Middletown transcript., 1898-12-10

try to ErZerum he mas received MS eX-
equatur
transmitted to the senate on the
10th of February last information touch
ing the prohibition against the importa-
ton Of fresh fruits from this country
which had then recently been decreed
by Germany, on the ground of danger
of disseminating the San Jose scale in
sect. This precautionary measure was
justified by Germany on the score OF
the drastic steps taken in several states
of the Union against the spread OF the
pest, the elaborate reports of the de-
partment of agriculture being put In
evidence to show the danger to Ger
man fruit growing interests should the
scale obtain a lodgment in that coun-
try.
Temporary relief was afforded in the
case of large consignments of fruit
then on the way by inspection and ad-
mission when found noninfected. Later
the prohibition was extended to dried
fruits of every kind, but was relaxed so
as to apply only to unpeeled fruit and
fruit waste. AS was to be expected, the
alarm reached to other countries, and
Switzerland has adopted a similar inhi-
bition. Efforts are in progress to induce
the German and Swiss governments to
relax the prohibition in favor of dried
fruits shown to have been cured under
circumstances rendering the existence
of animal life impossible.
The government of Greece strongly
urges the onerousness of the duty here
imposed upon the currants of that
country, amounting to 100 per cent or
more of their market value. This fruit
is stated to be exclusively a Greek
product, not coming into competition
with any domestic product. The ques-
ton of reciprocal commercial relations
with Greece, including the restoration
of currants to the free list, is under
consideration.
The long standing claim of Bernard
Campbell for damages for injuries sus-
tanned from violent assault committed
against him by military authorities In
the island of Haiti has been settled by
the agreement of that republic to pay
him $4,000 in American gold. OF this
sum $4,000 has already been paid. 1t is
hoped that other pending claims of
American citizens against that republic
may be amicably adjusted.
The arbitraI tribunal appointed under
the treaty of Feb. 2, 1897, between Great
Britain and Venezuela to determine the
boundary line between the latter and
the colony Of British Guiana is to con-
vene at Paris during the present month.
1t is a source Of much qualification to
this government to see the friendly re-
sort of arbitration applied to the settle
ment of this controversy not alone be-
cause of the earnest part we have had
In bringing about the result, but also
because the two members named on
behalf of Venezuela, Mr.. Chief Justice
Fuller and Mr.. Justice Brewer, chosen
from our highest court, appropriately
testify the continuing interest we feel
in the definitive adjustment of the ques-
ton according to the strictest rules of
Justice. The British members, Lord
Herschell and Sir Richard Collins, are
jurists of no less exalted repute, while
the fifth member and president of the
tribunal, M. F. de Martens, has earned
q. worldwide reputation as an authority
upon international law.
Private Property In War.
The experiences of the last year bring
forcibly home to US a sense of the bur-
dens and the waste of war. We desire,
in common with most civilized nations,
to reduce to the lowest possible point
the damage sustained in time of war by
peaceful trade and commerce. 1t is true
we may suffer in such cases less than
other communities, but all nations are
damaged more or less by the state of
uneasiness and apprehension into which
an outbreak of hostilities throws the
entire commercial world. 1t should be
our object, therefore, to minimize so far
as practicable this inevitable loss and
disturbance. This purpose can proba-
bly, best be accomplished by an inter-
national agreement to regard all prf-
yate property at sea as exempt from
capture or destruction by the forces OF
belligerent powers. The United States
government has for many years advo-
Gated this humane and beneficent prin-
ciple and is now in position to recon-
mend it to other powers without the
imputaton of selfish motives. there
fore suggest for your consideration
that the executive Re authorized to cor
respond with the governments of the
principal maritime powers with view
of incorporating into the permanent law
of civilized nations the principle of the
exemption of all p'ivate property at sea
not contraband Of war from capture or
destruction by her g rent powers.
On finances the president says the
provisions made for tie treasury in the
war have establ's he'd more firmly the
national credit at home and abroad as
well as increas,ng confidence in the
maintenance of the present standard
and says:
The provisions made for strengthen
ing the resources of the treasury in
connection with the war have given in
creased confidence in the purpose and
power. of the government to maintain
the present standard and have estab-
lished more firmly than ever the ma
tional credit at hcne and abroad. A
marked evidence Of this is found in the
inflow of gold to the treasury. Its net
gold holdings en- Nov. 1, 1898, were $685.
1856, 1852 as compared with $153, 573, 147 on
Nov. 1, 1897, to 5000. .238.275 Nov. 1, 1898.
The present ratio of net treasury gold
to outstanding government liabilities,
including United States notes, treasury
notes of 1890, silver certificates, curren-
cy certificates. standard silver dollars
and fractional silver coin Nov. l, 1898,
was 2535 per cent as compared with
1896 per cent Nov. /, 1897.
] renew so much of my recommenda-
ton of Decembe-, 1885, as follows: That
when any of the I'm States notes are
presented for reder rption in gold and
are redeemed in ~oll such notes shall
be kept and set apa-t and only paid out
in exchange for roll. This Is an obvious
duty. If the hold r of the United states
note prefers the gold and gets it from
the government. he should not receive
back from the government United
States note without paying gold in ex-
change for it. The reason for this is
made all the more apparent when the
government issues an interest bearing
debt to provide gold for the redemption
of United States notes-a noninterest
bearing debt Surely it should not pay
them out again except on demand and
for gold. II they are put out in any
other way, they may return again. to he
followed by another bond issue to re-
deen-another interest bearin- debt to
redeem a noninterest bearing G-b,
In my judgment the prevr-t - 'ttior
Of the treasury amply just.fes fte ;ra-
mediate enactment of the lPa4e .i7r
recommended one year aC1 ,'nd~' q. :
q portion Of the gold hcldinss s'aciTki b