Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 12, 1915, Winnipeg, Manitoba Only morning newspaper in Manitoba vol. 41. Sun Moon rises sets j m. I rises . Sets . Winnipeg Friday feb Bulky. Weather fair lower temperature. Winnipeg temp. Yesterday High 18 Low 10 eighteen pages. No. 191. Increased taxation of f heavy Nordenson nation imposed by War budget duties by 71-2 per cent on dutiable and free goods i captions to increase include wheat twine hard Coal and implements. Axes on cheques letters Tif Ingrams Money orders railway tickets Patent medicines. Eilora Revenue needed to meet deficit on Ordinary borrow War expenses Ottawa feb. The presence of i crowded and expectant House Hon. T. White this afternoon delivered budget address containing the Mea Tures proposed to meet the extraordinary expenditures of the. Dominion due War and other causes. The striking feature of the budget is a general increase in the customs duties upon All goods imported into or taken of bonded warehouses in Canada. Helut includes All articles which have hitherto paid duties As Well free list and whether raw material or finished or partly finished products. This Means that while the hirer i la have the advantage of in Protection he will pay a Cor responding duty on his raw material. It also Means the practical wiping out of the free list. The increase proposed i seven and a half per cent and Valorme to general and intermediate tariffs and five per cent and Valorme to the British preferential. In the Case of Iron Ere the added duty is specific. By Rea our Trade agreements with France and the British West. Indies certain items Are excluded from the Jeweral increase. Exceptions to the in treate include wheat wheat flour bind ores and metals sugar Tea Alt Cocoa chocolate news printing newspaper printing presses Ewers binders harvesters and the new taxes upon the note circulation of All Banks one per cent upon the Gross income derived in Canada of every Trust and loan company one per cent. Upon net premiums of insurance companies other than life fraternal Benefit and Marine insurance one per cent. Upon every Cable and Telegraph company a Canada one cent per message for which. Fifteen cents is charged tax to be collected irom sender. Upon railway or steamship tickets purchased in Canada for any Point in Canada Newfoundland the West Indian colonies or the United states five cents for every ticket costing a Dollar up to five dollars and five cents for. Each additional five dollars. Upon. Every berth in a sleeping car ten cents. _ upon every seat in a parlor car five cents the railway or steam ship company Selling the tickets to collect the taxes from purchaser. Upon every person firm or company carrying passengers by ves Sels outside of Canada Newfoundland the British West indies and the United states one Dollar for each person buying a ticket up to ten dollars three dollars Over thirty dollars five dollars Over fifty dollars. In addition the following stamp taxes were imposed upon All cheques receipts to Banks by depositors and upon Bills Exchange two cents. Upon All express and Post office Money orders one cent. Upon letter and postal cards posted in Canada one cent. Upon Bills of lading two cents. Ujj Pipii proprietary or Patent medicines and perfumery one for Pottle of package costing ten cents or less and one cent for additional ten cents. Cent every the wine taxes Are five cents per quart or less upon non sparkling wine sold in Canada and five cents for each additional quart Twenty five cents for every pint of Champagne and sparkling wine and Twenty five cents for additional pint. The wine taxes to become effectual at once and the other levies to be fixed later. Increase in customs duties. A horizontal increase in the customs duties upon All goods and commodities with certain exceptions imported into or taken out of bonded warehouses. The list includes All articles hitherto dutiable or on the Fres list and whether raw material or finished or partly finished products. The increase is seven and a half per cent and Valorme to the general and intermediate Tariff and five per cent and and Valorme to the British preferential. For Iron Ore the duty is specific and not and Valorme. The exceptions to the increase in customs duties include articles specified in the Trade convention with France and agreements with certain West Indian colonies and silk fabrics velvets wheat wheat flour Tea fish Binder twine traction ditching engines sugar Salt Cocoa chocolate news printing paper news printing presses binders harvesters reapers and Anthracite Coal. Germans attempt to torpedo British boat a Maiden Netherlands feb. Via the submarine n-2 attempted to torpedo the British Steamer laertes which arrived Here to Day from Java. The vessel escaped by adroit manoeuvres and fast steaming. When attacked the Steamer was flying the dutch Flag. The attack on the laertes was made while the vessel was steaming betwee the Meuse lightship and Schouwe Bank the submarine fired several shells which damaged the vessel s fun Nel Compass and upper