cool headed, and reticent, that the country looks for this victory." This expression of reliance upon Buller appeared on December 14. On the next day General Buller's expected battle was fought at the Tugeia River, but, as we have shown, it turned out a worse reverse than Lord Methuen's at Magersfontein.

On Sunday evening, December 17, it Redoubling was ann0unced in London that upon

British Efforts. .1 •*,

the advice of the military authorities her majesty's government had decided to call out all the remaining portion of the regular army reserves. It was further declared that a strong force of volunteers selected from the yeomanry regiments would be formed for service in South Africa, and that nine battalions of militia would be allowed to volunteer for service outside of the United Kingdom, with an equal number of militia battalions embodied for service at home. Acceptance of additional volunteers from the colonies, chiefly Australians and Canadians, was also announced. General Joubert said some months ago that if the English ever marched to Pretoria it would be with the loss of 10,000 British lives. Up to about December 18 or 20 it was calculated in London that the losses had already amounted to nearly 8,000; but this means, of course, not deaths, but men thrown out of active combat, and includes the wounded and the prisoners. Following the announcement that immense reen forcements would be dispatched as quickly as possible to South Africa, the notice was posted that

"as the campaign in Natal, in the opinion of her majesty's government, is likely to require the presence and undivided attention of Gen. Sir Redvers Buller, it has been decided to send Baron Roberts of Kandahar and Waterford as commander-in-chief in South Africa, with Lord Kitchener as chief of staff." Lord Wolseley remains in England, in supreme command of the military forces, and Lord Roberts, who returned several years ago from India, after a military ex

THE LATE GENERAL WAUCHOPE.

(Killed at Magersfontein.)

OK.V. SIR CHARLES WARREN.

(Who reached Cape Town last month.)

perience there of some forty years, and who stands next to Lord Wolseley in authority and eminence as a British general, is to take charge of the military situation in South Africa, presumably using Cape Town as headquarters. It is obvious that since the war has become so much more stubborn and difficult than had been anticipated, it is necessary that there should be some general direction of the campaign as a whole; and Buller, with his hands more than full on the Tugeia River, is not in a position to direct operations on the railroad line from Cape Colony to Kimberley. Lord Kitchener's appointment as Lord Roberts' associate and chief of staff found that officer at Khartoum, where much progress has lately been made in the pacification of the tributary regions. Kitchener started at once for Cairo, whence he will presumably have taken passage on a transport before this number of the Review reaches its readers. As an organizer he is accounted the best man in the British army. Volunteers were enrolling freely in England in the last twelve days of December.

GEN. LORD KITCHENEK OF KHARTOUM.

(Who goes to South Africa as chief of staff to Lord Roberts, for portrait of whom see frontispiece.)

that those who seek excitement in the sensations and uncertainties of warfare will find the news from South Africa worth following through the month of January. Meanwhile England's free hand in the treatment of the South African question is not seriously threatened from any outside quarter, although sensational rumors have attributed to Menelik of Abyssinia the intention of trying to oust the British from the Soudan. The visit of the Emperor of Germany to his grandmother, the Queen of England, was utilized to the best advantage by Mr. Chamberlain and the British Government for the purpose of strengthening the impression that Germany and England have come to an understanding that amounts to an unwritten alliance. Mr. Chamberlain several weeks ago was indiscreet enough to talk in public about American sentiment and the existence of a virtual AngloAmerican alliance. As against Mr. Chamberlain's speech, which was reported on December

1, it is enough to refer to the sentences in President McKinley's message, sent to Congress on December 5, setting forth our Government's strict neutrality as between the combatants in South Africa.

Germany and France have in the past Walters". mont;n been giving very great attention to the subject of large naval expansion. The governments of both countries are drawing morals from the recent and present experiences of the United States and England. France is building a fleet of submarine boats and is discussing the project of the immediate expenditure of $100,000,000 on a programme of general naval increase. The French press, particularly the more disreputable illustrated papers, have been venomously hostile toward England of late, but sucli expressions do not in any manner represent the French Government. Naturally, France will endeavor at all points to strengthen her colonial position while England has so large a contract on her hands in South Africa; but this does not necessarily mean anything more pronounced than thrifty and watchful statesmanship. The same thing may be asserted of Russia. The United States, meanwhile, is giving particular attention to the future of trade in those parts of the Chinese empire over which French and Russian "spheres of influence" have been extended. Secretary Hay has asked for written guarantees that American trade will be as free under the new order of things as heretofore under our treaties with China. Mr. John Barrett in this number of the Review presents a very timely discussion of our commercial interests in the far East, and especially in the vast Chinese empire.

