New-York tribune., 1871-12-27
THE ROVM1NTAN RAILWAY THEFT

THE ROUMANIAN RAILHAY THEFT
1t is reported that Turkey has Joined wieh
Germany and Austria in an effort to force the
Government of ROumania to do justice to the
bondhodcrs of its railroads The right of the
matter is unqucsiOncd but it may well be
doubted whether any measures upon which
these powers can agree will be effcctllal to
cause the semi savage Walachian politicians
to retract the steps they have taken in rcpudla-
ton and theft. Their action has been of the
most shameless and scandalOus character.
Shortly after the accession of Prince Charles
of HohenzOllcrn to the throne some of the
capitalists of Germany thought that the time
was ripe for the commencement of q chain
of railroads in that rich and pOpulOus
valley Of the Lower Danube, hitherto too much
neglected 1t was thought that the assump
ton of the crown of ROumania by German
Prince related to the rcignng dynasty OF
Prussia offered q guarantee of permanence
which had been lacking to former HOspOdars.
One of the first to take this view of the situa-
tiOn and to avail himself of tho opportunity,
was DR.. StrOusberg late editor of The Mer-
chants Magazine, in London. He hurried to
Bucharest and secured a contract from the
Government of Prince Charles for building all
the railroads required, the ROumanian Govern
mcnt guaranteeing n per cent interest on the
shares to be issued, which guarantee was to
begin upon the completion of the work.
Even with these advantages the shares
were not considered the safest investment.
A SAVIOR of insecurity hung about the Walln-
chan name. But by careful management,
much advertising, and the purchase of several
| pOhla and influential tn eunhelliah his
| circulars, the enterprising StrOusbcrg sue
cecded finally in inducing good many Ger
mans and Englishmen to take stock in the
speculation. at greatly reduced prices. The
ground was broken and the work went on
swimmingly for while. TO allay the natural
anxiety of the shareholders, distinguished
| Prussan functiOnary named AmbrOun was
| agreed upon to watch the process of cOnstruc-
| ton, and to certify that the issue and guar
rantce of bonds proceeded pari paSsu with the
actual progress of the works. But as soon as
| the inevitable question arose as to the
| estimated value of the work done, the crooked
Wallachian mind was outraged at the pros
pect of their not getting twice the worth of
their money. The public excitement reached
such q point that several Ministries went to
pieces on this question. There was bold and
determined movement in the Chamber made
for canceling the contract, which was at first
resisted by the Prince and afterward modified
into demand that StrOusbergs supplies should
be stopped, on the ground that he had not
yet completed what was represented by the
stock already issued. This was done, and
Strousberg Immediately stopped work.
This at once raised the important practical
question who was to pay the interest on the
stock already issued Strousberg refused be-
cause, the Roumanian Government having cut
of his supplies, he was prevented from pur-
suing his work. The Roumanians declined.
first because of congenital objection to pay
ing any debts; and secondly, because they
claimed that they were not bound to pay any
thing until after all the roads contracted for
were completed. Many tedious efforts to COM
promise this difference were made, the share
holders patiently waiting, and the price of
shares slowing dropping out of sight at the
Berlin BOurse.
All this while the question was legal one
and not a subject for international action;
but at last the ROumanian Parliament COM
mitted the fault which knaves of imperfect
lights are apt to fall into, and outlawed them
selves by seizing the pnperty and appointing
creature of their own, person named
Veruesco, to decide how much, if anything,
they should pay for it. Prince Charles, with
great reluctance and serious misgivings, signed
this rascally act, and Baron Radowitz, the
German Consul General at Bucharest, imme-
diately broke off diplomatic relations with
the ROumanian Government. The German
Cabinet has since addressed itself directly to
the Sultan, the Suzerain of The HospOdar, to
compel some action in the interests of the in
nocent shareholders. If the dispatches Of this
morning are to be believed, it would seem
that the understanding arrived at last Sum-
mer between the two German EmperOrs at
Ischl and Salzburg is about to bear fruit in a
Joint intervention in the affairs Of the Danu-
bian Principalities.