Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

— An anti-Jewish riot resulted in the destruction of a town of 6,000 inhabitants, near Gomel, Russia, by fire, February 18.

— The natives in German East Africa are still unsubdued. Severe fighting is reported around the northeast end of Lake Nyassa.

— The city of Kingston, St. Vincent, British West Indies, experienced a severe earthquake shock February 16. It is reported that Mt. Pelee is again active.

— The Hungarian Diet at Budapest was forcibly dissolved by armed soldiers, February 19, and the session is now at an end. Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria seems disposed to use harsh measures in dealing with the Hungarian patriotic element, even to the extent of suppressing freedom of speech and of the press.

— Reports are in circulation, coming from Denver, Colo., that a detective named McParland has discovered evidence which implicates the Western Federation of Miners in a number of murder mysteries, including the recent assassination of ex-Governor Steunenburg, of Colorado, and the explosion at Independence, near Cripple Creek, in which fourteen men were killed.

— Advices received at Panama, February 19, from Colombia stated that on February 5, President Reyes was informed that Telembi, Cauca, and neighboring towns suffered terribly by the tidal wave of January 31. The water rose over twenty feet, and fifty-two families disappeared in the flood. Great underground disturbances were felt, and the temperature rose more rapidly than has ever been known. When the tide receded, the coast was covered with dead birds and fishes.

— The Moroccan conference, so far as may be judged from present reports, is likely to prove a failure, France and Germany being unable to come to an agreement over their respective claims. France is standing firmly for what she considers her rights, and it is believed that she has assurances from England upon which she relies in the matter. As regards the result of the conference several opinions are quoted from French statesmen, one of whom says that while no one expects war, the conference will leave behind it a European situation of extreme tension, and another, that it will inaugurate an intolerable state of discord from which war may result at any time.

— Evidence that Emperor William is planning a gigantic scheme of conquest is set forth in a telegram from Brussels. The report states: “That Germany has her eyes on not only Belgium, but surrounding countries, is evident from the new school readers and other books used by the German children. One book of geography, the use of which is now obligatory in most of the German schools, contains this paragraph: ‘Belgium, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Holland, Luxemburg, and Denmark are considered as forming part of Germany, because they are the most scheduled within her natural boundaries.’ Wall maps are displayed showing the Tyrol, Vienna, and Trieste as parts of the future German empire.” Belgium is working hard on her fortresses in anticipation of war, which she believes will be the outcome of the Moroccan controversy. One report from Algeciras states that a settlement is to be effected by giving Germany a free hand in Palestine, in return for French paramountcy in Morocco.

— The Armstrong committee which has been investigating the big life insurance companies in New York City, under the direction of lawyer Charles E. Hughes, has presented a drastic report, recommending changes which, if embodied in legislation, will revolutionize the life insurance business. The remedies it proposes for the evils of the existing system of life insurance are: (1) Legalization of mutual corporations without capital stock, provided at least 500 persons subscribe for $1,000,000 in insurance; (2) investing policy-holders with authority in management of the companies and in the election of officers and directors; (3) removal of all present directors and cancellation of proxies; (4) prohibition of investment of insurance funds in stocks, except public stocks of municipal corporations. All such prohibited securities to be disposed of within five years from Dec. 31, 1906; (5) prohibition of all syndicate transactions; (6) limiting the amount of new business which each of the larger companies may take to $150,000,000 a year; (7) contributions by insurance corporations for political purposes to be strictly forbidden; (8) further incorporation of assessment companies to be prohibited; (9) abolition of lobbying; (10) annual accounting and distribution.