Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-13

mead.
The Russian council of ministers has
approved the adoption of the income tax,
suppressed by the minister of finance,
which is expected to produce a revenue
of S20,000,0O0 a year.
The French customs authorities have
decided to exclude American ham, bacon,
canned pork, ETC., because the microscopic
examination has been eliminated from the
American meat inspection regulations.
The house of lords. by a vote of ISL
to 46, allotted the education bill so as
to provide that local authorities must ex-
tend facilities for religious instruction, in.
stead of merely giving permission TO do so.
The japanese government has decided
to build a bridge over the Yalu river at
Yon Gam Fho, having a span of 3,239
feet, so as to establish direct railway
communication between Mukden and Flu
San.
The municipal elections throughout
England indicated that the conservative
were gaining some of their lost ground.
The campaign issue was the alleged ex-
travagant expenditures on socialist
schemes.
An i~ncipient mutiny of some 500 Brit
ish sailors at Portsmouth occurred be.
cause some of their number were arrested
for refusing to kneel so that an officer of
small stature could see the men in the
rear rank.
The German poet, Ganghofer, who re-
Gently had a long visit with Emperor
William, quites the Kaiser as saying that
he is a thorough optimist, and that he
will be happy if his people understand
his purposes.
The socialist congress at Limoges,
France, rejected a motion f~avoring insur-
rection on the part of conscripts in case
of war and adopted one calling IN the
soldiers of all nations to seek the sup
preston of standing armies through legis-
lation.
The Interpretation of the recent munich
pal elections in England, held by the
Unionists, is that they prove a strong
anti-government feeling and a decided set
back for labor candidates and municipal
socialism. The latter had held the bal
ance of power in London for three years.
Premier Campbell annerman told a
deputation of liberal and labor members
of the House Tuesday that the matter
of old-age pensions would soon be taken
up as one of the governments policies. He
thought that the scheme would favor
thrift and independence. Chancellor of
the Exchequer Asquith also agreed to
this proposition.
During the inaugural banquet of the
new lord mayor of London, Sir William
Purdy Treloar, the Marquis CT Richon,
who was the hcief speaker, dealt with
the Congo State abuses and cruelties,
and declared that if Belgium did not put
things to right soon Great Britain would
consult other powers, with a view to a
concert to remedy existing evils.
Replying to the deputation composed
Of men representing various creeds and
parties who complain of the atrocities
committed in the Congo Free State, the
British foreign secretary, Mr.. Grey, said
that if the Belgian government failed to
take action soon the British government
would inquire of the other powers what
their views were and seek a concert of
action.
The Canadian government has notified
the United States that the postal treaty
will be a%brogated in so far as it relates
to second-class mail matter, the object
being to exclude from Canadian territory
certain periodicals or newspapers pub
lished in this country. Canada says that
if new regulations are formed to shut out
such Objectionable publications, a new
treaty will be entered into.
Owing to the continued disorder and
unsafety of foreign residents in Morocco,
the Spanish and French governments
have now sent warships to Tangier, and
it is expected that a British squadron
will follow. A crisis is threatened by
the granting of increased powers to Rails
Uli, the bandit. The European powers
are acting tremendously and will send
troops ashore under one commander in
case the Moors take a hostile course.
In the Belgian chamber of deputies at
Brussels the minister of foreign affairs,
referring to he recent warning from Off
GERS of the British government, concern
ing alleged Congo abuses, said that Bel
GUM would pursue a line of action die
tated by her own interests without regard
to British interference. On Wednesday
the socialists moved to refuse the terms
of King Leopold's will, bequeathing the
Congo to Belgium on condition that the
royal domains be maintained after it's
annexation.
A sign that the Russian governments
preparing to hold elections for a new
douma is the action of the Senate in in
terpreting the election law without ap-
peal. 1t has declared that railroad en-
ployes who inhabit buildings owned by
the government ann vote, and this will
exclude 10000 workmen from the fran
chise. 1t includes machinists, signal
mer.v guards and repairers. The decision
also removes 5000 employees of factories
owned by the War and Navy Depart
ments. The Senate has also made a
sweeping reduction in the peasant bank.
The object of these rulings is to secure
more acceptable returns from the next
election than from the last one.
After NJ. Jaures had announced in the
French Chamber of Deputies that his
party was weary of the church and state
controversy, and had decided to supper
the government, a vote of confidence re-
suited in 416' ayes and 1853 noes. This
means that the chamber will support the
government in a firm policy of execut-
Ing luP SepdTdllOH law as 1t SJaHQS. Line
minister of education assured the cham
Der that no negotiations would be had d.
rectly with the Vatican, and that plans |
were on foot to assist the local and do
cesar religious associations in organic
ing their dependent houses of worship.
A decree issued by the Gar shows the
governments program to be the separa-
ton of the peasant question from all
other branches of political agitation. II
proposes to remedy the peasants grieY-
ances without reference to the action Of
the douma. The plan is to permit any
peasant TO abandon his share in the COM
ncn ownership of village land and be
com an individual freeholder. Its ex-
pected effect IN the coming elections is to
return a large number of independent
peasants to the douma. The labor party
leaders violently assail the government
for thus attempting to solve the land
problem without the advice or consent
OF the legislative branch.