The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-07-20
OUR WASHINGTON
NEWS NOTES
LATE NEWS ITEMS FROM OUR
NATIONS CAPITOL.
M. WITTE IS APPOINTED
Is to be Chief Plenipotentiary Repre-
senting the Russian Government in
Peace Negotiations to be Held in
United States.

Emperor Nicholas has signed the ap-
pointment Of M. White, president of
the Committee of Ministers, to be
chief plenipotentiary representing the
Russian government in the peace ne
gotiations to be conducted next month
in the United States. The appoint
ment clothes M. White with plenary
powers. Official notification of the
designation of M. White to head the
mission was forwarded to Washington
M. Witte will take passage on the
North German Lloyd steamer Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse, which sails from
Cherbourg July 26. 1t has been inti-
mated that Japan formally objected
to certain utterances attributed to M.
Muravieff rejecting upon the Japan
ese nation, but inquiries made here
failed to obtain any confirmation OF
the rumor. The remarks which Japan
is said to have complained of were
made when Muravieff was president OF
the arbitration tribunal at The
Hague, which decided against Vene-
zuela the claims Of the blockading
powers for preferential treatment. AZ
ter the delivery of the decision that
Muravieff reviewed the decision and
said the arbitration begun in times of
peace and ended amid the sinister
acts of war, which was a terrible OBJ
stacle in the path of light and pro-
gress. In spite of all good will no one
was secure against an unexpected hos
tile attack. A nation was obliged to
accept war when the legitimate de-
fense of honor and liberty was in
volved. The just Providence which
ruled over battles would distinguish
between right and unfounded preten-
sions. At the end of this war between
an European and an Asiactic people
the right would shine out afresh. The
japanese minister at The Hague ask
ed his government for instructions In
regard to M. Muravieff's speech, but
the outcome of this step has never
been made known. The peace party is
overjoyed at the fact that the negotia-
tions have been placed in M. Witte g
hands. 1t is the firm belief that this
not only insures successful termina-
ton Of the negotiations, but that nj.
Witte will secure the best possible
terms for his country. Some Of the
grand dukes and courtiers of the En-
peror's encourage, however, are re-
ported to be furious at NJ. Witte s Sc
lection.
In the opinion of officials of the
Treasury Department the amount OF
money in actual circulation will not
be decreased materially by the SILL
100000 to be paid under Secretary
Shaw's call. 1t is believed that Is
per cent if not practically all of the
sum derived from this, the second in
stallment of the call will at once go
into national bank circulation. This
was true of the sum paid into the
Treasury by national banks under the
first installment, which matured in
January. The Secret"ry's call was
for 20 per cent of the government de-
posits. It was divided into two parts
maturing january Is and July l. The
time for the payment Of the second
installment was extended to July 10.
but the full amount cannot be recelv-
ed from the sub-treasuries before Tues
day or Wednesday of next week. The
first division of the call yielded about
$13,5O0,0O0 and later about $4,50O,-
900 were paid in by banks which an
ticipated the second installment. The
total call amounts to about 9,000,-
600, leaving balance of about SILL
100000 due under the division matur-
ing tomorrow.
Through the receipt of numerous
communications from the south and
statements appearing in the press at
various times that the statistics of the
department of agriculture on tobacco
were being manipulated in the interest
of the so-called tobacco trust, Secreta-
ry Wilson has begun an inquiry into
the subject. Pending the investiga-
ton the publication Of the investiga-
tion the publication Of the tobacco
statistics Of the several districts will
be held up. Special agents have been
sent to the dark tobacco districts of
Tennessee and Kentucky to verify or
correct the department s figures. This
action Mr.. Hyde, the chief statisti-
clan said as in Difference to the senti
ment which had been engendered that
the departments figures were wholly
incorrect.
It is learned here that DIR. Henry
S. Blackmore Of Niagara Falls, N. Y.
has perfected chemical process which
he believes will revolutionize the pc
troleum trade of the country. After
years of experimenting in his labora-
tory at Niagara Falls DR.. Blackmore
believes he has discovered a simple
and economical process of converting
lima, or sulphur oils, into white wa
ter oil, which can be used for fuel
or Illuminating purposes.