deck. As this did not induce the Captain to Stop the submarine made an unsuccessful at tempt to torpedo the steamship. The laertes when challenged by the sub Marine was proceeding without showing her nationality. When asked to Slop the vessel flew the dutch Flag but this did not prevent the germans Accord ing to the ship s officers from firing on the Steamer. And attempting to sink her. The Captain of the laertes says he flew the dutch Flag in order to save the Crew which consisted of subjects of Neutral countries including China and apr was. Will make inquiry. The Hague feb. Dutch authorities will make an inquiry into the attempt of the German submarine u-2 to torpedo the steamship laertes As it is suggested that the attempt was made inside dutch territorial Waters. Special War Are War taxes in name Only no portion of thirty millions to be raised will be used in. Defraying expenses for army but will go to meeting the deceit Between Revenue and expenditure altogether apart Krom the War t t futile French official report tells of violent struggle in the Argonne Russia has big task is fighting single handed forces of Germany Austria and Turkey in rapid succession must stand trim. Mccutcheon Brothers and Cook committed on charges of con accepted. Taxes will include taxes on 6e note circulation of Banks the in. Me of Trust and loan companies taxes m cables and telegrams railway and tickets As Well As stamp m upon cheques business receipts press and postal orders letters and pm i cards Bills of lading and per Fewry while additional taxes have in imposed upon wines and Cham Pines. Expects increase. Tie minister of finance anticipates increase in Revenue of Over from the new taxes. It s detailed statement in re new taxation was As chief source and Revenue is the Tariff and it is to must look principally for Relief present financial condition. Jpn imposed by increased customs bears upon All classes because All Consumers and in paying addition contributing to the Cost of the War defence of his country. As an y Means of raising Revenue we knit resort to certain special taxes the of which More Partick upon those members of the com who Are Best it. To supplement our revenues to the ii mum amount regarded by the gov As necessary i shall later in saw me to the House a Bill entitled the 3k Revenue act of 1915. To provisions will cover a Levy of and general taxation As follows Banks to which the Bank a sum equal to one it. Cent upon the note circulation to and paid quarterly. From taxation we shall realize approximately que million dollars. Upon every Trust and loan company under any legislative a 7p.m. Friday dismal for All y 3.nci classified Jim ends for saturday s free press. I is thursday preceding. Mats should copy otherwise guarantee main 6340 free press special Cable Ottawa feb. Million Dol Lars Are to be raised in the Dominion during the coming year by the imposition of a series of special War taxes Ane by a horizontal increase in the general and preferential tariffs. The special War Are War taxes in name Only since no portion of the proceeds derived from them nor of the increased Revenue gained from the boost in the Tariff will go toward de fraying the expenses incurred by the Dominion through her participation in the War. The thirty million dollars so derived will simply go to meeting part Only of the deficit Between Revenue and expenditure altogether apart from the War. The Hundred million dollars to be expended for purposes this will be borrowed in England. The additional taxes Are necessitated because of increased expenditure before the War commenced and because the Cost of administration has not been de creased appreciably since the War commenced the present year s estimates promising to equal those of the last. Eight millions by War eight million collars Are to be raised by the special War taxes the Tariff must be responsible for the rest. A Invertase of seven and a half per cent and Valorme has been made upon the general Tariff and of five per cent on the British preferential. That is to say an coming in at present under the general Tariff at a Twenty per cent Auty will in future have to pay Twenty seven and a half per cent. An article which now comes in free under the general Tariff will have to pay seven and a half per cent and so on. In addition while Canada is borrowing Noney from great Britain to carry on the War she is increasing the tax on British goods to help pay the Cost of her own administration. Free list abolished. The free list has been practically wiped out. Almost the Only exceptions Are Tea Binder twine and settlers effects while practically the Only items of general consumption left out of the wholesale increase Are wheat flour sugar a limited number of agricultural implements tobacco and printed books. The special War taxes include an estimated million dollars from the Banks upon their note circulation with the remaining seven millions to be derived from Trust and insurance companies from Telegraph messages rail Way and steamship tickets sleeping come about then it May happen