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Survey c
A NATIONAL BUSINESS COURT.
Mr. Geo. W. Perkins, well known
financier and steel magnate, in addressing
the Senate committee on Interstate
Commerce, advocated a business court
or controlling commission in the department
of Commerce and Labor. He
said that the practical way to give the
nnnnfrrvV. "hip* hnsfnona" mlfof fmm a v
isting uncertainty and depression would
be to create in the Commerce and La.
bor Department a business court or
controlling commission, with the power
to license corporations doing interstate
or international business. Violations
of regulations laid down by such a
commission, he urged, should be punishable
by imprisonment of individuals,
rather than by revocations of licenses.
Mr. Perkins said this commission or
court should be composed largely of experienced
business men. Ability to
comply with conditions laid down by
Congress in creat'ng the commission
and with regulations prescribed by the
commission itself, he declared, should
be the test of an applicant for license:
publicity both before and after licensing
should be the essential feature of
these regulations, and every company
should he required to secure the approval
hy the commission of all Us
iifTalrs. fiom canltall7atlon to business
practice. After proooslng this plan for
immediate relief. Mr. Perkins ofTered
another "prospective relief." This contemplated
the appointment of a committee
to make a carefi-1 study of the
Sherman law and the various sugeestlons
that have been made regarding its
appeal, amendment ar.d amplification,
and to report on the wisdom and practicability
of a national incorporation
act. "Any one familiar with present
business conditions in this country,
both as to domestic and foreign trade,"
said Mr. Perkins, "realizes that the
brakes are on. We are not expanding
our domestic trade to the extent we
should. New enterprises are not being
undertaken as freely as they should be.
Capital in this country is contracting
rather than expanding its operations,
while Germany, Canada and other
countries are forging ahead with their
industrial plans, ine reason ior mm
att'tude on our part arises largely from
the fear engendered by the prosecution
under the Sherman act. At the present.
time the business man's complaint
is that he does not know when he Is
right or when he Is wrong; that this
apparently cannot be known until he
is prosecuted and his caso reaches the
court, and that as matters now stand
he does not and cannot know as he
proceeds with his business whether he
18 a good citizen or a criminal."
PEACE FEDERATION.
The American Peace Society held a
special meeting early this month in
Washington and amended its constitu
tion. Thoro wag a large attendance and
tbe amendments went through without
opposition. They provide for the federation
of all the peace societies of th?
United States and for the represents,
tlcn of those societies by delegates at
the annual meeting of the American
Peace Society. Each peace society In
the country hereafter will be entitled
to one representative at these annual
meetings, the next one of which comes
In May, and as many additional delegates
as it has hundreds of members.
The federation cf the peace forces of
the country Is believed to be In the direct
interest of enlarging the influence
-?-? - # IV..
and general wormn8 e<iiVi?uvj m n,c
nnfrersal peiace Idea by causing all
peace forcee to act as a single unit In
all matters affecting It
THE PRESUYTEKIi
>/ Curren
ALASKAN RICHES.
John Rosene, who was sent to Alaska
to select a route for the Alaskan midland
railway has returned and reports
as follows: "The country we traversed
is with the exception of the region bord.
netncr ?UA A?*U ? * * ?
ciiu6 \ju iiic .uti't uitau me uiosi unknown
section of the northland. It Is a
region of broad, level valleys Intersected
by mountain ranges of varying heights,
inside the Loast Range none of these
mountains are covered with snow in
summer. The valleys have rich black
soil. Vegetation grows everywhere in
profusion. In all the mountain ranges
along these valleys minerals are to be
found, principally gold, copper and coal.
There is an abundance of umber. 1 am
speaking of a section of moie than ttUU
miles in length by 2UU miles in width,
say approximately li>u,uuu square miles,
equal in area to Finland with its 4,uuo,uuu
people and over $au,uuu,uuu annual
exportatious of agricultural products.
This territory is in the very center of
Alaska and Yukon territory and is most
favored with natural resources, agricultural
and mineral. .Nevertheless
transportation facilities are so poor itiat
the tew people who are living tLere and
trying to develop the countiy have to
pay from $200 to $l,uuo a ton freight
charges on the supplies they use. The
railway we expect to build will reduce
these charges by at least nine tenths and
make possible profitable occupations for
many thousands of people." Successful
farming at Dawson, further north, emphasizes
.Mr. Koseue's statements. One
farmer at West Dawson has a root crop
this year of 200 tons, including potatoes.
