The citizen., 1911-10-06
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Washington, October 3. 1911.

washington, october 8, 1911.
The American declaration of neutrality
in the ltaliau-Turkish War only awaits
the Presidents formal approval. With
out his personal signature the State De-
partment cannot issue the proclamation,
which however, is expected to be promuI-
gated tomorrow. The proclamation is
ready for issue as soon as it is approved,
Acting Secretary Of State Adee hav-
ing prepared it at the first intimation
of hostities.
No communications were received
today by the State Department from
either the Turkish or Italian governments
relating to the war, although it was
understood that note had been received
from the Italian government outlining its
views of the situation. Ambassador
Rockhil, at Constantinople, cabled that
mo declarations had been made by the
Turkish government as to contraband
or other measures affecting the Amer
team interests" He also announced
that notification was made yesterday that
from that date the lighthouses on the
Mediterranean and Red Sea would be
extingulshed.
Notice was received at the State De-
partment tonight that the Italian govern
ment issued proclamation of blockade
of the coast of Tripoli, September 2eth.
A cable was received from Ambas-
sador Lieshman stated that the refusal
OF the Turkish authorities in Tripoli to
surrender to Italy lad been followed by
orders from Rome to commence bonn
bardment Consul Wood, at Tripoli,
cabled that an effective blockade against
Tripoli and Cyrene commenced at sunset
yesterday
The Navy Department has no present
intention Of dispatching any American
warships to the Mediterranean in addi-
ton to the scout cruiser Chester, now
crossing the Atlantic Ocean and due
at Gibraltar in day or two. There are
no Americans in the city of Tripoli. and
aside from the scientific expedition which
is trying to exploit the ruins in Cyrene it
is not known that there are any in the
entire province. American merchants
engaged in the foreign trade have some
interests in Tripoli, but these are not
such as would require the protection of
a man of war. Their trade might be
interfered with by the Italian blockade
OF the Tripolitan ports, but as this is an
incident to warfare regularly conducted,
there probably will be no ground for
a protest.
Even blockade would require notice
to the United States from Italy, which
probably would be so framed as to inn
pose no hardship upon vessels carving
legitimate merchandise had sailed from
their home ports before the actual out
break of hostiities.
Commissioner Cabell, Of the Internal
Revenue Bureau. will recommend the
of law compelling manu-
facturers to label all adulterated butter,
that containing I6 per cent.
moisture, as we'll as to pay the revenue
tax now assessed aganat that article.
This was made known today to repre-
sentatives of butter merchants in various
parts of the country who protested to Mr..
Cabell against the rigorous course of
the government in holding them liable
for the tax on butter containing an ex-
cess of moisture. When traders receive
such butter, it was contended, that they
are generally ignorant of the fact that it
contains I6 per cent. or more of moist
ure, which constitutes adulteration in the
eyes ofthe law The responsibility, they
insisted rested entirely upon the manu-
facturers.
Commissioner Cabell said that the
Treasury Department was unable to al
ford any relief, as it was merely enforcing
the law. He admitted that it was very
stringent statute and said that he be-
lieved a compulsory labelling law would
help to meet the situation The confer
ence TODAY represented the butter selling
trade in Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, st. Louis, Pittsburgh and
Chicago.
Quiet has been restored throughout
Portugal. following the discovery yester-
day of the Royalist plot against the gov
ernment, according to the official
advices, Viscount De Alte the Portu-
guese minister, today received the fol-
lowing cablegram from his government:
The attempted Royalist rising has
been completely crushed, the prisoners
being sent to the fortress at Lisbon. The
government will prosecute them for re-
bellion, and have them tried without
delay. Complete order now prevails
the country Congratulations
to the government are pouring in from
all Sides"