The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-01
Difference in Price of Gold and
 Silver Makes Large Sum-
AN IMMENSE EXTRA CHARGE
impression Prevails That the lndemni- ties Demanded By the Powers Are Far Beyond china's Ability.
 May Be Readjusted.

Washington, December sl.-The state department has been officially advised through its fiscal agents in China that the second installment of the Chinese in- demnity fund, which falls due tomorrow, must be paid in silver These results have been anticipated by the department, as more than month ago they were ad- vised as to what would happen. The first installment of the indemnity, which was due July 1 last, was likewise paid on a silver basis, the nations receiving the money reserving the right to reclaim the difference between silver and gold basis. Therefore tomorrow the department will have placed to its credit 496,o9s for 1t has without hesitation decided to accept the payment on the basis proposed.
 An immense extra charge will be im- posed on China should she pay the in- demnities on a gold basis, for a Chinese tael which was worth "A cents at the time the agreement was signed, is now worth only 61 cents.
 Beyond Her Ability.
 The impression prevails here a:tong persons who have taken part in these set dement's that the indemnities demanded by the powers are far beyond China s ability She may for year or two bor- row enough money from various interna- tional sources to pay the installments falling due every six months but in a short time the powers will be come, He'd at the risk of losing everything to come to a readjustment of the whole indebted ness either by submitting the case to ar 1xt tt..,t tI1.. rI. t.t.I dently desires, or by a mutual agreement between the creditor nations
 Most of the first installment paid to the United States last July, amounting to nearly a half million dollars, was in pay ment of missionary claims for damages arising from the boxer outbreak. The de- partment adopted the plan of paying out 20 per cent of each large claim. This ab- sorbed nearly all of the first instalment By this method something like two years will be required for the settlement of the claims.
 Biggest In History.
 It is said at the state department prob ably never in its history has there been so many heavy claims presented to the attention of a settlement commission as these coming from missionaries as re- suit of the boxer uprising The commis- sion has cut into these with a ruthless hand. In one case a claim was submitted amounting to $250,OO0 for mission property destroyed. Reliable affidavits show that $1OO,000 was a generous estimate for the property. In individual cases mission aries put in claims for jewery and ar ticles of luxury. By a curious adjustment the commission while allowing some of these claims with liberality has placed very low valuation on human life. Assum- ing murdered missionary of the age of 50 to be capable of ten more years work at the rate of $400 per year. 1t would award an indemnity of about $4O00 to his or her heirs. The state department, which is the reviewing authority in these cases probably will raise the allowances. but it may still further cut down the claims for personal property losses.