that a decrease in imports May entirely counteract the hoped for results of the increased Tariff taxation and the Canadian manufacturers be the Only earners. A number of the increases. For instance by the new Tariff the duty on living animals will be in creased from 25 per cent to 32 1-2 on canned meats from 27 1-2 to 35 on vegetables from 30 per cent to 37 1-2 on gasoline from the free list to the suitable at 7.1-2 per cent. On rough lumber from the free list to the dutiable at the same rate on sawn boards Etc. From 25 per cent to 32 1-2 continued on Page two Toronto feb. Preliminary hearing in the Case of the four my Cutch Eon. Brothers and marshal Cooke charged with conspiracy to defraud was concluded this afternoon and All of them come fitted to trial bail was accepted in for Gordon Mccutcheon and for the others. Testimony of More witnesses was taken today to the effect that they had Money into several syndicates and had received nothing for it. Where did the Money asked the magistrate. It looks As though this whole business consisted of bogus sales a sort of endless Chain forming one company to buy a property Only in order to raise the Price of it finally Selling it of an inflated Price to the final in reply to an objection of or. Snow to certain the magistrate said the evidence As far As i have heard shows a widespread fraud Over the country from end to end. I want to know All about it if there is enough evidence to bring others in Why should t they be Broj ight. Value much overstated i. C. Pict Twell a journalist who investigated the Melfort property called Windsor Park said it was Worth j20 to an acre and the whole Block was not Worth it was some distance from the town which had a population of it would need to have to give the property the value of put upon it by the Mccutcheons. Paris feb. Following communication was issued by Tho War of fice tonight the enemy has strongly bombarded nieuport and the Banks of the Yser but has not succeeded in doing any material damage. Our artillery Han responded in the Argonne in the Region of Bagatelle after a violent struggle by Means of bomb throwers which continued throughout the morn a v German attack was delivered at 1 o clock in the afternoon against the earthworks of Marie Therese it was carried out in Ine by columns of Over 400 metres front but was broken Down by our artillery and infantry fire. The enemy Eft on the ground a very great num bar of dead. In the Vosges to the South of the chateau de Lusse North of the col de Sainte Marie we succeeded by a Sud Den attack in occupying one of the German trenches. On several parts of the front there has been a very spirited artillery envious of Canada on official news Canadian London feb. Matt congratulate herself on receding news from British official sources which is denied to dwellers at Home. The Colo Nial Secretary s statement to Ottawa that two and one Quarter millions of Ger mans have been lost is the first Intima Tion the Public Here has had from the Cabinet As to the casualties among the enemy. Although there have been Many inquiries upon the subject the authorities have declined to publish such information Here. Speaking of or. Harbour is state ment to military correspondent of the Liverpool Post today says that is the fond of statement every one has hoped the government would made to the British people and we can Only be thankful that the natural curiosity of the Canadian people has prevailed Over the reticence of the govern ment the Westminster Gazette draws at Tention to the speech of the German Canadian member of parliament w g. Weichel of North Waterloo in the debate on the address at Ottawa. The says the Gazette Are proud of the race from which they sprung but German science is one thing and prussian militarism is not Smi with Teh Msj Relief Alberta government has differ ence of opinion with the Federal authorities. Liberals information on big contracts government promises to pro Duce returns although mating Cost at some of original documents lost according to statement by Hon. Or. Montague. Debate on speech from throne resumed or. Armstrong criticizing government on Rural problems. Petrograd feb. Following statement from the general staff of the russian commander in chief was made Public tonight it has been definitely established that the germans Are concentrating very great forces in East Prussia. These forces have started an offensive which they Are developing especially in the direction of Willowy ski North of Augustono and Lyck. The pres ence is reported of units composed of new recruits from Central Germany. Our troops keeping the enemy in Check Are retiring from the Mazuriak lakes toward our Frontier. On the right Bank of the Vistula some Small encounters have taken place in the direction of Muschenetz toward Ostrolenka and in the Region of Serwetz on the Serwa River. On the left Bank of the Vistula there have been Only cannonade. In the carpathians the enemy made attacks to the West of Menzola botch in the direction of Jablonow to the East of the Zsok pass. We repulsed All