New-York tribune., 1903-05-22

faction In official circles here with the way In
which the new German representative in Wash
ington Baron Sternburg. is attending to his du-
ties To mark her good will toward America,
Germany has, of her own accord. just reduced
the scale of official fees charged for the ex-
animation of American and other imported
meats and meat products. the scale only
Just covering expenses
ESTEEM FOR THIS COUNTRY INCREASING
In a good many ways, too 1t is evident that
the esteem in which the United States is held is
constantly increasing in the Empire. It Is be-
coming the fashion to undertake what is termed
study trips to the great transatlantic republic
and not only many Of our leading captains OF
industry" but like Isdore Loewe the great
manufacturer of rifles and machine tools; Com
n1ercial Councillor Goldberg. and Others but of
late, too, Agrarians taking such trips. one
strong and influential body of them. representa-
tives of the Deutsche Landwirths Gesellschaft
German Agricultural Society. mingled with
number of government officials now travel
ling the United States. and are expected
on their return to report in full to what they
have seen. Similar bodies will follow shortly.
The Prussiah Minister of Finance. Baron Rhein-
baben, viii also make such study trip" Of six
weeks through the United States, directing his
attention particularly to waterways the huge
navigable canals. the Erie Canal, the Welland
and the Sault Ste. Marie. we'll the eectri-
cal works at Niagara IN Ptttsburg and else
where. Baron Rhefnbaben has been a great
friend Of Americans in Berlin, and It was prin-
cipaly due to him that the American sculptress
here, Mrs. Cadwallader Guild found imperial
and official favor and received orders of i'm
portance He has also relatives in America and
his cousin. Frederick Won versen Is married to
American woman.
The matter of the Bagdad Railway project
seems to excite much attention as it is mis-
understood abroad. Briefly these are the facts:
The Sultan of Turkey granted IN January. 1902,
a concession to the Anatolian Railway Company
to construct railroad from Konia via Adanah
and Bagdad, to Kahdina, east Of Kowet, on the
Persian Gulf There stipulated in the conces-
sion financial guarantee Of 16 500 francs per
kilometre yearly. The Turkish Government,
however. unable to furnish a guarantee
for this guarantee" and the whole project hung
fire until recently. Since then a new bargain
was made with the Turkish Government, &C
cording to which Just only a small fraction
of the whole proposed line is to be built, viz
the distance from Kona to Eregl length of
1S1 kilometres (out Of total length Of the pro-
jected line between Konia and Kahdina of 2.400
kiIometres), the Sultan furnishing security for
the paying Of 1880 francs yearly for each
kilometre. In this first part OF the project only
1000 600 francs are involved. Of which the costs
OF construction will consume but one-fourth.
The Deutsche Bank the Dresdner Bank. the
Disconto- -Gesellschaft and others are in this
first project and also some French and some
| English capitalists However. the far larger
portion Of the venture. the remaining 2200 kilo-
metres has been temporarily postponed, though
it is certain that this short torso of railroad
will pay It is for the nonce uncertain
when the rest will be built This is, therefore.
after an enormous waste OF ink and excitement
| in England and France. but especially in Rus
sia, all that is palpable of the great Bagdad
scheme" in which each Of these powers sus-
pected gigantic German political and CONNER
cial plot for the capture of Asia Minor.
TWO LEADING LIBERALS DEAD
Two Of the leading Liberals in Germany have
died almost simultaneously. namely. Ernst
Kobner and August MunckeL The former was
one of the founders and the chief editor of the
National Zeitung." the principal mouthpiece OF
the National Liberal faction. paper which for
many years exerted a powerful influence in
awakening patriotic Liberalism. Munckel.
the other hand was by profession a lawyer, and
in his other capacity he was one Of the most
effective and finished orators the side Of
Radical Liberalism. both in the national par
lament and in other legislative bodies. His
side OF the House will miss him greatly.
1t is a singular fact that the Berlin stage
and in the same ratio the stage Of other Ger
man towns and cities-is Of late falling
and more under the domination of the French
drarnatists, or rather of the French farce writ
ers for 1t is French farces. vaudevilles and
variety pieces which almost exclusively are
presented by the managers OF these Gallcized
houses In Berlin alone there are seven the
atres which throughout the season drawing
to a close have given their patrons night after
night such plays. AS a rule the plays have
been Of a more less Objectionable character
but they have drawn crowded houses all along,
and have made their managers correspondingIy
happy. This has aroused the ire OF the pa
triotic press and society. and the Kaiser has
repeatedly and in very emphatic language pro-
nounced against these theatres and their man
ayers owners, but ell purpose. The
taste of a large portion OF the German people
has doubtless changed during the last decade
and the French authors make hay while the
the five milliards back into France.
Quite the other way tells the fact that Rus
kin Carlyle and Emerson are becoming very
popular with German readers. I notice that
three big books about Ruskin. respectively by
Marie Won Bunsen., Samuel Singer and Char
Iotte Broicher, have appeared almost simulta-
neously. and besides that fine edition OF his
complete works.