The great cities of the country have, Progress al'nost without exception, projects of

exceptional interest and moment on their hands. They are developing with swift strides, and with all their faults and failures of municipal administration they have much to congratulate themselves upon. Boston, which held a municipal election last month, has been carried by the Republicans, ex-Mayor Hart having been victorious by about 2,000 majority over Gen. Patrick A. Collins, who was nominated on the Democratic ticket to succeed Mr. Quincy. Boston has of late made notable advancement in the appointments of a modern metropolis. The problem of transit at the heart of the city has beer* successfully solved by the completion of a subway system. Through underground tunnels, whose white walls are rendered as bright as day by incandescent lights, the trolley cars from all

HON. THOMAS N. HART.

(Boston's new mayor.)

directions pass safely, quickly, and conveniently to and from the crowded center of the town. A bridge of great strength and width was opened several weeks ago across the Charles River, upon which is carried the structure of the elevated railroad, and which also bears the tracks of surface trolley lines.

The success of the subway scheme in "problems* B°st°n has doubtless had some influence upon the promotion of the plan of a great underground electric rapid transit railroad for New York City. The city controller, Mr. B. S. Coler, who is the chief financial officer of the municipality, is doing everything in his power to further the project, which also has the support of the corporation counsel, Mr. Whalen. Thus the Rapid Transit Commission finds its course more smooth than ever before, and the tunnel road is regarded as having an excellent chance of early realization. Many serious defects have been found in the working of the charter for the Greater New York, and it has been known for some time that the Legislature, which meets at the beginning of the present month, would be deluged with bills calling for the amendment of the charter in all sorts of ways. It is thought possible that the Legislature may authorize Governor Roosevelt to appoint a new charter commission to deal with the whole subject. The water-supply question has continued to have much attention, and the citi

zens, under the lead of the Merchants' Association, have organized for the purpose of defeating a proposed private water-supply contract. The plan of a State constabulary system to supersede the direct municipal control of the New York police seems to have been abandoned for the present, although the findings of the Mazet legislative inquiry might seem to have given abundant justification to the State for taking the police out of the hands of Tammany Hall.

Philadelphia has voted to issue $12,• Ph"mter!aa °00,000 of bonds for the improvement of its water supply, and it is proposed to erect a modern filtration plant. The alarming ravages of typhoid fever in Philadelphia last year supplied all the argument that was needed, and the vote in favor of issuing the bonds was about five to one. Private interests, encouraged by the ease with which Philadelphia was induced to turn over the municipal gas plant to a company, had been trying to get control of the water supply. Unquestionably these same interests will be eager to get hold of the proceeds of the new bonds, in order to turn the filtration business into a private enterprise and sell pure water at monopoly prices to Philadelphia's politician-ridden inhabitants. There are other badly governed cities, but doubtless no great city on earth is so badly governed as Philadelphia.

Chicago is about to inaugurate the

Chicago s ° , , , e .

Drainage immensa drainage canal by means of Canal. which water will flow from Lake Michigan into the Illinois River, and thence down the Mississippi, diverting the sewage of Chicago from the lake and thus protecting the city's water supply from contamination. Naturally, the people who live on the banks of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers are not sure that the Chicago sewage will bring them any benefits. Cities like St. Louis which pump their water supply directly from the river are wondering to what extent the Chicago drainage canal may pollute the great "Father of Waters." While it is not likely that any serious results could be recognized at St. Louis, not only that city, but other river towns, will owe something to the Chicago drainage canal if it has the effect to frighten them into the early completion of filtration plants that will meet the tests of modern bacteriology. Elsewhere, this month, we publish an article on this great Chicago undertaking.

