Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-05
NOW IT IS HORSES.
GERMANY PROPOSES FURTHER AC-
TIoN AGAINST Us.
The PROHIBITION AGAINST FRUIT.
How II Came 10 he Made-OmciaIs
Acted without Due Authority
Prohibition, However, Remains
Practically In Eject.


Observation-Disclosures. the Minister OF
Agriculture, at to-day's session of the
Prussian Diet, declared that American
horses developed influenza after impor.
tation.
He added: "If the importations in
crease We shah certainly be forced to
adopt a suitable quarantine, in order tc
protect ourselves"
The Reichsanzeiger this afternoon pub
fishes the following: The American
Agricultural Departments report on the
San Jose shield louise led to an official
inquiry here as to the circumstances u n
der which American fruit is imported.
Professor Frank, on January 10th, found
on California pears arriving at Hamburg
numerous living. breeding shield-lice, alb
solutely identical with the true San Jose
shield louise. He consequently expressed
the opinion that the home fruit cultiva-
ton was exposed to a grave material
danger thereby. A conference of the
other specialists aad the reports of the
Imperial office of health confirmed this
view in every particular. Thus, the ne
cessity of prompt measures for protec-
ton was fully demonstrated"
The Reichsanzeiger then describes the
extraordinary harmfulness" of the San
Jose louise, according to publications Of
the Washington Agricultural Depart
ment. and the protective measures taken
in America. notably in Oregon and Bri-
fish Columbia, and continues: ut is thus
the unavoidable duty of the government
to give efficacious protection to the home
fruit industry from the danger Of dis
ease"
Under the heading. "Order,' Counter
order, Disorder" the T~ageblatt to-day
describes the bungling of Prussia with
American fruits, and asks: Are We real
~ drifting into a fierce tariff war with
the United States because we have pet
ted the Agrarian desire?'
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
The issuance of the decree was brought
about as follows:
The Minister of Agriculture. Baron Won
Hammerstein-Loxten, saw DR.. MIGUEL,
the Minister of Finance, and vice-presi-
dent of the Ministry, on January 3Oth,
and pleading earnestly. he asked that a
decree be issued forthwith. prohibiting
absolutely the importation of all Ameri-
can fruit, fresh and dried. and all pro-
ducts Of American nurseries. DR.. MIGUEL
telegraphed the order to all revenue sta
tons, making it effective on February
1st. The United States Ambassador. Mr..
Andrew D. White. Immediately and vigor-
ously demonstrated at the Foreign Office,
both in writing and verbally. and the de-
cree was temporarily annulled on Feb
ruary I'd. During the annuIment fruit
was released at Hamburg, Emmerich,
and Dusseldorf.
The decree was re-established on Feb
ruary Sd, in a milder form, being made
enforcible against fresh fruit only.
In the mean while Mr.. White continued
making strong protest TO Baron Won Bue-
low, the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
who in consequence had a special audi
ence with the Emperor yesterday morn
ing on the subject, resulting in the
Bundesrath's yesterday afternoon holding
"a meeting and issuing yesterdays resolu-
ton, the text Of which has not yet Ieaosl-
ed Mr.. White, but it is known that the
wording is so loose as to be open TO a
score Of interpretations. 1t is generally
surmised that it will practically mean
prohibition.
Mr.. White last evening lodged another
formal protest with Baron Won Buelow,
as, in spite of the Bundesrath's resolu-
ton. American fresh fruit is everywhere
excluded.
The United States Consul at Dusseldorf
telegraphed to-day that only dried fruits
had been released, and that there were
about 5000 barrels Of apples in the bonded
warehouses to-day.
The United States Ambassador has
been deluged with appeals from fruit
dealers who have been injured by the
decree, and several of them have thanked
Mr.. White for his efforts.
ACTION WITHOURT AUTHORITY.
1t appears that DR.. Miguel and Baron
Won Observation-Disclosures issued the de-
cree without the authority Of the Prus-
stan Cabinet or Bundesrath.
The official statement of the Reich
sa~nzeiger on the subject Of the measures
taken to prevent the importation of "af-
fected" American fruit, etc, was COM
municated tonight to the officials Of the
United States embassy.
The Agrarian newspapers thank the
government for the prohibition.
The Tageblatt ask why the importa-
ton Of healthy. living plants is prohi-
bited. and says: Such extreme measures
will doubtless provoke retaliation"
Won HAMMERSTEIN WRONG.
WASHINGTON, February 4.-The Off
Gals OF the Agricultural Department en-
phatically discredit the probability OF
American horses carrying the influenza
into Germany, and say that if they do
develop 1t after Importation. it is con-
tracted from animals in that country.
The statements of the German Minis
ter of Agriculture. Secretary Wilson
are unwarranted
The growth in the shipment Of horses
TO Europe In the past four years has
been enormous. These shipments in 1897
aggregated in value 81. 1925 as against
in 1899. The value of those sent
TO Germany in 1897 was $S22, $50, as COM
pared with $79,950 in 1893.