Seneca Media

[Tyvia]

The Council Watcher​

​

Grimm Territory's New Name Upsets Sylvanians
Governor tells them to bite it, says name will stand
​

The recent renaming of the former Otshka territory has sparked controversy across the border in Sylvania, where townspeople in St. Claire and other villages along the frontier have protested the Grimm territory's new name.

The name was one among many that had been put forward before the territorial congress, and was suggested on the basis that William Ewing Grimm, as a colonel with the Greymane rangers, had been directly responsible for founding Council Mount and consolidating the territory for the Union State. During the March Wars, he served with great success, and was responsible for leading the 2nd Oweiga Volunteers across the Otshko. However, his actions there remain a subject of dispute among many historians, some of whom view his burning of St. Claire and scorched earth style warfare in the region to be effectively criminal.

“Grimm tore up across the valley like a devil straight from hell,” commented a descendant of one of the Sylvanian veterans of the conflict, “burning and killing. How am I supposed to accept them naming the land right across the river from my home after that greenback sumbitch?”

According to the mayor of St. Claire, giving the territory Grimm's name is both “deliberately provocative" and “in bad taste”. “That bloody butcher deserves no lasting glory,” he went on to say, in a press release which would inflame patriots on both sides of the Otshko.

A small movement has thus arose on the Sylvanian side of the river to petition the territorial government to reconsider the name, with some local militia groups even threatening trade boycotts. Though it has yet to gain significant traction with either side, the territorial government has expressed some concern and announced that it would "pontificate carefully" upon the matter. A meeting has been scheduled for the 27th of May for a special hearing on the issue, set to take place before both the territorial congress and the territorial high court.

However, the St. Claire's mayor's words have also stirred an impassioned reaction among the more patriotic of the territory's inhabitants, who have labeled him as a "firebrand revisionist". According to the Chief Clerk for the Territorial Congress, nearly a dozen counter-petitions have already been submitted with nearly two thousand signatories between them calling for the new name to stand. It has been said that these will also “duely considered” during proceedings on the 27th, with the concerns of locals likely to possess considerably more clout. The Chief of the Sheriff's Office in Council Mount has gone on record as saying that he views it as “doubtful that they'll consider this seriously. Grimm means more to us than he ever did or will to them.”

The Captain-General of the territory, Henry Pierce Paulson, has publicly admitted that he "did not anticipate" such a reaction when he approved the change. He stated that though he "understands Sylvanian concerns" that Grimm remains a Senecan hero and major historic figure. "It is ultimately our business who we choose to honor," Paulson said, "and I stand by our decision here, by God."

At the moment, no vote is scheduled regarding the topic. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has not seen fit to comment on this matter, and so it remains an issue of little relevance at present outside the affected territories.

Other News:
:-: Experts in Oweiga believe that the extinction of wolves in the area to be ultimately responsible for the immense rise in deer populations. With so many of the animals now roaming the forests and hills of the state, local farmers are having trouble preventing them from despoiling their fields. Hunting is thus to be encouraged, announced the Oweiga Captain-General, and the government will for the first time buy venison from private sellers.

:-: Schuyler & Jay, one of the larger Port-Republic based banking firms, has announced its intention to withdraw several of its key investments from Bangala. With the recent seizure of Cross Bank, a significant Bangalan bank, and its handover to Saareman investors, Schuyler & Jay have begun to pull out several of their assets in protest. "Corruption is not sufficient grounds for the dismantlement of an entire corporation," commented one spokesperson, "not when due process exist for the prosecution of specific individuals responsible." Echoing Brazulan sentiments, Schulyer & Jay has stated that the whole deal reeks of corruption, and that the firm will refrain from business in Bangala for the time being to avoid a similar theft of their own holdings. While the Ministry of Trade & Commerce has yet to release a detailed report on the issue, it has nevertheless issued a similar warning as both the Brazulan Chamber of Commerce and Schuyler & Jay itself against investing in the Himyari country.

:-: Clyde West announces plans to expand its track in the Utica-Ryheath region, laying down an extra one and making the route a two track railroad. Having originally been built in the 1870s to bring goods and people from east to west, it has remained relatively untouched until recently, when several crashes and signal failures prompted several feasibility studies into expansion. Now concluded, Clyde West announces that to cope with the increased traffic in both directions, that it will be laying down new track over the course of the next few years, and will also consider building new lines entirely.

 

[The Federation]

The Sons of the Border Conflagration Veterans

Let it be forever known that the people of the Senecan border regions wish to name their territory after a man and his "rangers" who turned tail and ran at the first sight of the Regular Army arriving to assist the beleaguered border militias.

