The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-01
COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE LA
BILE TO ARISE OUT OF EN-
CONSUL WALKERS CASE.
THE ACTION OF THE FRENCH
GOVERNMENT CRITICISED.
Chief Sovcreign's Scheme of Boycobting
National Bank Notes Would Simply
Depreciatc the Governments
CuGrency-The Government
is Behind Them.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, ID. c., July 25.-Thc
cases of ex-Unirted States Consul Waller
and his step SON, Paul Bray, which are
NOW pending before the state department
are liable no result in such diplomatic
complications with France as to make
of them very long drawn out and per-
picking questions. lit will be recalled
that Waller was granted hlrgc cOnccs-
siOns in Madagascar, was charged with
assisting the Hovas i'm tlleir rebellion
against the French government, tried by
court martial, convicted and sent TO
France, where he is now ianguiShing in
Jail at MarScilleS. His stepSOn, Bray,
was depOrtcd from the French posses
siOnS and is now i'm Washington urging
his claims before the State department.
In the case of Waller some doubt has
arisen as ITO whether or not he is bona
tide resident of this country, but in ltlrc
case of Bray There lis nlo question. What
ever may be the status of Waller, hOw-
ever, the fact remains THAT this govern
ment believes itself liable to insist on
the recognition of his concessions for THE
benefit of his family, provided his orig
inal TITLE was good, of which there seems
to be no doubt. The French govern
ment has taken a very peculiar stand III
the MATTER and dts action rs creating no
little criticism ON account of its bemg
so unusual.
AN INIPROVIDENT POLICY.
Ion speaking of the recommendations
made by Chief Sovereign of the knights
of Labor THAT the members of that or
ganizatiOn boycott National bank notes,
Deputy Comptroller of the Currency o.
L. Taylor after Saying THAT such action
would not hurt the banks Mt all, con-
tinues:
IF people should refuse ITO receive their
notes, the banks would simply present
them to the limited States treasury for
redemption and receive legal tender notes,
which they would continue to use in Them
business. The only effect would be no
Withdrawn that much money from circrIla-
tion uS represented by the amount OF
NOTES redeemed. 1t lis true that under the
law nhc acceptance of National bank
notes cam NOT be enforced and NO man
can be compelled to take them as legal
tender. The fact that they are ac-
cepted in everyday transactions is be-
cause the government lis behind them
and Stands ready at amy moment ito re-
to discrcdit National bank NOTES would,
therefore. Ire AN attempt to depreciate
the governments currency. There are
only S211 coo, 600 of National bank notes
i'm circulation, while there are S9JO,OOO,-
600 of other kinds of money outstand-
ing"
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Of all people ON THE face of the earth.
it is probable thalt nome have more rules
and regulations to comply with than THE
naval officers of the United States. Ev-
erything must be dome in accordance with
am elaborate code of authorized procedure,
and if anything There in covered is LETT
umdone on anything therein is not pro
vided fn' is dome, the offending officer
is in an incredibly short time in receipt
of a mote of inquiry from the secretary
of the navy, which is i'm all likelihood fo.
lowed by a stern rcprimand or an order
to appcar before a court martial. 1t Is
the proper thing Tor this
ITO do ITO demand OF It's naval
such a course OF action as
is conformablc to tine dignity and position
of THE government, but at the same time
this thing Gf red tape AND the promuIga-
tion of useless rules and regulations Is
very often carried most too far. 1t
would only be natural to suppose that
officers i'm whom the naval authorities
have sufIi cient confidence to emtrust With
4 command-citherO of a ship or squadron
have also a Suflicipncy of common sense |
thereby making unnecessary the hundreds |
IF restrictions with which they are hedgcd |
I'M,