board might deem advisable for the interests of the State. Claims for the value of property taken and for damages caused by appropriation of land may be adjusted by the Forest Preserve Board if the amount thereof can be agreed upon with the owners of the land so appropriated. In case the Board is unable to agree with the owner for the value of the property so taken, or on the amount of damages resulting therefrom, such owner, within two years after the service upon him of notice of appropriation, may present to the Court of Claims a claim for the value of such land or for damages, and the Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine such claim and render judgment thereon. The owner of the land to be taken under the act may, at his option, reserve the spruce timber thereon ten inches or more in diameter at a height three feet above the ground. Such option must be exercised within six months after the service upon him of a notice of the appropriation of such land by the Forest Preserve Board, by serving upon such Board a written notice that he elects to reserve the spruce timber thereon. If such notice be not served by the owner within the time specified he shall be deemed to have waived his right to such reservation, and such timber shall thereupon become the property of the State. The reservation does not include or affect timber within twenty rods of a lake, pond or river, and such timber shall not be reserved. The timber reserved must be removed from the land within fifteen years after the service of notice of reservation in default of which it shall become the property of the State. " KNOCK-OUT DROPS.-On March 9, 1897, the Governor approved an amendment to the penal code relative to "knockout drops.' It provides that any person (other than a duly licensed physician or surgeon engaged in the lawful practice of his profession) who has in his possession any narcotic or anesthetic substance, compound or preparation, capable of producing stupor or unconsciousness, with intent to administer the same or cause the same to be administered to another without the latter's consent, unless by direction of a duly licensed physician, is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the State prison for not more than ten years. The possession of any such compound, concealed or furtively carried on the person, is declared to be presumptive evidence of an intent to violate the law, MUNICIPAL BONDS.-An act of the Legislature, approved March 17, 1897. relative to the rate of interest on bonds refunding municipal indebtedness, provides that the bonded indebtedness of a municipal corporation, including interest due or unpaid, or any part thereof, may be paid up or retired by the issue of new substituted bonds for like amounts by the officers having in charge the payment of such bonds. The new bonds shall only be issued when the existing bonds can be retired by the substitution of the new bonds therefor, or can be paid by money realized by the sale of such new bonds. Where such bonded indebtedness shall become due within two years from the issue of the new bonds, such new bonds may be issued and sold to provide money in advance to pay up such existing bonds when they shall become due. The conditions are that the new bonds shall be made payable not less than one or more than thirty years from date; shall draw interest not exceeding 5 per cent; shall be sold and negotiated at the best price obtainable, not less than their par value; and until payment shall be exempt from taxation for town, county, municipal or State purposes. NEW-YORK COUNTY REGISTER.--An act of the Legislature, approved March 16, 1897, provides that the Register of the County of New-York to be elected in 1897 shall hold office for four years, and that the term of such office shall be four years. GREATER NEW-YORK LAW. The Committee on Draft of Charter of the Greater New-York Commission made its report to the Commission on December 24, 1896, and on February 22, 1897, the Commission reported the charter to the Legislature. It was referred to the proper committees on the same day, and after back on March 18. On March 23 the bill was read in the Assembly and passed, without amendment, by a vote of 118 to 28. Of the majority there were 105 Republicans anu 13 Democrats; and of the minority, 6 Republicans and 22 Democrats. Those who voted for the bill were: Messrs. Abell, Addis, Adler, Allds, Anderson, H. T. Andrews, P. J. Andrews, Armstrong, Austin, Baker, Bates, Bayliss, Bedell, Bellen, Benhom, Blasdell, Bondy, Braun, Brennan, B. D. Brown, L. E. Brown, Budd, Burr, Cain, C. J. Clark, J. Clark, Cole, Costello, Coughlin, Cromwell, Cullen, Degran, Downs, Dudley, Eldridge, Fish, Fitzgerald, Forrester, French, Fuller, Garby, Gilleland, Glen, Goodsell, Gorham, Gott, Graves, Gray, Hanna, Harrison, Hill, Hobbie, Hoes, Hoffman, Holbert, Horton, Hughes, Husted, Ives, Kavanaugh, Kelsey, Kennedy, Knaup, Koster, Laimbeer, Leversee, Lewis, Maccabe, Mackey, Marshall, G. A. Matteson, Mazet, J. E. McEwan, McGraw, McKeown, McKnight, McLaughlin, Miles, C. H. Miller, N. J. Miller, Murphy, Nixon, Parshall, Perkins, Peterson, Philo, Pierce, Post, Raplee, Roehr, Rounds, Sanders, Saunders, Scherer, Schneider, Sears, Sheldon, Smith, Soper, Springer, J. L. Sullivan, T. P. Sullivan, Sweet, Taylor, Ten Eyck, Tupper, a Cott, Van Keuren, Wagstaff, Warner, Wells, Whritner, Wilson, Winne, Witter, Zimmerman, Zurn and the Speaker. The negative votes were cast by Messrs. Barry, Corrigan, Daly, Dempsey, Donnelly, Fritz, Gledhill, Green, Hart, Hutton, The absentees were Pratt, Lennon and The Assembly also passed, by a vote of 81 to 21, the Constitutional amendment providing for the representation in the municipal Assembly of that part of Queens County taken into the Greater New-York territory; also, by a vote of 91 to 23, the Constitutional amendment abolishing boards of supervisors in the Greater NewYork territory. The Senate passed the bill on March 25 by the following vote: Yeas-Brackett, Brown, Brush, Burns, Cantor, Chahoon, Coffey, Coggeshall, Daley, C. Davis, G..A. Davis, Ellsworth, Ford, Gallagher, Grant, Harrison, Higbie, Higgins, Humphrey, Johnson, Koehler, Krum, Lamy, Lexow, Malby, McNulty, Page, Parsons, Pavey, Raines, Seibert, Sheppard, Stewart, Stranahan, Tibbits, White, Wieman, Wilcox, Wray-39. Nays Ahearn, Featherson, Foley, Grady, Guy, Martin, McCarren, Mullin, Munzinger-9. The bill