The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The State Department has kept the
cables busy for some days now over the
case of William Albers the alleged Amer
lean citizen who is imprisoned in Mica
ragua on the charge of resisting the
legal authorities and abusing the Presi-
dent of the Republic which is considered
serious crime in most latin American
countries. There will be a warship put
at the disposal of Consul Lee of Panama
and he will go by water to the scene of
the arrest and if injustice has been done
to Albers and he is able to prove his
American citizenship he will be released.
At least so say the authorities here. The
whole trouble in Mr.. Albers' case came
from his disinclination to submit to the
form of graft that is prevalent in Mica
ragua All of the merchants there who
were notified that they would have to
get special permits to keep tobacco on
their premises and this they very gen.
orally did. OF course the special permit
was tribute to the local magistrate
Albers was visited by party of the local
constabulary who demanded permission
to inspect his warehouse for contraband
tobacco. Albers knew the methods of
the local constabulary and announced
that he had no contraband tobacco in
stock, that he was willing to allow the
officer in charge of the detachment and
one of his men to 60 through the ware
house but that he would shoot the first
of the party who attempted to intrude on
him without permission. The inspection
was made and did not result in the find
ing of any contraband, but Albers was
subsequently arrested on charge of resist
ing the authorities and likewise of abus-
ing the President of the Republic. He
is now in Jail and what will be the out
come of the affair is entirely profile
NAUTICAL.
Xxx
1t is stated at the Department that
President Roosevelt does not wish to
shake the big stick over Nicaragua and
that whatever course is pursued in regard
to the release of Albers and the subsequent
payment of an indemnity will be framed
with view to making it as easy as pos
sible for the Nicaraguan government.
However, the foreign policy of the United
States in dealing with small South
American republic has improved consid-
erably in the past few years and Anleri-
can life and property is almost as safe
there now as is that of a British citizen.
Great Britain has held the palm for many
years in protecting both the rights and
the alleged rights of her citizens in small
countries. She has several times shot up
the Mosquito coast because of alleged in
dignities offered by the Indians to British
traders there and it was only few years
ago that British entomologist who was
arrested in Central America on some friv-
olous charge was released under the guns
of an English warship and the indemnity
that he demanded. amounting to about
$3.50, 900 in gold, was paid down on the
quarter-deck before the ship sailed. His
Imprisonment was about the most profit
able twenty-four hours work on record.
~
The Keep Commission which has the
authority of the President to investigate
business methods of the various depart
ments has turned up a remarkable sensa-
ton following its investigation of the
Government Printing Office scandal Its
latest work has been a comparative CON-
pilation of the prices paid by various gov
ernment departments for ink, tnucilage
and various brands of stationary. The
tables of the Commission show that the
Government has been robbed in great
many instances. prices paid for the same
article in different departments varying
rom 10 per cent to 100 per cent.