Several tons of tomatoes have been
ripened within a mile of Dawson. Beets,
celery, cauliflower, turnips, cabbages and
other vegetables are in splendid condition.
About 200 acres under cultivation
near Dawson have produced annually
450 tons of potatoes and 150 tons
of other vegetables. Strawberries grown
in the open cut some figure in the market
this year. Raspberries, blueberriess
and currants in their wild state grow in
abundance. The Yukon oat crop runs
50 bushels to tne acre.
THE COTTON CENTER
The center of production of the cotton-growing
area of the United States
in 1910 was three miles south of Vaiden.
Carroll county, Miss., according to the
census bureau's statistics recently issued.
Th's cotton-producing area is
about 1500 miles long and 500 mile,
wide. The total area of the counties in
which cotton was ginned in 1910 is approximately
625,000 square miles, or
about 400,000,000 acres. Of this only
about one acre In every 13 was devoted
to cotton. The center of production has
Deen in Mississippi many years. In 1859
It was approximately 13 miles southeast
of Macon, Miss.; in 1879 11 miles
south of Columbus; in 1899 13 miles
southeast of Lexington; in 1906 five
miles southeast of Mayersvllle, and in
1908 four miles west of Lexington.
KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR.
James B. McCreary was inaugurated
governor of Kentucky on December
12. Next to the incoming executive and
his predesessor, Governor Wilson, the
places of honor were occupied by the
twelve surviving members of the old
McCreary Guards. This was a military
company organized in Frankfort in 1877
during Governor McCreary's fl.*st administration.
Six on a aide, these veterans
escorted the governor's carriage
In the parade that led from the govern,
or's mansion to the capltol. Governor
McCreary, most of whose life has been
spent in public office, vacated the chair
he occupied to-day thirty-two years ago.
AN OF T B E SOOTH
<t Events
Now te is over seventy. Many per.
sonal and political friends who attend,
ed the first inauguration were present
on this occasion, along with the 2,000
members of the Democratic marching
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State. In electing Governor McCreary,
Kentucky returned to the Democratic
column.
HEROIC TREATMENT FOR RUSSIA.
The Sulzer joint resolution for the
termination of the treaty of 1832 between
the United States and Russ'a,
because of M>e lattera dlscrlmlnctfon
against Jewish American cltlzem,
passed the House Dec. 13., 300 to 1.
The one negative vote was cast by Representative
Malby. of New York. A
practical Identical resolution by Senator
Culberson, of Texas, is pending In
at? n x- - ?
me oeuaie, ana ravorable action of both
houses would be necessary to make
either resolution effective. Both the
Sulzer and Culberson resolutions would
direct the President to give Russia Immediately
the year's notice necessary
for the complete abrogation of fihe
treaty that has been In force nearly
eighty years.
A CEYTEYARY OF TEACE.
A meeting held under the ausp'ces
of the parliamentary arbitration committee
has perfected an organization to
co-operate with the American national
committee for the celebration of the
centenary of peace among Englishspeaking
races and to commemorate the
signing of the treaty of Ghent in 1814.
The celebration w'll take place, according
to present plans, in the United
States. Canada and Enciand n.
_ r,.-"v4 ut.ain^ IIIO
years 1914, 1915. 1916. Earl Grey,
former Governor-General of Canada,
was elected president of the society,
and Baron Shaw, of Dumfermllne,
chairman of the executive committee,
which comprises government officials,
church dignitaries and scientists.
KAISER LAUDS GREEK.
The Kaiser recently Invited the boys
of the first class of the Cassel gymnasium,
where as a lad he had been a
pupil, to the palace on the occasion of
his presenting a flag to the school. His
majesty made a memorable speech to the
lads. He rem'nded them that what they
learned was for life and not for school,
and he spoke with pleasurec of his own
schooldays passed at that gymnasium.
In contradiction to the report that the
Kaiser was In favor of modern languages
instead of the ancient ones h'g majesty
expressed himself very decidedly upon
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recommended all the hoys to studv It
with Interest and ardor in order to
understand the grandeur and harmony of
Greek art and culture, which were utterly
lacking In modern times. He advised
them to do their utmost *o maintain
the prestige rf their country at all
times and everywhere.
