[January 16, 1904.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"San Francisco, Cal, Friday-When the prosperity." British exports in the last four Sir James Blyth, who is well known for the years have shown an increase of more than 20 interest he displays in imperial agriculture, cal- statement was printed last week that George per cent.; deposits in savings-banks have steadi-oulates that a duty levied on foreign corn sum-F. Curtis, of Shangliai, hal filed a complaint ly and substantially increased, and our invest- cient to raise the price of wheat all round by against John Goodnow, American Cousul- ments abroad during the last twenty years 58, per quarter would relatively fall as a per- General at Shanghai, Mr. Goodnow said have more than doubled. Nor can it be dis- centage on income to the extent of 10 per cent. 'Curtis has, as an attorney, been insult-
that the pated
people of the old on a person earning 128. a week, while a maning and obstreperous before the Consular country are better housed, better clothed, with a revenue of £1,000 a year would pay a tax court at Shanghai, and I came near dis- and better fed than they have ever been of less than † per cent. on his income. When barring him. I have not heard that he intends before Mr. Chamberlain is doing his Mr. Chamberlain was President of the Board of suing my bondsmen for $40,60, nor have I best to persuade the working men of the Trade he held that "A tax on food would mean heard that he has sent on charges to the Pre- If he charges me with United Kingdom that they will be infinitely a decline in wages. It would certainly involve sident against me. better off under a policy of protection than un a reduction in their productive value; th same
malfeasance in office, he has done something der free-trade; that is an assertion which needs a amount of money would have a smaller purchas- which is malicious and false. He is a bitter great deal to support it—a great deal more than ing value." Mr. Chamberlain does not think enemy of mine, simply because I will not let it is in the power of Mr. Chamberlain to supply. so now. Nevertheless, this seems sound econo- him haye his own way in the Consular Court Will anyone seriously contend that the lot of mio doctrine, and I know of no instance in which over which I have jurisdiction. My conduct in the Ballantine affair was above board and the labourer and the artisan in any of the great it has proved fallacious, protect d countries-Germany, the United The Duke of Devonshire has calculated perfectly straight. The Philippines authorities States, or France is preferable to that of the that Mr. Chamberlain's scheme will entail a telegraphed me to arrest him in China ou à same class in England? The evidenc: points oss to the consumer of at least 35, and possibly, charge of smuggling Chinese into the Philip conclusively in the opposite direction.
50 millions, and it would provide a subsidy--for pines. He had fled from Manila to China. I that is really what it amounts to-of only 2 did arrest him later, I refused to release him millions to the Colonies. An imp rtant point on habeas corpus, and at the request of the is, how would this subsidy be divided among the Philippines authorities sent him back to Manila. Colonics The Duke works it out that Canada Legally and in any other way my conduct can would get 3s. 2d, per bead; Australia would get be defended in that affair." 18 1d.; New Zealand would get 68. 8d. per head;
get the magnificent sum of 3d. per head of its white population, India and the Crown Colonies would get nothing. Ludia aud South Africa are the best customers for British exports. Yet this is the reward which they are to receive under this scheme, which purports to be a chems for the fiscal unification of the Empire. Let us reflect on this and we shall begin to see that this network of commercial treaties would be fatal to friendly relationship between the Colonies and the mother country, for when we come down to concrete illustrations of the working of the scheme. we can see what a tempestuous time the mother, is likely to have with her offspring.
The policy
On the 9th inst., Mr.. Kemp sat in bristles with difficulties which must tend to des-judgment in the small court at the Magistracy integrate rather than bind the colonies to the for the last time. He goes from its walls to take motherland,
up the position of Assistant-secretary of the Sanitary Board, and his departure is regretted by all with whom he has had dealings,
"I have looked," said Lord Goschen recently, "into the reports of the German factory inspec- tors, the men who have investi ated the position of the German working classes, and I say that if these factory reports could be circulated among our working class population we should hear very little about the benefits which protection can afford. Their industrial institu- tions have meant forced sales. They have sent goods to this country at low prices, and mainly they have fleeced the consumer at home. They have made the consumer at home pay much more than was ever paid by the foreigner. We are helping the foreigner by given him cheap food,' says one of these reports, and we are panalising our people by forcing up the price of food, by curtailing their ability to buy because We are weakening the whole social system by the imposition of
2 The statistics these enormous taxes, regards employment in Germany and the general position of the industries of the country show a condition of things which Lord Goschen rightly said would not be stood in England. The factory inspector for Leipzig reports for the year 1902 as follows:-"The economic conditions of the workers have not improved during the past year, since he incomes of many workpeople have undergone a further diminution, partly owing to a reduction of wages and partly owing to ourtailment of the hours of work, and since the prices of the most imvertant articles of food have increased the endeavour to economise shows itself in the diminution of the consumption of meat and the larger demand for horseflesh."
"Bal
AS
The United Kingdom would suffer more from protection than any other country because the greater proportion of the of import trade of the country consists foodstuffs and raw materials. Of these we obtain about 90 millions from the Colonies and 290 millions from foreign countries. says the advocate of protection, "we have in our Colonies, particularly in Canada, vast tracts of virgin soil capable of producing all the grain we need. Handicap the foreign imports, and you will at once give the necessary fillip to increased cultivation." And what is the position of the British- taxpayer ? What quid pro quo will he receive? Canada granted British goods a preference, but British trade with Canada diminished rather than increased because the tariff is still sufficiently protective to exclude British manufactures.
