The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-16
WOULD BE
SUICIDE FOR
UNCLE SAM?
German Agrarian Declares He
Cannot Afford to Wage
TARIFF WAR ON GERMANY
Owing to Heavy Excess Of His
Exports Thither,

Berlin, Feb. 15-The prospects OF the
tariff bill grow more dismal. The major
ity Of the committee continue to vote
amendments against the warnings Of the
government. The amendment providing
for the abolishment of the municipal oc-
troi duties stiil in vogue in some towns
received an overwhelming majority OF
votes after the imperial secretary Of
state tor the interior, Count Posadowsky-
Wehner, had announced that it was con-
rrary to the constitution. and that con-
sutuuonaI revision was necessary before
the abolition OF those duties could be
affected.
The amendment adopted yesterday, fix
ing January, 1905, for definitely putting
the new tariff law in force is a step Of the
Agrarians and is intensely emoarras-
sing for the government, since it is not
certain when the treaty negotiations can
be concluded and the amendment is PLAIN
~ designed TO compel the government to
invite tariff wars through denunciation
Of the present treaties before new ones
are concluded. The Agrarians. in discus
sing the amendment, showed their usual
anti-American animus. Count Won kan
itz, the Agrarian leader again argued that
the United States could not afford a tar
if war with Germany saying It would be
downright suicide owing to the heavy
excess of American exports to Germany.
The Vossische Zeitung answers this as
sertion by showing that me immense
German imports of raw materials from
the United States are necessary-cotton,
25s, 900 600 marks; corn. 109 100000 marks;
copper. 1Ol, 100000 marks; lard 69oO0o0O
marks; petroleum, 6s,OOO,OO marks etc.
BIGGEST sWINDLE IN GERMANY.
The trial of the officers of the treber-
trockmung grain Drying company of
Cassel caused a very great sensation.
The newspapers He'd many columns with
the details Of the trial, which brought out
the history of the eOmpany's meteoric
career, showing it to have been a gigan-
tic swindle from the beginning. and
through Director Schmidt succeeded in
deceiving the board of overseers until
the crash came. They regarded him as a
nancial genius and trusted him complete-
ly, while distributing SO per cent divi-
dends from fictitious profits. practieing
wholesale operations in financial bills,
hoodwinkins the Leipseigef bank and his
own oyerseers and making immense adj .
vahces- The evidence 1ndieated that the
company never earned an honest .6lFsaend
and that 1T was a fanilg throughout
even when its shares were manipulated
up to 1900. The concern was founded in
1899. with a capital of $1,000. marks, for
utilizing the waste products of breweries.
Later it purchased a patent disthling
method, which proved worthless. Never
theless, Herr Schmidt captured the con-
dence of the public and was able to raise
the company's capital to TO 20O00,0O0
marks. In a dozen parts he established
branch wood distilleries in all the lead
ing continental countries. not one of
which made expenses. Yet Herr Schmidt
succeeded in launching rose colored re- +
ports of the sompany's business The
overseers confessed that they were so
fascinated by Herr Schmidt that they
trusted him without any examination of
the affairs of the company.