these attacks and also a German offensive on the Heights of Kozi Ovuka. We seized the Heights near Rabbe to the East of the Zupkow pass after continued on Page three United states will hold Germany to strict accountability for lives and vessels of american citizens Washington b.c., feb. Tion by the state department tonight of the text of the notes sent yesterday to great Britain and Germany respectively revealed that both countries had been warned in most emphatic terms against menacing the vessels or lives of american citizens traversing the recently proclaimed sea zones of War. Germany was advised that the United states would be constrained to hold the Imperial government to a strict accountability for such acts of its naval authorities As might result in the destruction of american vessels or the loss of american lives and that if such a deplorable situation should arise the american government would take any Steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard american lives and to great Britain the United states pointed out the measure of responsibility which would seem to be imposed on the British government for the loss and parlor car tickets letters and i of american vessels and lives in Case of postcards Posto Cice notes and Money orders Bank cheques deposits receipts Bills of Exchange Bills of lad ing proprietary medicines perfumes and wines. The majority of the above Are easy of collection since the machinery is in most cases already provided for. The minister of finance was of the opinion that at least eight million Dol Lars should be collected thereby though it might amount to ten. He hesitated however to give any de finite estimate As to the amount which he hoped would be raised from the horizontal increase in the Tariff. How far indeed the increases will prove pr9hibitive can Only be known when Imp Ort statistics have been made available. It is conceivable however that any increase of seven and. A half per cent upon items on which the duty is already High May result in the virtual barring out of the commodity and leaving the monopoly of the production entirely in the hands of can Adian manufacturers thereby destroy ing Competition. Should such a result an attack by a German naval Force if England sanctioned the general mis use of the american Flag by British vessels and thereby casts doubt on the valid character of Neutral ensigns. Diplomats examined with great in Terest the language of the communications and some of them construed the note to Germany As a warning that the loss of american lives by sinking even a belligerent merchant ship would be covered by the representations of the american government because of the insistence that All merchant ships must be visited and searched and Pas sengers taken Oft before ships can be sunk. Outstanding Points. The outstanding Points in the note to Germany Are the government of the United states having had its attention directed to the proclamation of the German admiralty issued on the fourth of february feels it to be its duty to Call the attention of the Imperial German government with sincere respect and the most Friendly sentiments but very candidly and earnestly to the very serious possibilities of the course of action apparently contemplated under that proclamation. The government of the United states views those possibilities with such grave concern that it feels it to be its privilege and indeed its duty in the circumstances to request the Imperial German government to con Sider before action is taken the critical situation in respect of the rela Tion Between this country and Ger Many which might arise were the Ger Man naval forces in carrying out the policy foreshadowed in the admiralty s proclamation to destroy any merchant vessel of the United states or cause the death of american citizens. Unprecedented in warfare. It is of course not necessary to re mind the German government that the right of a belligerent in dealing with Neutral vessels on the is limited to visit and search unless a blockade is proclaimed and effectively maintained which this government does not understand to be proposed in this Case. To declare or exercise a right to attack and destroy any ves Sel entering a prescribed area of the High seas without first certainly determining its belligerent nationality and the contraband character of its cargo would be an act so unprecedented in naval warfare that this govern ment is reluctant to believe that the Imperial government of Germany in this Case contemplates it As possible. This government has carefully noted the explanatory statement issued by the Imperial German government at the same time with the proclamation of the. German admiralty and takes this occasion to remind the Imperial German government very respectfully that the government of the United states is open to none of the criticisms for a Neutral action to which the German government believe the governments of certain of other Neutral nations have Laid themselves open and regards itself As free in the present instance to take with a Clear