The Indianapolis journal., 1899-07-15
And Nothing Will Be Done. by This
Country Except to See that Our
Interests Do Not Suffer.
STATUS OF THE CONCESSION
THAT HAS BEEN POOLED WITH AN
ENGLISH COMPANY's GRANT.
Minister wu Ting Fang's Statement
Banks Prohibited from Ahixing
Stamps to Customers Checks.

WASHINGTON, July IA. Secretary
of State Hay received a call this morn
ing from ". Barclay Parsons. the engineer
representing the American railway conces-
sonaires controlling the projected railroad
from Canton to Hankow, China. Mr.. Par
sons explained. at some length, to the sec
retary the obstacles that have been en-
countered by his company in carrying out
its concession. The Chinese government is
ostensibly held to be obstructing the con-
cessionaires, but behind that government.
and urging II unwillingly on its course, are
foreign influences, according TO Mr.. Par
sons, which are striving TO secure for them
selves this concession. Mr.. Parsons repre-
sented that an English company holding the
concession for line from Canton to kow-
Loon was prepared to unite interests with
the American corporation and effect COM
bination to maintain themselves against
these foreign influences. The British gov
ernment would naturally look after the in
terests of its subjects, and the American
corporation asks Secretary Hay to take SIM
liar action to require the Chinese govern
ment to permit of the execution of the con-
cession. Secretary Hay promised to lay
the matter before the President. The first
step to be taken is to secure from United
States Minister Conger, at Peking. an exact
statement of the facts on which to proceed.
The Chinese government has already been
distracted by the rival claims of England
and Russia to railroad concessions in north
ern China, and the present conflict in the
south promises to be quite as difficult OF
adjustment. g,4.
Later in the day 1t was stated the Amer
lean minister in Peking has been instructed
to use his good Offices in all proper ways
in behalf of the American company and to
prevent injury to its interests. There is no
foundation for the report that this action Is
taken in concurrence with that of the Brit
ish government. There has been no COM
munication between the two governments
in regard to the matter and no joint action
has been asked for by the American COM
pany, and none has been recommended.
The traditional policy of the State Depart
ment has been pursued in this as i'm other
cases. the American diplomatic representa-
tives being charged to assist in every way
American interests in the countries to which
they are accredited. In cases Of competition
between different American enterprises. the
ministersis warned not to favor one at the
expense of the other, but to exert his good
offices in all cases Of contracts and COM
petitions. 80 that American interests shall
have an equal chance with those of other
countries.
The Chinese minister. Mr.. WI Ting Fang.
stated to-day that he has not been advised
in an official manner Of the combination
between the American and British COM
panies having certain concessions in China,
or OF any appeal to the respective govern
ments and he did not care to discuss the
effect or significance of such moves until
he had learned of them in an official man.
ner. The minister is deeply interested in
everything that relates to the American
concession as it was granted through him
in April, 1898, after extended conferences
with several of the representatives of the
late Senator Brice.
In the original concession granted to the
American company, it is stated that a Chi
nese company is engaged in the construction
of railways, under imperial sanction, with
Shing Tagan as director general. The lat
ter gives Wu Ting Fang, Chinese minister
here authority to make arrangements with
American concerns. The agreement recites
that the American-China Development
Company ''agrees to provide a loan for
the construction of the railway from the
city of HanKow to the city of Canton the
sum of 100000, or it's equivalent in Amer
lean dollars. gold or more IL necessary for
the building and equpping of said road. "
The a40O0.0OO is to be paid I'm installments
as the work progresses. and the first INSTALL
nlent is payable when the report of the
engineer in chief of the American company
shall be accepted by the company and ap-
proved by the director general, Shins
Tagan. Article 2 of the concession provides
that ''to secure the amount of the loan i'm
perial Chinese gold bonds sufficient to net
G4O00O0o shall be turned over en- bloc 10
the American company" These are to be
signed by the director general of the Chi
nese company and by the Chinese minister
in Washington. The bonds are to draw
per cent. interest. and are TO be similar
I'm form to the recent issue of bonds Sc
cured by the imperial Chinese customs ex-
cept that they shall be a first mortgage
on the railway instead of on the imperial
customs Provision is made at much length
as to the building of the road. with due ye-
gard to the Chinese people and their GUS
toms and for the formal execution of the
terms Of the agreement.
Commissioner Wilson, Of the Internal
Revenue Bureau. has issued a circular ab-
| solutely prohibiting banks from affixing
stamps to checks unstamped when pre-
sented and requiring them to return the
| same to the drawers. In his circular to col
lectors the commissioner says: "You are
directed to notify the banks that are guilty
of stamping unstamped checks that IL the
practice is not Immediately discontinued
| they will be reported to the United States
district attorney for prosecution. The In
struction contained In treasury decision No.
| 1906, under date OF June %. 1898. to the ef-
feet that there was no objection to the af-