Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
[spEoIAb CORRESPONDENCE. !

BRAY HAD TO Observation-Disclosures
Enstis will probably be instructed to
ask the French government for an
explanation OF the deportation from
Madagascar of Paul Bray, nephew
of ex. Consul General Waller Mr..
BRAY has written from Paris to Mr..
Langston, his attorney in Washington
II statement of his case, which has
been put before the State Depart
ment. Bray was interested with
Waller in the valuable concession of
lands obtained from the Hoyas gov
ernment This WAS formally recorded
and copy registered at the American
Consulate at Tamatave. Mr.. Wetter,
the present United States Con.
sui there has already fur
nished the State Department the
official records in the case. The
French authorities in Madagascar in
sisted that Mr.. Waller should submit
his concession to them for approval
and registry. Mr.. Waller refused to
do this apprehending that the French
officials would promptly reject his
concession and deny him justice
Waller is now in French jail under
twenty years, sentence. Bray writes
that he was put ashore in Zanzibar,
without means and helpless. Mr..
Eustis, by instruction of the State
Department, has put himself in com.
municOtion with Waller and is prose-
cutting his case, and Mr.. Bray seeks 10
have the State Department also secure
PREPARATION for himself. Mr.. Langston
believes that the investigation now
being conducted by Ambassador Eus.
It's willresult in the liberation of Mr..
Waller and the restoration OF his
rights.
Iron ORE STATIsTICs-Iron statis-
tics prepared for the United States
geological survey by John Birkinbine
Of Philadelphia state that in 1894 the
product of iron ore in the United
States increased only about 2 IL per
cent over the product OF 1893, and most
of this increase came from the Lake SUI
perior region. Minnesota showed the
greatest increases ranking second
among the iron ore producing states,
while in 1898 she was third. Mich.
igan continued to be the largest pro
Queer. Alabama has fallen from sec.
ond place to third; Virginia has risen
from fifth to fourth, while Pennsylya.
mia has fallen from fourth to fifth.
The prices realized averaged only
81. II ton 1894, against 81. GO ton
in 1898.
Collision FEARED-Apprehension
is expressed by high officers in regard
to the Behring sea situation this year,
and fears of open collision between
United States revenue cutters and
British sealing vessels and war vessels
are entertained. Art. . of the Paris
award, provided that vessels destined
for a sealing voyage in Japanese waters
should have their sealing equipment
under decks and sealed while passing
through that part of Behring sea.
This was to prevent pelagic sealing ell
route to Japan. This regulation will
not be enforced this year by the
British government against Canadian
scalers, the excuse being that the
SIS, 900 promised to Canadian vessels
as idemnity for illegal seizures was
not Appropriated by the United States
Congress. The feet of United States
revenue marine vessels, under com
mand of Capt. Hooper, have been in
structed, it is understood that the
United States regards the regulation
concerning vessels passing through
that sea is as described by art. . of
the Paris tribunal as still in force, and
they are ordered to seize all vessels
which violate it. 1t is here where the
collision between the two countries
may occur.
PoroMAc FLATS - In the supreme
court, District of Columbia, the long
expected trial Of the Potomac flats
cases, involving the right of owner
ship to several million dollars worth
of property along the Potomac river
front, improved by the government,
has begun The briefs, original and
supplemental, were almost wagon
load. The case will occupy some
weeks.
No INCOME TAx-There is little
need to say anything in detail regard
ing the anti-income tax decision OF
the United States supreme court. The
result has been pretty generally ex-
pectel, with pretty good reason, for
some time past. There is indeed,
some surprise on account of the fact
that the casting vote WAS given not by
Mr.. Justice Jackson, but by Mr.. Jus.
ticc Brewer, who changed from his
previous position in favor of the gen.
eral constitutionality of the law to his
present attitude of opposition. SO
complete Il sOmersault IN SO short
time is probably unique in the history
OF tribunal so exalted. The deci
sion will leave the federal treasury in
worse state than ever, for though
the income tax in its mangled form, as
left by the foymer decision, was not
expected to yield very great sum,
yet the amount, whatever it might be,
was sorely needed. No one now
dreams OF an extra session, though it
is by no means improbable that con.
gress may be summoned to meet for
its regular session somewhat in sd-