The British taxpayer will in his cool moments look at the matter from a purely selfish stand- point. We are to tax these 200 millions of foreign foodstuffs and raw material and in addition to tax by 10 per cent. all manufactured articles, so that the voter has to calculate not only, upon a certain increase in the cost of his food, but also upon the enhancement of the cost of every ordinary necessary of life. Where is the attraction to the English elector when he places these facts alongside the facts of existence in the countries which already are protectionist P The prospect is not alluring. To tax food, as England must if she is to give a preference to the colonies, pells extortion from the poorer olasses, whilst it leaves the wealthy practically unaffected. On reflection, it will be recognised that the poorer the man, the larger is the proportion of the tax he is called upon to pay upon bread and all articles of prime necessity on which a duty is levied,
|
ud Bouth Africa would
U.S. CONSULS IN CONTROVERSY.
The New York Herald publishes, with sub- heads reporting "Charges Filed Against John Goodnow. Who Seeks the Scalp of John Fowler," and "Disclosures Expected Affecting the Administration of More Than One' Con- sular Post in China," details of a controversy which will interest residents, particularly American residents, in Chius. The Herald says:-
States
In
Boston, Mass, Friday.-Charges are to be made against Consul-General Goodnow by John Fowler, Consul in Chefoo, but what will ba alleged Mr. Fowler refuses to disclose. ⚫ Because of a department rule I cannot say & thing about the matter,' said Mr. Fowler, when seen to-night at his mother's home, No, 7 Ashburton Place."
HONGKONG.
Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works, goes home on the 1st April on leave. During his absence Mr P. H. Jones, Assistant D.P.W, will act in his stead.
German war-ships Moewe and Luchs paid official On Wednesday morning the captains of the visite to H.E. MrF. H. May, C.M.G., and Major- General Villiers Hatton, C.B. The captain of the Moewe is Capt.-Lieut. von Grambkow; he arrived here a few days ago by the 8.8. Syria to take over command of a vessel for some time in charge of an acting app intment. The other cap ain, Capt. Kroencke, is a new arrival, the Luchs having only come here a few days ago.
A complimentary farewell concert was given Serious charges against United
on Wednesday in the S. Patrick's Club to Consul General Johu Goodnow at Shanghai, Messrs. W. T. Burge.a and W. F. Rogers, two Chins, have been filed with the Depart gentlemen who have done good service during ment of State, and he is now in this their stay in the Colony by way of giving their services at benefit and charitable entertainments. country hastening to Washington to answer them. United States Consul John Fowler, The wet night apparently had a bad effect whose post is Chefoo, China, is also bound to upon the attendance, which was not large though Washington with the avowed intention of the hall was fairly well fil ed. Mr. C. Wood obtaining Mr. G odnow's official scalp. was master of ceremonies; the excellence of the the State Department it is expected Mr. Good-programme did credit to him and to the various now will try to return the compliment. Those artistes who sustained it. These inclu led the who have their eye on this bitter inter-consular beneficiaries themselves, also M. ssrs. W. :obins war predict startling disclosures affecting the H. Wisby, G. Varney, H. E. Gilbert, H. Neal, administration of more than one consular post C. Wood, H. Nash, sud H. MoLean (pianist). in China and showing a condition of affairs A farce, My wife wo.'t let me, by Messrs. which will at least draw the light of official con- Burgess, Wood, Varuey, Gilbert and Rogers sideration. The charges against Mr. Goodnow, brought the entertainment to a close. who has served in Shanghai since 1896, when At 4 p.m. on Tuesday the Hongkong Obser- he was appointed to the consular service from vatory hoisted signals to the effect that there Minnesota, are brought by George F.Curtis, was a depression to the N.W. of Shantung; an attorney of Shanghai, and they are believed centre moving to ards the east. On Wednesday to include malfeasauce and destruction of do-morning a glance from the hill showed that we cuments. It is around the quarrel between Mr. Fowler and Mr. Goodnow that mos at. tention centres. It is said Mr. Goodnow incurred the enmity of Mr. Fowler by dealing harshly in his consular capacity in Shanghai with a person attached to the United States Consulate in Chefoo. Whether Mr. Goodnow has a distinct grievance against Mr. Fowler or is merely hitting back is unknown here, but many persons think the quarrel which ha reached around the world is so bitter that China will be in the future too small for both of the principals."
The Herald also publishes the two following despatches
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also had a depression, and a very disagreable one too, at Hongkong. The harbour was so enve- loped in mist that not only was the Kowloon Peninsula invisible, but also vessels in harbour. As the day went on weather developed from Scotch mist into drizzling rain, soon putting thoroughfares in a muddy condition. It was almost impossible to take refuge on the pavements on account of the numerous Chinese crowded there, going along at a snail-like Chinese require teaching, for the speed. general benefit, that an umbrella balance I on the shoulder is very dangerous to other people and that rain does not fall from ceilings of verandahs.