The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-04
Prompt Action Taken by the Prussian
sador White and shippers.
ANOTHER DECREE APPROVED
PROHIBITING IMPORTATION OF LIVE
PLANTS FROM THIS COUNTRY.
Apples in Transit to Germany to he
Admitted-AdVices Received at
the State Department.

BERLIN Feb. Sit is announced that
the Bundezrath Nederal CounciD, in pen-
ary sitting to-day, approved it's committees
proposal that decree should be issued pro-
hibiting the importation from America of
live plants and shrubs and packages con-
tanning the same. The decree will Also in
certain measure, affect American fruits.
These are to be examined by experts on
their arrival at German ports. and pack
ages found to be infected with the fruit
louise will be excluded Instructions to this
effect will be issued to the customs author
tiles.
This announcement, which is made by an
official agency, appears to Indicate a meas
ure distinct from the decree issued on Tues
day by Dr. MIGUEL the Prussian minister of
finance, prohibiting the importation of ev-
cry kind of American fresh fruit but it is
difficult to obtain the exact details. The
Bundezrath's measure, it is pointed out, is
far less stringent than similar measures at
present enforced in individual States of the
American Union.''
The Associated Press learns that the
Hamburg authorities to-day permitted the
unloading of apples from the United States,
owing to instructions received from Berlin
as the result of the protests of United
States Ambassador White against DIR.
Miquel's decree. The Associated Press also
ascertains that the Bundezrath supersedes
with its authority DR. Miquel's decree,
which seems ill-advised in it's rigor and
suddenness and which, naturally provi-
sional was occasoned by the recently re-
ported results of experiments by DR..
Friedrich Won Kueger, of the Agricultural
High School. The Bundezrath's action is
due, it is learned, to a series of vigorous
protests from the shippers affected, and es-
pecially those Of Hamburg, on the lower
Rhine and at Emmerich, and still more to
the protests of Ambassador White Its de-
cision forbids the importation only where
the fruit is affected by the aspodiotus per-
niciosus. or San Jose plant bug, which is
said to have done enormous damage in the
United States. The Bundezrath's decree
applies to the whole of Germany. and makes
matters momentarily better, but it is be-
lieved that its future Interpretation will
largely correspond with Dr. Miquels decree.
Parties interested here fear that the United
State will resort to reprisals. Following
are last years fresh fruit imports in hum
dred weights: American, 2O6,OOO; Austro-
Hungarian, 6U7 ,000 Dutch, SCI, 600; Belgian,
$4,000; Italian, 100000.
LONDON, Feb. 4.--The Berlin correspond
ent of the Times says: Customs officials
at Emmerich, Rhenish Prussia, received
telegraphic instructions ON Jan. 80 from DIR.
MIGUEL, the Prussan minister of finance, TO
stop the importation of fresh fruit from
America. The Hamburg Senate issued
similar order the following day. Pro-
tests against the latter have secured from
the Hamburg Senate permission, firstly, for
further export of consignments to England,
and, secondly, for consignments of Ameri-
can apples that have already reached Ger
many to be delivered to those to whom they
are addressed. The subject occupied the at
tention of the Bundezrath to-day Crhurs-
day), when it was decided that Importation
of fresh fruit is only forbidden when the
same is discovered to contain plant bug.
The prohibition does not extend to dried
fruits, but the importation OF windfals,
packing material and plant is altogether
forbidden. The general indignation aroused
is due perhaps less to the commercial losses
that might ensue, inasmuch as American
fruits bear relatively small proportion to
the total fruit import, than to the feeling
that the government has been influenced by
Agrarian pressure