p. 21 | Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 19, 1906

Current Mention

— It is stated that many fire insurance companies will be forced to “go to the wall” because of the San Francisco fire.

— Severe earthquake shocks were felt at Sorocco, a town seventy-five miles south of Albuquerque, N. M., July 3. Twenty distinct shocks were felt in eight hours' time.

— Governor Hoch of Kansas has made an appeal for 8,000 men to help gather the Kansas grain crop. It is reported that the prospect for securing the needed help is poor.

— There continue to be occasional clashes between Turkish troops and Bulgarian bands. A report from Saloniki gives details of such an engagement in which ninety-two Bulgarians and twenty Turks lost their lives.

— Inventor Edison is quoted as saying that through the discovery of large deposits of cobalt in Tennessee and North Carolina he will be able to reduce the weight of storage batteries one half and revolutionize electrical traffic.

— The monster floating drydock “Dewey,” which has been followed by press reports from the Atlantic coast through the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean, arrived at Manila July 10, having been towed the entire distance without serious mishap.

— Reports from Guatemala indicate that the threatened clash between that country and Salvador has come at last. Troops of both states have been massed for some time near the border, but had refrained from hostilities pending a proposed settlement by arbitration.

— It will require some months, probably nearly a year, for the adoption of a constitution and the formation of a State government for the newly admitted State comprising Oklahoma and Indian Territory, hence some length of time will elapse before the forty-sixth star can be added in the American flag.

— A revolution has been in progress for some months in the State of Matto Grasso, Brazil, and has now terminated in the overthrow of the State government and the murder of the State president. The rebels took over the affairs of the government after the defeat of the federal troops at Cuyaba.

— The census report shows that there are 163,176 persons now inmates of the poorhouses of the United States. The report indicates a considerable decrease in pauperism in this country. In 1880 the ratio was 132 per 100,000 of population, while this last report indicates a decrease to 101 per 100,000.

— There is at least some prospect of the granting of religious freedom in Spain, according to the following telegram dated at Madrid, July 4: “Prime Minister Moret has submitted to King Alfonso a remarkably radical democratic program, including, among other important reforms, religious freedom and reform of the Senate. Senor Moret has asked the king to dissolve the Cortes to enable a national pronouncement on the program. His Majesty consulted leading politicians, and found them opposed to dissolution, but in favor of Senor Moret's retention in power. Their views will probably be adopted.”

— The brewers of Kansas City, Kan., have admitted defeat in their efforts to operate saloons in Kansas City in defiance of the law. Buildings and fixtures have been seized by the authorities. In order to secure the return of their property, the brewers agree to give bond as a guarantee that they will obey the law.

— A sensational speech was made in the British Parliament recently by Earl Grey on the situation in Egypt, which he says is at present very critical. Recent attacks made by natives on British officers were, he says, not accidental, but part of a deliberate plan, which foreshadows an outbreak of fanaticism that may call for severe measures on the part of the British government.

— The Interstate Commerce Commission is to begin at once an investigation into the association of Western railroads with grain elevator companies. It is charged that a great amount of discrimination is practised by the railroads in favor of certain companies. This investigation promises to be as important and far-reaching as that of the ownership of coal properties by the railroads.

— The grand jury which is investigating alleged violations of the interstate commerce and anti-rebate laws, continues its examination of employees and officers of the Standard Oil Company at Cleveland, Ohio. Subpoenas have been issued for some of the prominent officials of the company, such as the treasurer and auditor of the company for Ohio, the cashier of the Cleveland office, and the vice-president of the company in that State. It is also reported that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of John D. Rockefeller at Findlay, Ohio, on the charge of violating the anti-trust laws in organizing and maintaining a monopoly of the oil business.

— A French historian, who is an authority on Russian affairs, and who recently made a trip through certain portions of Russia, declares that the Russian revolution is now on; that the nation is in the midst of a vast and complete transition, the culmination of which may not come for several years. The mutinous condition of many of the regiments has made it necessary to transfer them from one place to another. The garrison of the Batum Fortress is still in mutiny, and reports from Sebastopol state that two of the war-ships at that place have joined the mutineers. Both the infantry and the Cossacks sent to subdue the mutineers at Tambof refused to fire upon them. On July 11, however, these mutineers surrendered. Street demonstrations and rioting in Moscow and St. Petersburg are increasing. A plot was discovered at Odessa for the massacre of the Jews in no less than fourteen different cities, all to occur on the same day. A state of siege has been proclaimed in the province to prevent the execution of the plot. Admiral Chouknin, commander of the Black Sea fleet, was killed on July 11, while walking in his garden. Several previous attempts had been made upon his life because of his activity in suppressing various mutinies.