was then sent to the Mayors of the cities affected for their action, who held sessions to hear the citizens for and against it. Mayor P. J. Gleason of Long Island City returned the bill with his approval on April 1; Mayor F. W. Wurster of Brooklyn signed his approval on April 8, and Mayor W. L. Strong of New-York City forwarded his veto of the bill on April 7. The Assembly took up the bill several hearings they reported the bill again on April 12, and passed it over the veto by a vote of 106 to 32. The Senate acted upon it on April 14, and passed it by a vote of 34 to 10, Senator Pavey changing his vote from aye to no. The following are some of the principal provisions of the Charter: Chapter one relates to the boundaries, boroughs, powers, rights and obligations of the city of New-York. It provides that the new consolidation comprehends "all the municipal and public corporations and parts of municipal and public corporations, including cities, villages, towns and school districts, but not including counties, within the following territory, to wit: The county of Kings, the county of Richmond, the city of Long Island City, the towns of Flushing, Newtown and Jamaica, and that part of the of Hempstead, in the county of Queens, which is westerly of a straight line drawn from the southeasterly point of the town of Flushing, through the middle of channel between Rockaway Beach and Shelter Island, in the county of Queens, to the Atlantic Ocean." town The corporate name is the "City of NewYork," and it is divided into five boroughs, namely: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond, as follows: MANHATTAN-Manhattan Island, Nuttin or Governor's Island, Bedloe's Island, Bucking or Ellis Island, the Oyster Islands, Blackwell's Island, Randall's Island and Ward's Island. BRONX-That portion of the City of New-York lying northerly or easterly of the Borough of Manhattan, between the Hudson River and the East River or Long Island Sound, including the several islands. BROOKLYN-The City of Brooklyn. QUEENS-That portion of Queens County as stated in the first paragraph of the principal provisions of the charter. RICHMOND-Richmond County or Staten Island. MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY. The The legislative power of the city is vested in two houses to be known, respectively, as the Council and Board of Aldermen, together styled "The Municipal Assembly of the City of New-York." Council consists of twenty-nine members, including the president, elected on a general ticket at the same time and for the same term as the Mayor. The salary of the president is $5,000 a year, and for other members $1,500 a year. The city is divided into ten Council districts, and each of the first eight (included in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn) is entitled to three members; that part of Queens, known as Long Island City and Newtown, one member; that part of Queens, known as Jamaica, Flushing and Hempstead, one member, and two members are allowed to the Borough of Richmond. The term of office of each member is four years. Every ex-Mayor of the city is, so long as he remains a resident of the city, entitled to a seat in the Council and to participate in its discussions, but not to a vote. The Municipal Assembly must have at least one stated meeting a month, except, in the discretion of the Assembly, in August and September. ALDERMEN-The Board consists of one member from each of the Assembly districts within the city; Queens County is entitled to the same number of representatives as in the Council, and those parts of the Ist and IId Assembly districts of Westchester County included in the Bronx are entitled to one member. The term of office is two years, and the salary $1,000 a year. The president of the Board is elected from the members. Each head of an administrative department is entitled to a seat in the Board, with the right to participate in its discussions, but not the right to vote. CITY CLERK-The Council, at its first meeting, must appoint a clerk, who is also the City Clerk; the term is six years, and the salary $7,000 a year. In addition to keeping the records, he is also to grant licenses to auctioneers. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER MENTS. DEPART MAYOR-The term of office is fixed at four years; salary, $15,000, and he is ineligible for re-election. The Mayor may, within six months after the commencement of his term of office, remove from office any appointed official, except members of the Boards of Education and School boards, and except also judicial officers, for whose removal other provision is made by the Constitution. After the expiration of six months, appointed officers may be removed by the Mayor for cause, upon charges preferred and after opportunity to be heard, subject, however, to the approval of the Governor. FINANCE DEPARTMENT-The head of the Department is the Controller; his term of office is four years, and the salary is $10,000. He may be removed from office by the Governor in the same manner as sheriffs. There are also five bureaus in this Department: Bureau for the collection of city revenue and markets rents; bureau for the collection of taxes; bureau of assessments and arrears; auditing bureau; bureau of City Chamberlain. It is provided that when bonds are issued they shall be in register form, in denominations of $10 or any multiple thereof, and that preference shall be given to applicants for the smallest amounts and smallest denominations. CHAMBERLAIN-Appointed by the Mayor for four years, with a salary of $12,000. COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND -Composed of the Mayor, Controller, Chamberlain, president of the Council and chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Aldermen. BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT-Composed of the Mayor, Controller, Corporation Counsel and the president of the Department of Taxes and Assessments. LAW DEPARTMENT-The head is the Corporation Counsel, appointed by the Mayor for four years, with a salary of $15,000. POLICE DEPARTMENT-The Board is composed of four members, appointed by the Mayor for four years, no more than two of whom shall belong to the same political party, or be of the same political opinion on State and National politics. The salary of each is $5,000 a year. department consists of a Chief of Police, five deputy chiefs, ten inspectors; cap The |