SIR EDWARD PALAVER ON
PERSIA.
Referring to the Persian question
during a discussion of foreign affairs
In the House of Commons. Foreign Secretary
Sir Edward Grey said the AngloRussian
agreement was not intended to
Impair the Independence and integrity
of Persia. A declaration to that effect
had been made to the Persian government,
but. he added, Great Brltfan
was not undertaking any obligation to
protect the Integr'ty of Persia. The
ivuoniau .5UTaniiiieiu, coniinuea tt16
Foreign Secretary, lias demanded that
Mr. Shuster should be withdrawn. The
British government had said that It did
not object to that demand. Mr. Shnster'g
Intentions in appointing British
[December 20,1911
officials In Southern Persia were good.
but the spirit and Intention of the
Anglo-RuBsian agreement could not be
permitted to be upset and two great
nations embroiled by tbe action of any
Individual, no matter how good the Intentions
were. After what had happened
he agreed with Russia's demand
that the consent of the British end Rue
omii legation snouia be obtained for
the appointment of foreign advisers to
Persia- In conclusion. Sir Edward said
that as Persia was unable to pay an In.
aemn'ty he hoped Russia would be Induced
not to press that demand. Philip
Edward Morrill, Liberal, said that a,
poorer excuse for taklne away the indenendenee
of Persia thpn that advanced
In the case of Mr. Shnster hart never
been put forward In the House of Comr
mons. The exact crime commuted by
"Shuster. said Mr. Morrill, wps that he
dirt net call at the Russian legation as
often ns he ought.
EMPEROR AXD EMPRESS.
King George V. and his consort,
Queen Mary, have been proclaimed
Emperor and Empress of India. The
culminating act of the English monarch's
acesslon to the throne of his vast
Indian dominions took place amid a
scene which for richness of color and
luagLiiuceiH'e 01 decorations probably
has never been surpassed fn modern
times. The crown'ng wns followed by
an act of generosltv on the Klnr-Emperor's
part, of which a slight hint had
alreadv been given. The Viceroy proclaimed
that the King-Emperor was to
donate a large sum of money to promote
popular education, and lhat further
handsome gifts would he made.
Another lmnortant chanee announced
by Lord Hardlnee wa?? that the seat of
government wpb In the future to be
transferred from Calcutta to Delhi.
ITALY'S WAR TEXTURE.
A curious calculation has been given
out It Is thought to be roughly correct,
and may be found instructive and
interesting. Italy is believed to have
Rpnt onnfllrtoMhlw QA AAA
? V*CI WVlWUU DUIU1CTB
to Tripclitania. There are 4,000 In
Tripoli town and 20.000 in the trenches
around; about 20,000 at Bengasi, about
21.000 at Derna, Horns and Tobruk, or
about 65.000 altogether in these various
places. The difference between 80,000
and 65,000. or 15,000, represents the
wastage of war in the Italian dead,
wounded and sick. But according to
Italian official, semi-official and unofficial
statements, three times as many
Moslems have been killed and incapacitated
as Italians,?say, therefore. 45,000.
Ihe conflict in Trlpolltanla has
consequently already brought death or
ruin to 6C.000 combatants, and perhaps
a quarter as many non-combatants have
died or are cHnnloH hw ?"
w ?..|>Kiv?i M/ OIVAUCBB, CXIIQ
and loss of means of living. The grand
total of sufferers up to date may be
thought to amount to 75,000. The cost
of the expedition for the Italian fleet
and army at 200 miles from Its base is
reckoned to be nearly U50,000.000. The
expenses of the war for the Moslems
must approximate to the expenses for
Italians. Damage to buildings and land
must represent to Tripoli the loss of a
good many millions, and the dislocation
of business and cessation of labor are
chargeable a very heavy but Incalcnla*
ble negative sum. The costs of the war,
added together, for the two contending
parties are reckoned at $375,000,000,
and the situation of the opposing
armies Is a stalemate. The Italians
are brave: they can
pvwvi VUOTurlcey
fights herolcnllv for whst has
long been unquestionably hers, end It Is
considered now tbst the time for an
honorable compromise has sorely arrived.