Show DUTY AND RED TAPE A curious dilemma in which a canadian official was recently placed through the fact that his bis religious ac scruples conflicted with the duties devolving upon him as a a public man maim has baa furn fuin labed lebed a theme of considerable amusement to the secular pres of the east and has not altogether escaped comment from sectarian writers it appears that the mayor of montreal like the lord mayor of london is an ardent and loyal joy a roman catholic and also like that worthy he declines to let any offic official ild requirements lead him into actions action which his religious superiors might crit criticism criticise critic lefee ise 80 when an italian warship arrived at montreal the other day the conscience of mr mayor was stirred by a coi Dillet of duties for on the one hand it was his bis official duty to receive this guest with the officers it bore with proper honor bonor and extend to the latter the hospitalities of the city while drawing him the other way was wan his loyalty to the pope whose relations with italy are somewhat strained to put it mildly finally the pope won and the mayor printed a letter in the news i sperm apers in which he said in effects effect that italy had bad treated the pope badly and that be as a devoted supporter could not forgive such treatment and there fore could not receive or take part in any hospitalities extended to the ella officers and crew this would seem to have carried satisfaction to the perturbed bosom of the doughty official but it had th the effect of raising a wild mild hur hurricane rican among his hie fellow citizens the springfield pr ingfield republican which die dia cusses the subject at some length asserts that while the people went to work and gave the visitors the vannest wa ruest kind of a reception they also took occasion to vote their mayor a small minded bigot still the italian admiral came very near inear sailing off in anger over the here matter of a salute his vessel fired a salute to the city when she came to anchor but the city did not reply the reason given being because if red tape technically montreal is toot a sa saluting calutin lutin r port ships coming by quebec are saluted and the guntow ler thus burned is expected to last them until they cime down the river again unfortunately for this excuse excy e for ignoring the vessels salute acute it has ha been the practice for montreal to salute every vessel when there was tiny any pretext for so honoring honorl nir the italian admiral found this out and notified the acting mayor and the local ibcal military authorities that if his bombardment was not returned before fitl sunset neet of the follow fal lowing log night he be should sail away frum from montreal anti and let his government settle the matter with iab the g ivern ment at london the consequence was that be got his bis salute and nd till became serene these being 11 the facts it ii appears that if there was some bigotry there was also a good Ideal of ceremonial nonsense in the incident |