The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 22, April 8, 1897 | Page 2

Dingley of Maine, who is Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives. It is known as the Dingley Bill, and, it is said, will increase the income of the Government over one hundred millions.
It is said by people who are against the bill, that, if it passes, the cost of living will become much greater. People who are in favor of it say that by preventing goods of foreign manufacture from being brought into the country, our own industries will greatly increase and our trade be much benefited.
There is one section of the bill which will make it very unpopular to many of our citizens.
This paragraph states that tourists and people visiting foreign countries shall only be allowed to bring one hundred dollars' worth of wearing apparel into the country free of duty.
When you think that you can get little more than a whole change of costume, hat, boots, and gloves complete, for a hundred dollars, and that people who are rich enough to travel in foreign countries give three and four times that sum for a single outfit, you can understand just how much that paragraph is going to be liked.
It is true that the law says that people may bring back with them the articles they take away, provided they can prove that they took them out of the country. But think of the worry and annoyance of arguing with the Custom House officers as to where and when each garment in your trunk was bought.
If it goes into effect, this law will certainly prevent a great many people from travelling, for the hours of heated argument with the officials on the dock, on the traveller's return, would undo all the good of their trip.
The present Custom House system is about as trying to a person's nerves as anything can be, and not a little of the trouble comes from the fact that you must not show the slightest annoyance when the officer dives into your trunk, and punches at the corner which contains your best hat, or feels in the folds of a delicate silk skirt, leaving marks of dusty fingers behind him. The least show of temper from you will result in the officer's claiming his right to have the whole contents of your various trunks dumped out on the wharf and repacked under his eye.
It is to be hoped that the $100 paragraph may be changed; but with or without it, it seems as if the passage of the Dingley Bill may be the best thing for the country.
The bill is called "An Act to provide revenue for the Government, and encourage the industries of the United States."
* * * * *
The Powers have not sent any further word to Greece.
They have been waiting to hear what France has to say.
As we told you last week, the people of France were not willing to take part in any severe measures against Greece; the Government was quite willing, but dared not make any promises without the consent of the Chamber of Deputies (the French Congress).
The Powers decided to wait until the Prime Minister had had time to ask the Chamber of Deputies if it was willing to support the Government.
At the last meeting the Minister put the question to the Chamber--saying that the Government had decided that the proper course for France would be to remain in the concert of the Powers, and insist that Greece withdraw her troops from Crete.
Much discussion followed the Minister's speech. It had been expected that the Chamber of Deputies would refuse, and insist upon a change in the Government. To the surprise of everybody, a vote was passed, approving the policy of the Government, and agreeing to uphold it.
So France joins her voice with those of the other Powers, and calls on Greece to give in.
After the Chamber of Deputies adjourned, orders were sent to Toulon, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, at the south of France, ordering soldiers at once to Crete.
[Illustration: Warships on the Harbor of the Pir?us Seaport of Athens.]
The Admirals of the allied fleets have received orders to blockade the ports of Crete; and if this fails to make the Greeks obedient to the wishes of the Powers, the Pir?us and the ports of Greece are also to be blockaded.
On receipt of these orders the Admirals proceeded to put them into effect, and the Cretan ports are now blockaded.
It is said that the Greek fleet has withdrawn from Turkish waters.
The Greek Cabinet Ministers had a very long and serious talk over the present state of affairs. It was decided that on no account would the Greek troops be withdrawn from Crete, and that if the Powers tried to force Greece into obedience she must take active measures.
These active measures are understood