 

[Tyvia]

The Council Watcher​

​

Vandereul's death; franchise in question
Siward v. Hall, both squaring off for the vote
​

The death of Paul Vandereul, who had for a long time been the final scion of the Vandereul line, has in its wake incited some controversy among the Elect; particularly those families most closely related to the Vandereul estate.

The trouble lies in the eight votes which the Vandereul line has legal right to, as granted to them first in 1807 and subsequently in 1872 and 1889. Given that Paul Vandereul left no living or adopted heirs, and that the Vandereul estate has no charter detailing succession and inheritance rights, several other prominent families, the Siwards and the Harlls premier among them, have come forward to stake claim to the properties and “accorded honors” of what they are calling the “now extinct Vandereul line”.

While in circumstances such as this a will would likely resolve the issue, Paul Vandereul made no mention of who would receive the franchise privilege following his demise. Indeed, Arthur Siward II, the named executor of Vandereul's will, has stated that the majority of Vandereul assets are to go towards “public causes” and charity, with only the lands to technically remain under the name. It is however unclear who would own the land, with the Siward family having a claim through Vandereul's maternal grandfather, and the Harlls by way of marriage of Margret Harll to Paul Vanderul—though he would go on to survive her. Again, however, due to the lack of a family charter, it remains unclear which would have priority.

The Ministry of the Interior has announced that it has no intention of becoming involved in this dispute, calling it one “exclusively between private estates,” and that it's “more properly the business of the Assembly.” This statement was released to address one of the main concerns of both sides: that in lieu of an obvious heir for remaining assets, that the state would take responsibility and seize them. While the Ministry is legally responsible for managing such affairs, it has not technically carried out any such seizures since the turn of the century, when imminent bankruptcy threatened our republic following the Grand Revolt.

The Elect Assembly is scheduled to hear arguments by both Arthur Siward III and Mordecai Harll on the 29th, to make a ruling on the subject then by way of grand quorum. If it goes ahead, it will be the first time that the Elect Assembly actually rules directly on the arrangement of seats within itself. This has, of course, stirred some greater controversy among the more hardline interpreters of the Fairfax Accords, who view the Elect Assembly's involvement in determining franchise allotment, in the words of Free Colonial Party vice-chairman Elroy Jared Jarvis, “a grand betrayal of the ideals and laws of our founding fathers”.

E.J. Jarvis and a handful of other public figures have thus called for the High Court to instead oversee the matter, going so far as to submit several petitions from both public and private sources to the office of Chancellor Forsythe. While he has made no public statement on the subject, it is generally believed by political analysts and observers that Forsythe, with his tendency thus far being to favor the Elect, will rule against the intervention of the High Court—assuming that Chief Tribune Kaveyn chooses not to involve himself directly.

Either way, the hearing on the 29th is unlikely to be decisive, with the Elect divided on who to support. The traditionally liberal Siwards face opposition from the many friends Harll has made among the Justice and Old Soil parties. Even so, the Labor Party's support of Siward may be enough to force a compromise.

Other News:
:-: The Ministry of Trade & Commerce has finally released its official report on Bangala and the financial situation there, with the requirement for external consultation reportedly being the reason for the delay in the report's publication. To anyone who has spent any time following the free market, the recommendations made in the report should come as no surprise, with the Ministry suggesting that other firms should follow Schuyler & Jay's example in withdrawing their investments from the country.

All this of course comes in the wake of the Bangalan closure of the Cross Bank, and its subsequent takeover by the Saaremaan state-backed Kekspank. With nearly 120,000 customers, Cross Bank was responsible for a wide range of financing, and was one of the largest private financial institutions in the country. Its closure—due to charges of fraud and corruption, according to the Bangalan government—came as an immense shock to many, but not as much as its prompt sale to Kekspank. Pundits of the move have called it corruption in itself, and several other regulatory bodies and institutions have similarly condemned this latest move by the Bangalan government.

:-: Obituary: Jacob Kirke, the 17th Lord Protector of the Seneca Union State, passed on in his sleep in the early hours of this morning and has gone on to join the Deathly Regiment. One of the original writers of the revised Fairfax Accords, and one of the primary leaders in the Grand Revolt, Kirke was effectively the last living "founding father" of the modern Union State, and is represented on our flag by the fifth and final star. Flags across the country have been ordered to half-mast until the day of his funeral, scheduled to take place on the 31st close to his private home in White Harbor. The government has respected his wish to not have a state funeral, and has agreed to refrain from interring Kirke in the Grand Presidium of the Republic as his four colleagues were.