conscience and on accepted principles the position indicated in this note. If the commanders of German yes Sels of War should act upon the pre sumption that the Flag of the United states was not being Usea in Good Faith and should destroy on the High seas an american vessel or the lives of american citizens. Safe Guild american lives. If such a deplorable situation should arise the Imperial German government can readily appreciate that the ment of the United states would be constrained to hold the Imperial Gor to a strict account ability for such acts of their naval authorities and to take any Steps it be necessary to take to safeguard american lives and property and to secure to american citizens the enjoyment o their acknowledged rights on the High seas 4tl Kilow Leasell the government of the United states expresses the confident Hope and expectation that the Imperial Ger Man government can and will Zelv assurances that american their vessels will not be Val f of other i k Oer Wise than by visit and search though their vessels May be the Uon other Tion of the German admiralty. To great Britain. Put note to great Britain it is stated that has been advised of the declaration of the German admiralty on feb. 4, indicating that the British government had on Jan. 31 explicitly authorized the use of Neutral flags on British merchant ves Sels. There follow references to press reports regarding the British liner Lusitania and the British for eign office statement of feb. 10 assuming that the foregoing reports Are True the government of the United states reserving for future consideration the legality and propriety of the deceptive use of the Flag of a Neutral Power in any Case for., the purpose of avoiding capture desires very respect fully to Point out to his Britannic majesty so Over Rhent the serious con sequences which May result to american vessels and american citizens this practice is continued the occasional use of the Flag of Edmonton alta., feb. Negotiations Between the Dominion govern ment and the Alberta government with regard to the Relief of. Destitute and impoverished Farmers of the province owing to the drought and other causes last year have not yet been concluded and there exists a very serious differ ence of opinion which is of vital in those Farmers immediately affected. The draft agreement forwarded by Hon. Or. Roche minister of Interior to Premier Sittou several Days ago contains the proviso that the Dominion government will undertake the distribution of seed Grain and Relief other than seed Grain to Farmers on patented and unpatented lands alike not Only within the drought stricken area but also outside that area if found advis Able to do so. That is satisfactory of course to the Alberta government. The Dominion government however wishes to take As Security in respect of the Cost of such advances of seed Grain and Relief other than seed liens which will have priority Over All other liens charges or encumbrances and asks the provincial government to guarantee that legislation will be passed protecting and legalizing such liens. Premier Sifton disagreed with the wide terms of this agreement. On be half of the government he has wired to or. Roche stating that the govern ment would have no objection to protecting the Dominion government in regard to the Grain for seed and in regard to the feed for horses during the sowing of the crop but saying in effect that the Alberta government does not think that other forms of Relief such As provisions including groceries and such things should be included in the liens. There the matter rests for the present. Pre Mier Sifton s telegraphic reply was sent on tuesday but up to last night no answer had been received from or. Roche. French prohibition against absinthe Paris feb. Chamber of deputies today began the discussion of the Bill for the prohibition of the Sale of absinthe and similar liquors. Adolphe Girod one of the deputies said that since it appeared that the chamber a decided to pass the Bill he would fulfil his duty of combating the project. He declared that by the suppression of absinthe alcoholism could not be effectively combated the Deputy also offered statistics tending to show that absinthe drinking was dangerous Only when the practice was abused. Deputy Louis Andrieux and other members of the chamber opposed the principle of indemnifying manufacturers of liquors. I said m. Andrieux that we will create a dangerous precedent if after having broken the glasses of the drinkers of absinthe you Demantle sums indemnifying their prisoners. The sup i pression of absinthe already has Cost them a loss of francs 000.000 in m. Schmidt furnished numerous figures to establish his Contention that absinthe had caused great ravages among the French people particularly in. Midi and said that if the Bill was passed a great service to the entire nation would be done. Alexandre Ribot minister of finance declared that the project was part of the National defence and urged the adoption of the prohibition Bill the debate will be continued to Morrow. Weather Keport. The weat Iier report irom the meteorological Observatory at St. John s College is As follows temperature at 7 .p.on., Maxi mum Lor the preceding 12 Tours 18.9 Manl firm barometer. 