Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-30
LAID TO THE TARIFF
Germans Blame High Cost of
Living on Protection.
AIM TO PROVIDE REMEDY
Socialists Take Initiative in Seeking
Suspension Of Duties.
SEVERE PENALTIES FOR SPIES
Laws Against Espionage to Be Made
More Drastic-John Orth's
Effects to Be Sold.
SEVERE PENALTIES FOR SPIES

whole German people have now made up
their minds that the increased cost OF
living and the prohibit.ve price Of meat
are due solely TO the protective tariff and
they are determined that the tariff on
foodstuffs. at least. must go. The first
step was made the other day when the
40 members OF the socialist party in
the rcichstag presented an address TO the
imperial chancellor asking him 10 con-
vene the reichstag Immediately for an
extra session in order TO deal promptly
with the economic situation. Almost
simultaneously the merchant elders of
Berlin published a series of tables based
on official statistics showing how the rise
in the prices of foodstuffs has affected the
cost of living in this city.
This rise of prices has for some months
past been agitating the German nation 20
an unprecedented degree. and not q day
passes but some municipal council or
other public body makes II the subject
of a long and earnest elaboration Sew
eral municipalities have associated them
selves with the socialist demand for the
converting of the reichstag. Others heve
opened butcher shops with the object OF
eliminating the middleman profit from the
price of meat or arranged for supplies or
nSH ulrect from the sehtodSt.
Hundreds of public meetings throughout
the empire have petitioned for complete
or partial suspension of the import duties
on foodstuffs. In particular there l. a
widespread demand for frozen meat.
which in consequence partly Of the duty
and partly of the fees and formalit.es OF
the inspection is practically unknown In
this country.
Vegetarian Movement Progressing.
In some districts attempts have been
made to put pressure on the farmers I'd
butchers by boycotting meat and the
vegetarian movement Is making great
progress at the present moment. Market
riots on a small scale have been fire.
auent occurrences in Silesia. and in some
towns Of that province the movement has
taken form. of butter revoiution.
Farmers have been terrorized into re-
duc;ng their price for butter 10 cents a
pound, and those who refused were
roughly handled by angry women. One
farmer was hurled into a huge tub or
eggs, the retailers shops were smashed up
and the eggs were used as missiles until
the police succeeded in restoring order
Pathetic scenes are taking pace daily
outside the "Freibank." In Berlin, where
infected meat, that has been condemned,
but afterward made fit for consumption by
prolonged treatment In steam vats. Is sold
cheapiy to the poor. Hundreds walt all
night for the early doors. ana women
and even children stand for twelve or
fourteen hours. By the time the doors
are opened several thousands are walt
ing, many of whom are turned away.
owing to the supply giving out. Eacn
person must take the portion onered.
even If only a handful OF bones the
maximum dole is six pounds OF this In
ferior meat.
The Berlin Merchants Guild. the most
respected corporation in Germany. natly
denies the suggestion that the retailers
are to blame or that the scarcity Is mere
no hope of a return to normal prices I'M
less the government takes "energetic Pc
litical and economic measures"
Drastic Anti-Spy Legislation.
The occupation of spying. always dan.
gerous one in Germany, is to be made
more dangerous, according to statements
printed in several Berlin papers that the
military authorities are preparing an
amendment Of the law against espion-
age which will extend the definition OF
that offense and increase the rigor OF
the punishments inflicted for its COM
initial 1t is proposed that mere tfespass
on ground attached to fortifcation works
should be punishable with Imprisonment,
and that foreigners found on such area
in possession of Photographic or survey
ing instruments should be he'd guilty or
completed espionage. and be lab e to the
heavy penalties it at present involves.
The object aimed at, 1t Is said. Is abso.
lutely to prevent foreigners from pene-
trating to places where they could make
themselves acquainted with fortincations
and similar works.
Preparations are being made here for
the approaching sale by auction OF the
effects of Johann Ortiz tArchduke Johann
Salvador of Austrial. who IT Is believed.
was lost in his ship. the santa Margner-
ita, on the eastern coast OF America
Large cases are arriving daily from
Gmunden, containing furniture. porcelain.
crystal and books. Some OF the best arti-
cles have been reserved for Austrian rela-
tives and collections, but SUFFICIENT re-
mains to make the coming sale in Berlin
one of the most interesting of the season.
As soon as the goods have been arranged
and catalogued the auction will begin,
probably some time early In November.
One of the most curious collections to be
sold is the library OF LOO volumes main
ly dealing with spiritualism, q subject In
which Johann Orth was much interested.
The press here in announcing the i'm
pending auction does not fail to comment
on the strangeness and tragedy Of the
whole story. the romantic life and death
of this exalted parsonage, and the COM
ing final scenes In the Berlin auction
personal effects are to be knocked down
to the highest bidder.
Pastor Traub Dismissed.
The rulers of the Prussian State Church
have hardened their hearts like Pharaoh
and dealt a blow at liberal dissent within
the church by summary dismissing per-
haps the most eloquent and certainly the
most combative of the rebels, Pastor
Traub of Dortmund. from his ecclesias-
teal office, and depriving him OF his PEN
sion and clerical title. OF course, the cry
Of persecution is ringing through Prot
estant Germany as il did when Pastor
Jatho of Cologne was more mildly dealt
with last year.
Traub's energetic protests against the
treatment melted out to Jatho have
brought the thunders Of the SUI
preme ecclesiastical council on his own
head This time the council has tried to
emulate the wisdom of the serpent Jatho
was condemned for heresy. an unpleasant
word in Protestant ears. and popular
opinion shouted "Inquisition." at the
council and made a martyr OF their VIC
tim So the council condemned Traub
not for heresy. but for libeling his &C.
cles.astical superiors i'm the heat of con-
troversy, thinking thus to stop the
mouths IF their critics. or course, this
rather obvious ruse has not been sue.
cessful, and the flame OF dissent burns
higher than ever.
All Germany is delighted with the news
that came from Brazil some days ago or
the signing of a formal contract between
the Brazilian government and q German
l. lr.l