Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-04

NONHlTlON OF Trade AND LABOR IN SAN-
oNY.-A valuable report has been received at
the Department OF State from Mr.. Joseph T.
Mason, the American consul at Dresden, as
10 the condition of trade and labor i'm SaNOny
The consul says that the condition of rhe la
boring classes in Dresden and the rural dis
l1lctS Is very unfayOrable, wages being decid-
edly inadequate TO the cost of living. In the
agricultural regions in the vicinity of the cap
tal the lands are generally attached TO the old
castles OF the ancient nobility. and the labor
ers are really part and parcel of the estates
wages IN money being generally merely nom-
mai. The price OF ordinary agricultural labor
upon lands not belonging TO the nobility is Il
Tor men and 81 so for women per month, plain
lodgings and simple food included. Mechan-
les earn from s. TO $50 per week, when en-
pioyed: A large percentage OF many classes
OF mechanics are now out of employment. and
the amont OF suffering among them is very
great Universal complaint is heard as TO the
depressed condition of all sorts of trade. The
consul is OF the opinion that the hard times
have been more severely felt in Germany since
1873 than in America, and that the process OF
recovery is much slower than with Us.
Zona Libra.
THE PARTIAL ABOLITION OF THE FREE ZONE,
Twenty years ago the Mexican government
TO concillate the turbulent population along
the Rio Grande. and perhaps because Of the
difficulty OF establishing custom houses on the
frontier, set apart strip of territory border
ing on the river within which all goods pass
ing from Mexico into the United States and
from the United States inrO Mexico were al
lowed free transit. The consequence has been
that the free zone thus established has for
years offered allfmaginable facilities for SNUG
Cling. Against the retention of this free zone
our government has frequently protested, but
untll now Its protests have passed unheeded.
While Cortina exercised almost unlimited au-
thorlty over the lawess but scattered Mexican
population on the Rio Grande, not only was
smuggling connived at by that border ruff
fan," and every assistance rendered TO those
engaged in it, but constant raids were made
upon the stock ranches of the Texans and
upon all sorts OF portable properly within
reach. Ever since the deportation of COrtina,
ostenslbly as prisoner, TO the City of Mexico,
the raids have been continued 10y his old fol
lowers, though less frequently, and Smugglers
have had the same countenance and prOtec-
ton that Cortina extended TO them The
pursuit of these raiding parties into Mexico
by United States troops seems at length
to have aroused President DiaZ TO the
danger of the situation, and as
friendly measure he has abolished the free
zone, except as 10 Matamoras and Laredo, and
1nterdlcted commercial Intercourse at other
points. The people of Camargo and Mier, two
intermediate points on the Rio Grande be
tween MatamoraS and Laredo, have forwarded
to the Mexican government an indignant pro-
test against the change. Ii is not surprising
to learn also that the order has created great
orally, who have found their profit in Snug
Cling, and at no time have been in awe OF the
Mexican authorities. The immunity hereto
lore extended to the contrabandists has made
them power along the river, as well as In the
interior OF Tamaulipas and Nuevo, almost up
to the gates of Monterey. To deny them the
privilege they have enjoyed so long is to de-
StrOy their vocation, and as they are not at all
given to Industrial pursuits, il would not be
surprising to hear that they had defied the or
der OF President DiaZ, and issued fresh rev.
pulmonary prOnunciament0. III COrtina was
among them that in all probability would be
the course they would take. In the absence of
that old chief Of guerrillas, and with no leader
capable OF taking his place, they may storm
and protest. and yet conclude that discretion
is the better part Of valor.-[Bdlto Sun.