Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 12, 1910

— In three cities arrests have recently been made of men concerned in one of the greatest jewelry frauds ever perpetrated in this country. The loss to jewelers is estimated at from $500,000 to $2,000,000.

— A recent decision of the Louisiana court at New Orleans lays down the principle that where the law of the State for the separation of white and colored races specifies Negroes, it does not apply to octroons or quadroons.

— A report from Cheyenne, Wyo., states that a number of commercial concerns operating in that State have been charged with fraudulent transactions amounting to several million dollars. Suit has been brought in the United States Court at Cheyenne against the promoters of these concerns.

— A despatch from Pittsburg, Pa., states that the attorney who is prosecuting the Pittsburg grafters openly charges that a large sum of money has been raised by some of those who have been indicted, the intention being to use this money in bribing jurors not to convict. Thus does fraud aid fraud, and set the law at naught.

— “A new use has been found for aluminum in the making of books for the blind — books which are read by passing the fingers over the embossed letters printed upon the pages. It is said that these books are much easier to read than the best paper books, especially by those who have become blind late in life, and whose fingers are not very sensitive.”

— There is threat of open war between the anticlericals of Italy and the Catholic Church. The anticlericals are protesting vigorously to the government against religious services in the army, and against soldiers taking any part in religious exercises anywhere. They propose, if possible, to prevent soldiers even attending church. The despatch states that religious tolerance is unknown in Italy by either the clericals or anticlericals.

— A new building in Washington, D. C., known as the Bureau of American Republics, was dedicated on April 26. Twenty-one American republics were represented at the dedication. The principal speakers at the dedication were President Taft, Andrew Carnegie (who had given $750,000 toward the erection of this one-million-dollar structure), Secretary-of-State Knox, former Secretary-of-State Elihu Root, and the ambassador of Mexico.

— One of the greatest disasters that has befallen the agricultural interests of this country in many years came as a result of the recent cold wave and snowstorm throughout the Middle and Southern States. It is difficult to estimate the loss to the fruit and cotton crops. Some place the loss at $50,000,000, while others estimate it at several hundred millions. In large sections all the young cotton plants have been killed and the land must be replanted, while it is questionable whether sufficient seed can be obtained to replant the cotton fields.

— The State of Minnesota has led the way in very radical statutory legislation against the cigarette, making it penal to sell or give away cigarettes or cigarette-papers. Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana have had laws against this obnoxious and deleterious practise, which is especially destructive to the young. The medical examiner for West Point applicants has publicly stated that of candidates refused many were cigarette smokers.

— Few States, if any, in the Union are better governed than Kansas. It is a progressive commonwealth. It keeps pace with its neighbors in the matter of public improvements. Yet, while Missouri property owners pay in taxes seventeen cents on the one hundred dollars, and Iowans forty cents, the total levy for all State taxes in Kansas is only twelve and one-half cents on the one hundred dollars. Missouri and Iowa are mentioned in comparison only because they are neighboring States. Both are well governed, and both are probably making satisfactory returns to the taxpayers. But the point is that Kansas, which for a number of years has strictly enacted prohibitory liquor legislation seems to be doing particularly well.