The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-31
NEWS FROM EUROPE
Employers Insure Employees
Against Accident.
A NEW FRENCH STATUTE
DISPUTE BETWEEN ENGLAND
AND FRANCE.
NEW MINISTER FROM BERLIN TALKS
Emperor William Indignant at the Press Notices
About Him Crusade Against Gambling
in France English Opinion of
George PuIIman's Will,
George PuIlman's Viii.


London, Oct. 30.-The African situa.
ton has been aggravated by the French
semi-oftcial note, made public on Tues
day last and reading: The news from
West Africa foreshadowS great difficult
ties at Nikki and in Bergu. The Niger
Company, lBritish) is sending officers
there to incite rebellion and distribute
arms to the natives. In view of this Sit
uatiOn, French troops have been de-
spatched to that district from Senegal
as preventative measure. Moreover,
the British negOtiators for q settlement
of the Niger question have been in Paris
for over Il week, and everything points
to Great Britain seeking to let the mat
ters drag. Seemingly, she does not in
tend to discuss the question; but means
will undoubtedly he found to foil these
tactics"
1t is amusing to hear the worlds most
notorious land gra bbers condemning
France for following similar policy.
France, however, seems equally de-
termined not to recede. In fact, the ST.
Louis speech of the French colonial
minister. NJ. Lebon, seems to show that
the cardinal feature of French policy
in Africa is the extension of French
influence from the west coast to the
Nile and thence to Ethiopia.
Much interest is taken here in the
cabled account of the provisions of the
will of the late George NJ. Pullman
and the question is raised as to whether
such a precedent is desirable.
The Graphic, for instance, says:
MANY economists opine that an ire
sp0nSible heir is the most useful check
nature has provided against the efforts
of the Napoleon's of commerce to get
all the wealth of the world into their
clutches. If all millionaires declined TO
pass their savings to sons who do not
share their talent for accumulating, the
terrible power of tie money bag would
soon grow to dimensions endangering
society"
The anti-grain gambling crusade is
taking shape in France. The Chamber
of Deputies has appointed a committee
to investigate and report upon the pro-
posed prohibition of speculation in grain
and articles of food generally. Almost
all the members of the committee are
favorable to the idea Of stopping gamb-
ling, but they recognize the difficulty
OF doing so without interfering with
legitimate speculation. Tie committee,
however, is determined to thoroughly
investigate and examine the sports Of
commerce and industry and will try 70
determine where legitimate speculation
ends and gambling commences.
The employers liability bill which was
adopted on Thursday by the French
Chamber of Deputies, is of dramatic
character. 1t imposes upon the employ
er the payment of an indemnity to work
men who are accidentally disabled if they
are made idle for over four days.
| If workman is disabled for life the
employer must pay pension of two
thirds of his wages lost. In the case
of temporary disablement the employer
must pay half the wages the workman
thereby loses, and in the case of death
by accident the employer must pay pen
sion to the workman's widow amounting
TOGO per cent of the wages he earned
Provisions are also made for pensions
to orphans and aged parents.
In order to secure these payments even
In the event OF the employers insolven'
cy, the bill compels employers to insure
their workmen against accident.
There seems to be some substance
behind the latest agitation in behalf OF
AilTeu 1JTeyIusHs LuS TeUCi
artillery officer who in 1895, on convic.
tion by court martial on the charge of
selling important military plans to agents
of foreign government was sentenced
to Imprisonment for life in a fortress
and who is now confined on a small is-
land of the French group off the coas:
of French Guina. The prime mover in
the present steps taken In behalf of the
prisoner is NJ Scheurer Kestner, one
of the vice-presidents Of the French Sen
ate.
NJ. Scheurer Kestner claims to have
reputable proof of the innocense of
Dreyfuss, and he asserts that he knows
the real culprit
1t is known NJ. Scheurer Kestner is
determined to raise the question in Par
| lament. He has already conferred with
the ministers of war and justice on the
subject.
The Patrie of Paris, tonight, on the
authority of a member of the court
martial which condemned Dreyfuss, de-
clared that the proofs of the latter's
guilt involve state secret which might
! become a casus belli.
BERLIN SPECIAL.
Especial Berlin Gable letter.
Copyright. 1897, by Associated Press.)
| Rarlin Dot oO-Tbo pav Corr,on A ~,