New-York tribune., 1905-04-10


mary step to tariff war. all the more as there
are on both sides of the water numerous and
Influential sections OF the population protesting
themselves for years past anxious TO engage
IN such "a merry little war;" Besides. even
ASIDE from that consideration and with the best
intentions In the world on the part OF both gov
eTnments. the termination OF the present toler-
able commercial condition will throw both coun-
tries into status which is only too prone to
drift into one of actual hostility.
Yet. on the other hand, Germany cannot allow
the present commercial relations with the United
States to continue indefinitely. She must de-
nounce the agreement Of 1900 for not to do so
would Involve her in a fragrant breach Of faith
With her partners In the new commercial
treaties The latter. after March 1, 1906 Will
have to pay far higher duties TO Germany in
order 10 sell to the German consumer cereals,
etc. than those OF the treaties OF 1s91-94
Under the present agreement with Germany
the United Stazes pays only $50 marks in i'm
port duty on every ton OF wheat brought be-
yond the German frontiers: 2sO marks. ? marks
and LOO marks oats barley and maize. The
new treaties raise these duties to $50 marks.
3 marks. marks and 3 marks respectively.
and unless the agreement between Germany and
the United States OF July H. 1900. is abolished
the American producer VIII have most un-
fair advantage over Germanys commercial
allies-which is not TO be thought Of The last
time to denounce this present agreement with
the United States will be November 10, 1905.
In the Reichstag OF late the old enemies Of the
United States, the Agrarians, have, Of course,
lost no opportunity to point out the alleged ad-
vantages OF "rousing tariff war with the
United States; but there is scarcely any danger
OF that il the governments OF both nations keep
cool.
The Prussian Diet has at last passed bill by
the terms OF which the internal canal system
is 10 be considerably enlarged and rounded off.
The bill passed by vote of 244 TO 146, At an
expense of altogether about 4O0,OO0O00 marks
the navigation canal between Rhine and Weser
viii become a fact, also a canal allowing
seagOing vessels to ascend the oder and reach
Berlin. Water communication between the Oder
and the vistula viii be greatly improved and
the oder viii become navigable for large vessels
as far Breslau.
This measure. or measures like II. had been
pending in the Parliament OF Prussia since 1896
and had always been defeated, although it was
pet measure Of the Emperor Thus, however.
the Agrarians have paid the Kaiser back for the
new commercial treaties which are much
more 10 their liking than the old ones of 1891
"a. those OF Caprivis making And whatever
their motive. this great enlargement Of the in
terror waterways cannot fail TO rebound TO the
greater prosperity OF the nation. agricultural
well as industrial, consumer well pro-
ducer. fer the canal system will be prac-
tically complete: the direct interchange of all
sorts OF commodities between the extreme east
and west OF Prussia viii be feasible cheap and
relatively rapid within a couple Of years from
now. and the entire river canal system Of Prus-
sla viii soon play the economic part in indus
trial and agricultural development which the
nomics.
The Kaiser's patience has at last been
Warded. Time after time the Prussian govern
ment, under his direction. had presented this
canal bill TO the recalctrant 'junkers" in the
Diet. only TO he turned down" every time.
The Kaiser spoke Of these men as canal rebels;
he banished a number OF them. titled owners of
big estates in the Eastern provinces. from his
Court without. however. being able 10 break
their insolence. AS a free gift. in reward for
the higher corn duties prescribed in the new
for the canal bill.
The great miners strike in the Ruhr district
is over. In several respects il was a peculiar
strike II the largest one Germany ever
had. with at time quarter OF a million men
idle. The strikers had the outspoken sympathy
OF the public. high and low. In the Reichstag
and the Prussian Diet speeches were made in
their favor and voluntary contributions came
from every part Of the empire. The Kaiser spoke
severely and publicly about the "heartless
greed" and the "unsocial qualities of the mine
owners and their shareholders. The strikers be-
heved, with scarcely any exception admirably,
and no serious violence was attempted. The
Socialist press was, if anything, more moderate
il it's editorials and reports than the Social
Isl part Of it. II was generally acknowledged
that the reasons for striking were adequate and
just Since 1889 the miners in that part Of
Prussia had been suffering from greater and
ever greater sum OF injustices. inhumanites
technical deficiencies, inadequate scale and
modes Of payment. etc. The moral strength was
singularly on the side Of the strikers.
And yet three weeks after the declaration Of
the fun strike il had 10 be called off, the strikers
were forced to go back to work on substantially
the old. unsatisfactory conditions and meagre
ray as before True, the Prussian government
At once took their case in hand and assured them
that speciaI legislation in their favor should be
urged and pushed through the Diet, and that
meanwhile the worst distress among them and
their families should be relieved at the cost of
the state And the great pubc's sympathy re-
mained true to the vanQuished legions. But
vanouished. utterly vanquished, they were, and
all because Of lack Of money. lack Of sufficient
strike funds and lack Of that more tangible ex-
nression Of public sympathy which is termed
money. Indeed. in almost any other country
but Germany the strike would have been won
on that basis. The American or British public
INIsHED ROOMS. BUSINESS CHA,