Evening star., 1898-02-03
THE SENATE ACTS
Information Regarding Fruit E1clu-
sion Wanted.
BRIEF NEVSFR0M AMBASSADOR WHITE
German Ambassador Without OFF,
ciaI Advices.
ZINC IN RIED APPLE S

| The order prohibiting the Importation of
| American fruits into Prussia called out a
resolution in the Senate today from Mr..
| Davis (Minn.), chairman of the committee
| on foreign relations, asking the President,
If not incompatible with the public inter-
| est, to transmit to the Senate the corre-
| spondence and other information bearing
upon the matter in his possession or in that
| of the State Department. The resolution
| was agreed to.
| The Ambassador Wired for Details.
A brief cablegram from Ambassador
| White at Berlin that came to the Depart
| ment of State last evening conveyed the
| only official information SO far received as
to the decree of exclusion Of American
fruit from Prussia. This cablegram was so
| meager that telegraphic request has been
sent to Mr. White for further details.
While it is not positively known, it is sup
| posed that the decree applies only to Prus-
sia and not to all Germany. a considerable
| limitation. Whether it also applies to
! Canadian fruit is matter of speculation.
| and In view Of the large German trade in
| Canadian apples this will be an important
| question for the dominion authorities to
| consider.
German Amba ssadOr Calls.
the State Department early today, and
spent some time with the officials. After
| talking with Sec. etary Sherman and AS
| sistant Secretary Day, the ambassador was
| for half an hour in close consultation with
Mr.. KasSon, the special commissioner for
| the United States in the negotiation of
| reciprocity agreements. The ambassador
had no news from Berlin directly as to the
last decree, which threatens to kill all
| hope of the negotiation kind of 4
| reciprocity treaty agreement within the
| terms Of the present tariff act, SO far as
| Germany is concerned.
| 1t Is gathered that the basis of the decree
or rather the reason officially to be set out
| by the Prussian government for the eXclu-
sion, is that some shipments of American
apples coming from California, have been
discovered to be affected with the disease
| known as San Jose scale, but just how
German apples are endangered, even if this
| fact should be established, is not made
| plain.
| Zinc In Dried Apples.
One of the standing complaints against
American dried fruit. the trade in which
with Germany has assumed enormous pro-
I portions, is again brought to official notice
| by report that comes to the State Depart
| ment from United States Consul Ozmun at
| Stuttgart, and is today made public in the
| daily consular report.
He transmits q notice Issued by the chief
| of police of Stuttgart, to the effect that
| most of the samples of American apple
| rings, or dried apples, taken from the local
retailers, show the addition of metallic
zinc in quantities of 03 grams to the kiIo-
| gram (2.2O46 pounds), and warning all
dealers that they will be punished and
| such goods are made
This complaint was made to the depart
| ment first about two years ago. the Ger
man chief of police in Cologne asserting in
va in
the apples because 'the Americans dry the
truft on zinc trays instead of on wooden
bars, as we do
Immediately one of the most enterprising
OF our consuls in Germany visited an agrf-
| cultural exposition then going on in Ger
many and reported that all of :ne fruit
number, were fitted with the alleged harm
| full zinc trays, which were freely used in
| Germany.
| The Chiefs Notice.
The following is a translation of the no.
| tice issued by the chief of police of Stutt-
| gsrt:
| Referring to the public warning regard
| irg the sale of dried fruit containing zinc,
published April II last, notice is hereby
| again given to those dealing in the above
mentioned article that repeated examina-
| tions of dried apple slices. especially OF
American origin. by the chemical bureau
/ OF this city, have established the fact that
samples taken from various retail stores
| of this city contained, almost without any
exception, an addition of metallic zinc in
| quantities Of O.3 grams to the kilogram
f2.2046 pounds).
Among forty-one samples examined there
were 12-S per cent containing zinc. The
zinc contents appear to come from the
fruit slices being dried on zinc wire net
| ting. According to the opinion Of the first
city physician and other medical authorf-
| ties, as well as the laws for articles of
nourishment any such articles containing
zinc are to be condemned as detrimental
TO health. In consequence hereof, all deal
ers In dried fruits are hereby warned that
proceedings for punishment and conf1sca-
ton will be instituted II further investiga-
| lions OF dried fruits should show contents
OF zinc"
More German Discrimination.
United States Consul Schumann at Mainz.
in report o~the State Department; calls
attention to the fact that as this fs the
last session of the present reichstaE, the
| members are already beginning to work
| for reelection. I'm order to commend
themselves" he says, 'to the wine growers
| of the western and southern parts of Ger
| many. those members of the reichstag who
are.sthe champions of the agrarian cause
are Beginning to agitate a campaign against
the importation into Germany of American
wines by advocating a higher import duty
on them OF course. as long as the present
proceeding would be impossible, as, under
the existing treaties the United States has
the rights Of the most favored nation as
regards the import duty on wine."
Personal Mention.
Mr.. Heath, first assistant postmaster
general. and Mrs. Heath left last night for