Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1909

—On January 4 the Congress of the United States voted eight hundred thousand dollars in cash and supplies to aid the earthquake sufferers in Sicily and Italy.

—In a collision between Greek and Russian steamers, in the Black Sea, on January 6, thirty-four members of the crew of the Russian steamer were lost. The four remaining members of her crew managed to save themselves by boarding the Greek steamer at the moment of collision.

—Because of the failure of crops in four different provinces of Turkey, there is reported to be great distress among the inhabitants. The winter there is one of the severest on record, and hundreds of persons, unable to obtain either food or fuel, are said to be actually starving, while the government is unable to help them.

—During an address by Senator Tillman, at Columbia, S. C., on January 1, the senator took occasion to warn the people of his State against the agitation for compulsory education, asserting that should such a law be passed, it would mean the education of the negro, and this would, in the end, mean a blow to white supremacy in the South.

—Judge Daniel Thew Wright, Assistant Justice of the District Supreme Court, who recently sentenced the labor leaders, Gompers, Mitchell, and Morrison, to jail for contempt of court, has received so many threatening letters from members of labor unions, that the police department is considering the matter of taking special steps to insure his safety.

—A despatch from Berlin, Germany, states that the British government has reached an understanding with the Turkish government whereby the sultan of Turkey, as head of the Mohammedan faith, is to use the influence of the priesthood in India to support the British rule there, in return for active British diplomatic support in the Turkish controversies with European powers.

—Considered from an economic standpoint, the cost of tuberculosis in the city of New York is estimated by the State Board of Charities to amount to over sixty-three million dollars a year. This value is computed from the earnings which could have accrued between the date of the death and the end of the productive period of probable life, less the cost of maintenance during the period.

—A serious crisis between Austria and Servia has been narrowly averted during the week because of certain remarks made by the Servian foreign minister before the National Assembly, which reflected upon Austria. Austria quickly demanded an explanation of the Servian minister's remarks, and only his denial of the words attributed to him stood between peace and war between the two countries.

—State-wide prohibition laws went into effect, January 1, in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. The State of Georgia has now been under prohibition for one year, and a new law in Louisiana became effective on January 1, which seeks to regulate the liquor traffic in that State. The prohibitionists are now working for a State-wide prohibition law for Tennessee.

—Dr. Randle C. Rosenburgh, the holder of the chair of Bacteriology at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, reports the discovery that the germ of tuberculosis can readily be found in the blood long before it reaches the lungs; that it is then in a condition which makes it easily destroyed by simple treatment and fresh air. He further states that it will soon be possible to use an antitoxin which will stamp the disease out. This statement is made, it is reported, after experiments upon one hundred fifty cases.

—Contributions continue to pour in to the various Red Cross headquarters for the relief of the earthquake sufferers in southern Italy and Sicily. The disinclination of the survivors to leave the ruins of their homes, in spite of the threatened pestilence from decaying bodies, has made it necessary for the authorities to refuse to distribute supplies to those who refuse to embark for other places. The extent of the disaster seems to grow rather than diminish as district after district reckons up its losses. It is now stated that the loss of life from this earthquake will be not less than 250,000. So far there has been contributed for this relief work $10,320,000, of which $3,750,000 has been raised in America.

—One of the most unpleasant situations that has ever developed in Congress exists at the present time. The refusal of the House to yield to the President's desires in reference to the secret service called out from him a special message, seeming to reflect upon the members of Congress. The House requested an explanation from the executive. The message of explanation was also distasteful to the members, and it was decided to censure the President by laying the objectionable portions of his message on the table. Only once before in the history of the United States has such a course been taken. The President has also offended the Senate by refusing certain information demanded by that body from one of the cabinet members.

—The dismissal of the Chinese grand-counselor, Yuan Shi Kai, has caused a great deal of uneasiness among the nations of the world. This counselor was considered an advocate of reform measures in the Chinese government, and his dismissal at this time is looked upon by representatives of foreign governments in China as an attempt to retard the progressive movement in that country. There is considerable fear on the part of diplomats that this act of the prince regent may be a prelude to other measures objectionable to foreign governments. The American, British, and Japanese ministers were expecting to interview the prince regent in reference to the matter, but have received an intimation from the Chinese government that such a course would be unwelcome at

the present time, and that the Chinese government is not yet prepared to receive representations from foreign governments upon the subject.

—Steps were taken at Chicago, on January 6, by District Attorney Sims, following special orders from Washington, to put the Standard Oil Company on trial again within a few days in the case in which Judge Landis imposed a twenty-nine-million-dollar fine, which the United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Supreme Court have annulled.

—On January 5 negotiations were concluded between the governments of the United States, Colombia, and Panama, whereby all matters in controversy between them are settled. By the terms of the treaty, Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama, and the two countries resume diplomatic and commercial relations. Panama is to pay Colombia the sum of one million dollars as her share of the Colombian national debt incurred at the time when Panama was a part of Colombia. The treaty also fixes the boundary-line between the two countries.