AMERICA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 9 December 1908, Page 8

AMERICA.

Ihe agreement between America and da pan relative to the status quo in the. Ear East has been signed at Washington. Mr. J. I). Archbold, vice-president of the Standard Oil Trust, testifies that the trust owns or controls companies with a capital of £65,660,000. 1 he Rev. \\ . Bayard Hale, writer of the interview with the Kaiser, which was excised from the current number of the “Century Magazine.’’ reiterates that the account of the interview which the “New Xork World’’ and “New York American” published. is a silly concoction. The U.S.A. Tariff. The New York correspondent of the “Times’’ states that the Ways and Means Committee on Tariff Revision at Washington is startled by the numerous proposals in favour of free trade. Demands have been received for free ■trade in lumber, steel, hides, and works of art., and foi the substantial reduction of duties in other directions. Throughout, the States both parties have been clamouring for tariff amendment. and Air Taft is committed to revision. At the Republican Convention in Chicago there was a contest between those who wanted revision and the “standpatters,’’ but the former won easily. Heavy influence is being brought to bear on the Ways and Means Committee on Tariff revision urging them to include hides in the free list. Boot manufacturers declare that if the duty is abolished they will be able to secure complete control of the British market. No Respecter of Persons. President Roo-evelt. while walking to church in Washington on ‘Sunday week, was knocked down by a motor-car. The President was unhurt, but had a very close shave. Revolt in Hayti. After the success of the Southern revolutionaries under General Simon, the people of the Hay tian capital, Port-au-Princ?, rose against the present President, General Nord Alexis, and his Government. - They ousted the administration from office, and formed a provisional Government. with General Legitime as President. hen the rebel forces, under General Simon, approached the capita], the Government forces sent out to opose them offered no resistance. Instead they retreated before the advance of the rebels, and voluntarily laid down their arms, thus giving Simon’s followers a free entrance to the citv. Ihe populace arc now clamouring for the elevation of General Simon to the Presidency, the administration under General I < -girime being but provisional. When it was evident that the revolutionaries would sircceed in capturing the capita] the French Minister at Port-au-Prince, throwing the folds of the tricolour round the shoulders of the overthrown President Alexis, escorted him to the quay and took him aboard a French cruiser anchored in the harbour. Ihe populace hooted the French Minister, and ende avoured to assassinate their aged President, but he was protected by the* Frenc h guan!. Both the American and French Ministers have stationed parties of bluejackets round their respective Legations. Pillaging ha-, begun in the market place, and a butcher was killed while dele i. ling bi-j stall from the mob.

Foiled in its attempt to assassinate the President, the mob in Port-au-Prince uilL’gol the shops and houses. They fought among themselves for the spoil, and four were killed. Ultimately General Poidevin and a party of soldiers and civilians fired on the mob, killing twelve. Order was then restored. In the Heart of the City. A “hold up” gang, consisting of four men, armed with revolvers, and three women, boarded a tramcar in the heart of New York at three o’clock on Wednesday morning. They murderously assaulted the conductor, and covering the 65 passengers with their revolvers, robbed them of their jewellery and money and then decamped, getting clear away. Remorse. The San Francisco correspondent of the “London Daily News” states that Chief of Police Biggey ha's committed suicide. Biggey was severely criticised for neglect of duty during the campaign against the grafters. Statesmanlike. President Roosevelt has made 15,500 fourth-class sub-postmasters, formerly on the temporary list, and subject to dismissal when their nominators were displaced from political power, permanent official*. They are thus removed from political influence, and their positions are made secure. Escaped in a Motor. A gang of burglars dynamited the vault of the National Bank at Pepperell, Massachusetts. They secured a sum of £3OOO, which they placed aboard a motor car and drove Defence of Canada. Tlie “Toronto Mail/' discussing Lord R.ob< rts’ warning to Britain of the necessity for preparing to resist a land invasion, urges Cisliada to reduce expenditure on her militia by a million and spend that amount in the purchase of four cruisers for the Atlantic, thereby offering a better defence for the coastal ami river fronts.