Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

— A detailed statement of the financial affairs of Zion City, the headquarters of Dowieism, shows an indebtedness of $5,000,000. It is proposed to pay this off by mortgaging the city’s industries for a long term of years.

— The New York grand jury has dismissed the charge against the New York ice companies. It failed to find any criminal conspiracy to increase the price of ice, and lays the blame for the present shortage upon an unfavorable year for ice harvest.

— The hot wave which rolled over the Atlantic States on August 5, 6, and 7, found a number of victims in the large cities. In New York City the torrid weather was held responsible for twenty deaths. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, and Washington also suffered; but the number of heat prostrations in these cities was not so great.

— About three million acres of public land have recently been withdrawn from entry, until government engineers have examined them for traces of coal. Such as is found to be coal-bearing will be sold at from ten to twenty dollars an acre, and the remainder will be again thrown open to public entry. These lands are located in Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico.

— An indictment charging the Standard Oil Company with receiving rebates in the form of non-payment of storage charges to certain railroad companies was issued at Chicago, August 8, by the Federal Grand Jury. This was the case investigated at Cleveland, Ohio, a few days ago, where it was found that the grand jury had no jurisdiction. The testimony taken there was transferred to Chicago, identified by the witnesses, and acted upon at once.

— President Roosevelt has ordered the Ellis Island Immigrant Station to be opened for the reception of immigrants on Sunday. Sunday, August 5, the station was closed by order of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The result was that many hundreds of immigrants were put to the inconvenience of remaining on the ships from Saturday night till Monday morning. The discomfort of the passengers after their long voyage caused the President to interfere with the Sunday closing program of the department.

— The new English education bill providing for the nationalization of the public schools and the suppression of government appropriations for denominational teaching in them has passed the House of Commons on its third reading, by a majority of 192. Strong opposition was made to the passage of the bill, both inside the House and in public, but no amendments save some of minor importance were allowed. The bill will now go to the House of Lords, where opposition to it will be renewed by the adherents of the established church. There is no doubt that the confiscation of property and the imprisonment of Christian people have greatly strengthened the “passive resistance movement.” It is to be hoped that the House of Lords will follow the example of the House of Commons in passing the new bill, and thus repudiate that much of a union of church and state.

— Because of the failure of Congress to enact legislation which would be more satisfactory to Germany in the matter of trade with this country, the German government is threatening a tariff war against the United States. In the matter of trade relations, Germany agreed to place the United States in the class of “most favored nations” until the close of the last session of Congress, claiming to have been assured that the desired legislation would be enacted before adjournment.

— The Italian steamer “Sirio” was wrecked off Cape Palos, Spain, on the night of August 4. She was carrying about eight hundred passengers, of whom it is estimated that three hundred and twenty-five were drowned. There were fearful scenes on board after the vessel struck. Members of the crew, armed with knives, fought their way to the boats, trampling upon women and children. Fishermen in the vicinity hurried to the rescue, and rendered invaluable assistance in saving life, some of them losing their own lives in the effort to save others.

— There is much excitement among the people of Salisbury, N. C., due to the outgrowth of a recent lynching which took place there. A number of negroes were on trial for complicity in the murder of several members of a white family. The jail was stormed by a mob, and practically wrecked, and three of the suspects were taken out and hanged, their bodies afterward being riddled with bullets. Some of the leaders of the mob have been arrested, and will be tried for their lives. Companies of militia are guarding the prisoners, and the local judge has announced his determination to keep court in session all summer, if necessary, to effect the punishment of the guilty persons. The newspaper reports indicate that the public sentiment of the place is with the mob rather than with the judge. The governor has offered the whole power of the State, if necessary, to punish the lynchers. Gatling guns have been posted at points of vantage, and the city is under a semblance of martial law.

— The Russian government, by its vigorous repressive measures, continues to hold back the threatened revolution. The general strike has been prevented thus far. The extensive arrests of labor leaders seems to have disconcerted the labor element, and they are lacking a head. The railroad men, who held the key to the situation, refused to strike. Because of this, the unions are threatening the wholesale destruction of roads and bridges by dynamite. There continue to be incipient mutinies on board ships and mutinies of companies in the army. These are promptly suppressed, and the revolutionists make no gain thereby. The government is adopting a policy of seeking to appease the people direct by arranging for the relief of famine sufferers, and for the distribution of land, without waiting for the legislation of the Douma to be convened next March. In the Caucasia district fighting has been resumed between the Armenians and Tartars, and the casualties are placed at seven hundred.