Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

— Heavy floods are reported in districts of Cuba.

— Congress has decided that the Panama Canal shall be of the lock, and not the sea-level, type.

— Governor Pattison, of Ohio, died at his home near Cincinnati, June 18. This removes the only prominent Democratic official from the State government. He will be succeeded in office by a Republican.

— Luther Burbank, the horticultural "wizard," is experimenting with 12,000 species of the potato family in the endeavor to produce a new potato which will excel all others in being prolific, impervious to disease, and of uniform size.

— Another massacre of Jews in Russia, equaling in atrocity that at Kishinef, began at Bielostok, June 14, and continued intermittently for several days. It is reported that the victims of the massacre numbered several thousand. The Jews were accused of throwing bombs and murdering Christian girls. Appeals have been made to President Roosevelt and King Edward VII by Jews in this country and in England, to interfere in behalf of their Russian countrymen.

— The introduction of cheap alcohol into the fuel resources of the country will revolutionize the production and use of torpedo-boats, according to predictions made by President Hoadley, of the International Power Company. A light alcohol motor can be substituted for heavy engines, alcohol fuel for coal, making the boats of very light draught, besides which they will be enabled to cross the ocean without replenishing their fuel supply.

— The House substitute meat inspection bill, with the amendment suggested by President Roosevelt, has been adopted by the committee in charge of the measure, and both sides in the controversy now claim a victory. The cost of inspection is to be borne by the government, and no date is required to be put on the labels of canned goods. Meanwhile the city of Chicago has begun an investigation of its meat-packing establishments, and the British House of Commons is listening to inquiries from some of its members regarding the probable loss of life in the Boer War from the tinned meat obtained from Chicago for the army.

— Commenting on the Senate Committee report on the case of Senator-elect Smoot, of Utah, the N. Y. Sun says: “The personality of Reed Smoot cuts but small figure in the report against his eligibility to membership in the United States Senate. The Mormon Church, all powerful in Utah and of growing potency in several other States, was on trial before the Senate committee. The majority report arraigns it as an enemy to the republic, and declares its members to be incapable of loyalty to the United States. The decision is a momentous one. If it is sustained by the Senate, it may cause far-reaching results of a most extraordinary nature.”

— The Russian political situation remains very critical. There were reports that the czar might attempt to dissolve the douma and appoint a military dictator, and that the douma would ignore the order of dissolution should one be given. The St. Petersburg correspondent of a London journal says that “everybody about the court recognizes that Premier Goremykin and his colleagues are absolutely unable to cope with the situation, yet no statesman can yet be found who is willing to accept the tremendous responsibility of the premiership. The czar is pressing the notorious General Trepoff to form a cabinet, he apparently being the only strong man in Russia whom his majesty trusts.”

— The following report from Berlin shows how the insurance company scandals in this country have affected policy-holders in other lands: “Maurice Untermyer, of counsel for the society for the protection of international policy-holders in American life insurance companies, has arranged the constitution of a German committee, consisting of Dr. Wiegand, director of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company; Herr Langermann, a financier of Cologne; Eugen Bock, also of Cologne; and Geheimrath Lower, a member of a firm of arms manufacturers. Representatives of this committee and representatives from other countries will assemble in Vienna in July to choose delegates to go to America to watch over the interests of policy-holders.”