Mayor Pheian The remarkable new charter of San

Francfsco's Francisco will go into operation un

Projects. der the direction of Mayor Pheian,

who has been triumphantly reelected. This ReView explained the new charter at length in the number for last May. Mr. Phelan was first elected in 1896. At that time the fourth freeholders' charter which had been submitted to the people since 1880 was defeated. Mr. Phelan appointed a convention of a hundred men representing all shades of opinion, who in turn selected a new board of freeholders to draft a charter. This board was indorsed by the people, as was its subsequent work, in spite of most powerful opposition from certain political and corporate interests. Mr. Fhelan's recent campaign was waged on strictly municipal lines, and under all the circumstances he was abundantly entitled to be chosen for the work of instituting the new order of things. His first task is the appointment of thirty-three men for the principal commissionerships, the mayor having the unconditional appointment as well as the removal of those officers. One reason why certain corporate interests should have been opposed to the election of Mr. Phelan is sufficiently explained when one is familiar with the recent history of the franchise tax question in San Francisco. The street-railroad companies twenty years ago secured fifty-year charters. They have been taxed on $3,000,000 or $4,000,000 worth of property, although, according to the market value of their securities, the roads ware worth something like $20,000,000. The Supreme Court of California having approved a rule laid down by a country assessor for valuing franchises, Mayor Phelan took it up and recommended it for application in San Francisco. He states it as follows: "To arrive at

RON. JAMES D. PHELAN.

(Reelected mayor of San Francisco.)

the value of a franchise for taxation, deduct from the market price of the stock and bonds the assessed value of, the tangible property, and the difference will bo the value of the fran chise." Last year, under Mayor Phelan's encouragement, the assessor adopted this rule and added $19,000,000 to the assessment roll on this score alone. This assessor has now been reelected on the same ticket with Mr. Phelan by a majority of two to one. He is a practicing physician, Dr. "Washington Dodge by name. Under that feature of the new charter which requires the submission to the voters of propositions for the incurring of bonded indebtedness, two special elections were to be held, on December 27 and 29. One of these was to act upon the question of extending the park system, the other upon the building of school-houses, a large hospital, and a muchneeded drainage system.

PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.

December 4.—The Fifty-sixth Congress holds its first session... .David B. Henderson (Rep.), of Iowa, is elected Speaker of the House of Representatives; Brigham H. Roberts (Dem.), of Utah, is refused permission to take the oath of office "pending a decision on the question of his eligibility. ...Both branches adjourn as a mark of respect to the memory of Vice-President Hobart.

December 5.—The President's annual message is read

in both branches The House, by a vote of 302 to 31,

refers the charges against Representative-elect Roberts, of Utah, to a special committee appointed by the Speaker.

December 6.—The currency bill prepared by the Republican members of the Finance Committee is introduced in the Senate.

December 7.—Speaker Henderson appoints the House Committee on Rules.

December 8.—In the House a rule is adopted providing that the debate on the currency bill shall begin on December 11 and continue one week.

December 11.—Debate is begun in the House on the Republican caucus committee's currency bill.

December 12-13.—In the House the debate on the currency bill is continued.

December 14.—The Senate committees are reorganized

under Republican control The House debate on the

currency bill proceeds.

December 15.—Minority assignments to the Senate

committees are announced General debate on the

currency bill is closed in the House.

December 16.—The House currency bill is reported from committee of the whole without amendment.

December 18.—The House passes the currency bill by a vote of 190 to 150, 11 Democrats voting with the Republicans Speaker Henderson announces the committees. (See page 13.)

December 19.—The Senate substitute for the House currency bill is reported.

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT—AMERICAN.

November 21.—Vice-President Garret A. Hobart dies.

November 28.—Domestic rates of postage are extended to Porto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam.

November 25.—The funeral of Vice-President Hobart at Paterson, N. J., is attended by the President, his Cabinet, the justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and other officials.

November 29.—Secretary Gage extends the time for bond purchases by the Treasury till December 23.

December 2.—In the House caucuses at Washington David B. Henderson, of Iowa, is unanimously nominated by the Republicans for Speaker, and .lames D. Richardson, of Tennessee, is nominated by the Democrats.

December 5.—In the Massachusetts municipal elections the cities of Fall River, Maldeu, Taunton, Northampton, Pittsfield, and Quincy choose Republican mayors; Lawrence and Springfield are carried by the Democrats; New Bedford Democrats and Independents reelect Mayor Ashley; and Mayor Chase, Socialist, is reflected in Haverhill.

December 6.—President McKinley nominates Brig.Gen. Leonard Wood to be major-general of volunteers.

December 7.—The Democrats of the Virginia Legislature nominate Senator Thomas S. Martin, to succeed himself.

December 9.—The certificate of election as governor of Kentucky is given to W. S. Taylor (Rep.).

December 12.—Thomas N. Hart (Rep.) is elected mayor of Boston; Republican mayors are also chosen in Lynn, Melrose, Newuuryport, and Holyoke.

December 13.—President McKinley appoints Gen. Leonard Wood military governor of Cuba; General Brooke is relieved of command and ordered to Wash