Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-11
UnIted STATIC. e7.a

The average condition OF winter rye or
April 1 was 97.9 against s5.4 on April 1,
1902; 93.1 at the corresponding date In
1891, and $40. the mean Of the April av-
erages Of the last ten years.
A tabular statement showing the NOR
tally among farm animals and their pres
ent condition will be published in the cur
rent number Of the Crop Reporter.
COIOmbians seize American Property.
The diplomatic exchanges between the
United States legation at Bogota and the
department OF state. which will appear In
the forthcoming volume of foreign rela-
tons of the United States. show that nu-
mkrous complaints we're made by American
cfNsens during the revolution In Colombia
81 the action Of the military authorities in
expropriating their mules and other prop
erty. Mr.. Beaupre, the American charge
at Bogota, in the absence OF Minister Hart,
cites a case that came under his personal
observation. An American citizen who had
dined with him. found upon going to look
after two animals which he had purchased
that the saddles and brides had been taken
by a government official, who had left a
receipt fixing the value Of the articles taken
1000 pesos, while the American citizen
eAtlmated hat he would be obliged to pay
5000 to duplicate his lost articles. Speak
ing of this. Mr.. Beaupre said:
Certainly under the system of arbitrarily
hxing the value of such property It is much
cheaper to get IT this way and the day OF
paymen Is Indefinitely postponed, but ]
cannot believe 1t consistent with the guar
antics of public treaties or the law of ma
tons. II Is altogether probable that In the
majority of cases the reasons for appro'
Pt65t estei in t the e case m i@st E citsd. Of Ne sSss safT
with the financial distress OF he govern.
ment, It is almost Impossible. to collect
claims largo or ANAL and the OnUaFn
ment has announced to many, and to one
American at least. whom ! know and who
that no payments would be made until the
close of the war.
Assistant Secretary Hill, in a communi.
cation to the United States legation at Bo-
gotta, said:
The declaration Of the minister of wal
that ali foreigners should be deemed public
enemies cannot but be regarded as gra-
tuitously offensive, and this. government
-zrtion of its citizens availing themselves o.
tn conventional rights OF visit and sojourr
in c lombia. Ii should have been made tn
occasion of instant and vigorous protest.
The attitude of this government towar
the seizure by Colombia Of American prop
er;y for military purposes is shown by tn
following instructions sent by DR.. Hill. a
acting secretary Of state, TO the American
legation at Bogota:
You will notify the Colombian govern
IN nj tnat TINS BoNeEhment Will hVlu ~ Io
,p nsible for any seizures of American
y y rty for military purposes without du
Sou pensatiOn.
Among the other subjects Of diplomat
exchanges between Washington and Bogot
contained in this volume are the seizure o
vessels and alleged discrimination agains
Ainerican enterprises in Colombia, the re
OH ening OF United States missionary school
atiBarranquilla, Medillh and Bogota, close
by the Colombian authorttiGS, and tn
position OF neutral aliens.
New Postal Inspector for East.
Wallace Leatherman Of the Porto Rica