New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
eign' upon the recommendation of his CABINET

Ministers, who constitute Council OF All
ministrators-Oe General" When the head of one OF
the Departments requires new law, he drafts
il and submits it TO the sovereign, who, If he APP
prove it, issues his royal decree carrying 1T INTO
force. 1t has been found eXpedient, however, Tor
the Sovereign Head of this State TO delegate his
legislative authority to the Governor-General oil
the Congo State in Africa but his ordinances must
be ratified by the sovereign within six months,
otherwise they become void.
The funds for the maintenance of the Independ-
ent State of Congo are furnished from the private
fortune OF the Sovereign Head. In period OF
about. ten years this ruler has expended the mag
nificent fortune of twenty-five million francs
49, 600 OOO) in effort TO civilize and Christian
ize the natives of the Valley Of the Congo; but'
as ne has repeatedly assured me within the last
month. he is not tired Of spending, since he con-
sders himself in the discharge of Christian duty.
The finances may he divided into three sections
1.-The interest on a fund OF twenty million
francs 50 600 900. 2-The revenues Of the
Government in Africa, being general revenue
from taxes-export duties, land taxes and poStai
receipts. 3-The money supplied by the Sow
eregn to meet any deficit that might come from
an insufficiency of local revenue
The taxes are very light. since it is the policy
den the mercantile body, through whose enter
prises the commercial success of the Congo State
is largely due. It is not pertinent TO the present
inazsiry to examine the question of local taxes
fines. registration of deeds, pilotage, harbor dues,
etc since these belong to another treatment of the
subject About 100000 francs ls600.0oOl are
reouired to meet the annual obligations OF the
State Last year more than one-third OF this
amount was derived from taxes levied IN The
Lower Congo, while the great burden and work
of the State are borne and carried forward III the
UpDer Congo. where the slave trade has 10 DC
rcpcllcd and social order maintained by an en-
pensive boat service. The State has issued nom
rest-bearing premium bond of the denomlha-
ton OF 100 francs 500, redeemable wlthn
ninety-nine years. The payment OF this premium
bond, with its accrued premium, Is secured py
guarantee fund composed of first-cIass securlues
and controlled by the Belgian Government All
the charges of these bonds are met by the guar"h-
tee fund.- as the Independent State OF congo mas
no debts These bonds are greatly priced by rs
cal apents everywhere: and the confidence OF peo-
ple generally in the financial prosperity OF the
new African State seems firm and abiding.
In the Department. of Foreign Affairs there are
three bureaus, viz: 1-Foreign Affairs =
Postal and Maritime Affairs 3-Judlclal Anairs
The Financial Department has three bureaus VIZ
General Taxes. 2-Land Department. "-fay
and Auditors Department. The Interior Depart
ment has three bureaus. viz: Administration
2-Roads and Communications. 3-Army anu
Navy The modus operandi in each of these de-
partments is all that the most extreme pureaucrao
could desire. find everywhere the precise French
method of business Observation-Disclosures, accu-
racy. dispatch The work is done by about
oIaricaJ n1oves with "A chief at the
head of each one of the nine bureaus. The ser
vices of the chief officials of these bureaus are
detailed from the civil and military branches OF
the Belgian Government. All orders and letters
from the Congo State Government in Europe to
the Congo State in Africa are sent by post VIA
Lisbon in Portuguese steamers: but within the
next few wears there will he Royal Belgian mail
line of steamers between Antwerp and the Congo.
The Government of the State of Congo is not
temporary, but permanent Within the next Tour
years the Congo Railway will be conn lcted and
it is confidently hoped that within six years this
youthful State will be self-sustaining. And while
the Government will not change its character, 1T
will doubtless be expanded TO meet the wants
of its subjects, who constantly being infused
with new and better ideas. The confidence and
hope of the Belgian people themselves are daily
growing firmcr and brighter: and their splendid
King, who entered lonely path upon difficult
mission without friends or supporters, now finds
his Belgian subjects among the most ardent advo-
Gates of the State of Congo. lie has furnished
the world vith both an argument and demonsIa-
ton that Africa and the African will kindly yield
10 the methods of the modern Christian civlliza-
ton First the blade, then the ear, after that
the full corn in the ear The foundations of this
new State have been carefully laid by King
with "a wide and wise range of vision, who has
studied human history with deep religious and
philosophc insight. And the civilized world will
sincerely entertain the hope and indulge the belief
that the Independent State of Congo may fulfil
the most lofty expectations of its illustr.ous
Sovereign Head.
Now that the time for the converting of the
Anti.Slavery Conference of the Powers draws
near there is great activity in the various Foreign
Offices the Continent From the text of the
call it may be properly inferred that but ono
question of Importance will be passed upon
The best means for the abatement OF the slave
trade on the African Continent. The Slave trade
is one question, and slavery j. another. Whether
the Conference will care 10 discuss beth of thcse
questions cannot he known in advance of its meet
ing. But great European Power can afford
10 be indifferent TO the fate of the hapeSS victims
of domestic servimde or Of the slave trade itself
driven from the seas but not from the land.
There are, however several other questions than
may unfortunately be forced upon the consider
alton of the Conference, questions that are purely
political in their nature involving ancient
National grudges. and the priority Of conflicting
territorial claims upon the African Continent.
To admit political questions would be TO provoke
fierce struggle between some OF the most brilliant
diplomats in the world, and would prOOng the
sessions of the Conference indefinitely.