Fergus County Democrat., 1916-09-14

NEW LONDON, Conn, Sept. 10
Suggestions as to what methods shall
be employed to establish peace on the
Mexican border were submitted today
70 Maj. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, u. s. A.,
by the American members Of the
Americana M exican joint commission.
The officers opinions were sought on
subjects ranging from the withdrawal
OF American troops from Mexico to
the possibility Of creating an inter.
national police to guard the border.
No conclusion, however, was reached
and the commissioners will continue
their conferences with General Bliss
tomorrow.
The joint commission today dealt
wholly with questions raised BY tax
alton DEGREES issued by General Car
rama, which affect American-con-
trolled mining properties. An ex.
haustive study of the situation was
begun. The Mexican commissioners
explained in detail the purposes Of
the DEGREES, insisting that they were
designed to promote the mining indus.
try, not to drive out American capital
and confiscate its holdings.
Discussing the wider aspects of the
commissions work, Secretary Lane
said tonight it was probably unique
in the history of international bod
les, in that it was going into all that
concerned the life Of a nation; its
economic problems; it's political strug-
giles and every phase of government.
1t was possible. he said, that no
N1nn0nCi0no rayn,,1A hn -
many of the things discussed. He
added. however, that the Mexicans
would have knowledge Of the views
held in the United States as a result
Of the deliberations, while the Ameri-
can commissioners were cleaning a
wide knowledge of conditions below
the border.
Even the international responsible.
ties were being talked over. Mr.. Lane
said, and it was necessary that all
these things should be considered in
order that an enduring government
should be set up in the distressed re-
public. Complaints Of American min.
ing interests In Mexico led to the
present investigation. In explaining
the DEGREES complained of, the Mexi.
can commissioners pointed out that
one OF the aims of the Carranza gov.
ernment was to prevent speculative
and unprOductive monopolization Of
mining claims.
Under the Diaz regime the rate of
taxation on mining claims diminished
in direct ratio to the number of
claims, whereas under Carranza the
purpose Is to encourage the stalking
OF a relatively small number OF
claims which actually will be oper-
ated and to discourage the holding OF
large tracts of mining land simply for
speculative purposes.
Another series OF complaints had to
do with the attempt of the Carranza
government to compel merchants and
corporations to accept paper currency
at rate far in excess of its current
value. The attention of the Mexican
commissioners was directed to in
stances in which military command
ers had, through DEGREES, threatened
with death any person who refused to
accept paper currency at its par value,
and for similar offense also had
threatened merchants with the con-
fiscation Of their property.
The Mexican commissioners pointed
out that In so vast q country 1t was
humanity impossible to guard against
all possible abuses, but they laid en-
phasis on the fact that while such
extreme DEGREES had been issued by
subordinate military commanders, the
national government had constantly
urged moderation on the state govern
ors and that they had no record Of
single instance in which any of these
extreme penalties had been inflicted.