30.27 North wind at 6 Miles an hour 1 Inch of Snow. The Cana Dlan meteorological service weather observations taken at 7 o clock last evening time were Bat Tler ors 16. Clear Calgary. 28. Edmonton 16. Clear 16 Clear Minnedosa. 8, Clear port Arthur 26 fair Prince Albert 18, Clear Quappelle current. In. Clear Winnipeg 10, Clear. The weather has Turnes a Little colder far in but continues fairly mild. Ther West. Maximum and minimum ten Aires Dawson -2. 8 Prince Eupert 36" 40 Victoria s8, 46 Vancouver 36 4t 30, 36 Calr Arv 14 in Medicine hat 10, 24 Moose jaw 6, 2s Ottawa. Continued on them Liberal demands in the legislature yesterday for information about big contracts let by the Public works department Drew from Hon. Or. Mon Tague the statement that in order to compile the desired returns the government will have to spend and employ 40 men for a year. He to bring Down the returns but said it meant considerable delay contracts in question Are those Lor the construction of the new Parlia ment buildings the new court House it new Power House at Winnipeg the agricultural College at St. Vital and the Brandon Asylum. At the special War session last september or. Montague astounded the House by saying the Cost of the new parliament buildings would be approximately one and three quarters millions of dollars above the estimate. T. C. Norris the Liberal Leader notified the government then that at the first suitable Opportunity the opposition would make an investigation into this and other con tracts. On the first Day of the present session notice was Given of the intention to move for exhaustive returns on the subject of the contracts above mentioned and the motions were put to the House and carried Burden dry staff says minister referring to the motions. Or. Mon Tague said the government was perfectly willing to give the desired in but did Hon. Gentlemen opposite understand what a Burden they were throwing on the government s staff they had called for plans Spe. I fictions and daily reports covering four years. To till this order hundreds of plans would have to be prepared and hundreds of pages of specifications copied. He had already put draughts men Etc. To work but his assistants estimated that to Complete the Job would Cost and give a year s work to 30 or 40 men. Every scrap of the in formation sought would be brought Down but Hon. Gentlemen must not complain if there were some delay. A conscientiously promised the. House however that the greatest possible Speed should be used in preparing the material. Original documents lost. Lar. Norris suggested that original specifications could be brought Down pointing out that the minister had done this at the special session in the Case of plans it was a simple matter to make Blue prints. Or. Montague replied that one or two of the original documents brought Down at the special session had been lost he did not care to run the risk of further losses. He again assured the House that on a conservative Esti mate it would keep 40 men Busy for a year to bring Down the returns. It was suggested from the Liberal benches that the employees of the Public works department do not like work. Absurd says Johnson. T. H. Johnson Centre said the Hon. Minister seemed to be unduly alarmed. He had spoken of plans but it was the main plans Only that the liberals wanted to Gether with plans showing the deviations from the originals. What they wanted was the original plane and specifications on which the contracts Wera awarded. To talk of 40 clerks work ing a year to prepare that information was absurd. Re sketching of plans was not necessary. But if the Hon. Gentleman intended to misconstrue the requests he could perhaps do it. replied that he did not intend to misconstrue the motions nothing not asked for would be done and everything asked for would be done As quickly As possible he pointed out that the motions called for the production of payrolls and said the payrolls of the men on the work never came before the government then something is wrong if they retorted or. Johnson swiftly every contract Calls for the production of payrolls together with signed receipts from the men before the government makes its payments to the i am afraid that is a Rule More honoured in the breach than the of replied or. Montague. If that is so it is a serious matter thought the Hon. Member for Centre Winnipeg or. Deacon was go coot need on fit Teany to curlers during the Bonspiel which commences on february 10th, the free press will As usual publish full and accurate Day s contests. Those desiring to keep their friends acquainted with the results of the games May the free press mailed to any address in Canada United states or great Britain for two1 weeks postage paid for the sum of 25 cents each subscription. Leave your orders at the free press business office. Orders mail will receive prompt attention ;