:-: Claims by Brazulan author regarding a supposed ancient city supposedly hidden beneath the waters of Lake Cahoia have widely circulated the western world, being discussed in academic circles of Occidentology and in numerous new publications. Port Republic University and the National Institute for the Sciences roughly echo the sentiment shared by many other experts in both Sylvania and Ommeroth in refuting the idea. Professor Jay Stokes of the Ryheath State University has even gone so far as to say that "such notions are not even worth due consideration."

 

[Rheinbund]

Schloss Charlottenburg
Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

Our condolences to Government, Parliament and People of Seneca for the death of the last Founding Father of their country.

King Albrecht III
Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Demissionary Chancellor

 

[Tyvia]

The Council Watcher​

​

Caniehaska Territory to be Split
McCullough Resolution details the details
​

After nearly twelve years of indecision on the topic, the Presidium in Scarburh—with only minimal prodding from Caniehaska itself, has finally passed a resolution regarding the territory's status going forward. With a population of close to one-and-a-half million, Caniehaska has lingered in a legal grey area within the Union State for several decades now, having failed to ascend to the status of a Governate for a variety of reasons throughout that time. Now, with the passage of the so-called McCullough Resolution, the legal stage is set for the final solution to that problem; the Elect Assembly and Yeomanry managing to reach a concord thanks to the eponymous bill's main sponsor, Timothy McCullough.

This resolution, passed 502-29 in the Yeomanry and 142-18 in the Elect Assembly, came in the wake of several studies ordered by the Presidium regarding the viability of Caniehaska as a full Governate. The controversial studies, conducted by the Union Electoral Commission and the Union Institute of Technology and published last year in the Watchlett Modern Journal, were met by general uproar from more patriotic Caniehaskans—finding as they did that it was unlikely that the territory could stand on its own two feet without dedicated support from the Union. Indeed, the decision by the Presidium to use these studies and treat them as definitive remains a point of some contention.

“If you've got people looking, you know, for the government [in Caniehaska] to fill certain criteria,” commented Quinton Weimann, a well-known Oswego native and Old Soil Unionist, “you've got to ask who's figuring out what the criteria are? If you're holding Caniehaska to the same standard as Ausable, Oweiga, Ryheath—well, that ain't right, each one of 'em's different.”

Weimann's sentiments are echoed by nearly 25,000 men and women who have signed a petition in the wake of the passage of the McCullough Resolution, bidding the Presidium to reverse and nullify it. While no response has been forthcoming, their concerns are not without reason, for the Resolution may pave the way for the division of the Caniehaska territory and its subsequent absorption piecemeal into its neighboring Governates—this in fact being the plan proposed by McCullough as the prime answer to the Caniehaska question.

“We've taken a look at the situation, and objectively speaking [it] doesn't have the resources, the land, nor the population to stand up on its own two feet,” said Henry Armitage, representative of Oweiga's 22nd parish. “And, you know, there's the implications to consider. We've not admitted a new Governate in nearly fifty years—and if Caniehaska's going to play in the big leagues, it needs to be able to do so unaided, and we haven't seen any indications it will be able to do that.”

Largely reliant on Union aid and financing to operate, the territorial government of Caniehaska ranks among the poorest and smallest within the Union State. With industry in the territory limited primarily to agriculture, forestry, and transport, both the studies conducted for the Presidium and analysis performed by independent economic analysts have maintained the opinion that significant development is “very much unlikely.”

Ultimately however, it will be up to the people of Caniehaska to decide for themselves what will become of their territory. A referendum has thus been scheduled, set to take place towards the end of the year. According to the resolution, it will be overseen by the Union Electoral Commission, though still operated by the territory's own department for elections. All options will be on the table, including governate-hood, a continuation of territorial status, and incorporation into whatever neighboring state the voter chooses. However, the Presidium is under no obligation to view the referendum as binding, and it remains to be seen what will properly become of the territory.

Other News:
:-: Following a hearing on the 29th regarding the matter of the Vandereul seats, Chancellor Dallas Forsythe has decided to place a moratorium on any further discussion on the topic within the Elect Assembly. According to his office, "the matter will be overseen from this moment forward" by the Chief Tribune Kaveyn and the High Court. His decision runs contrary to the way many believed he would rule, with numerous political spectators expecting Forsythe--who started his career as an Old Soil Unionist--to allow the Elect Assembly to carry on without interference. It may be that Forsythe wishes to wash his hands of the matter however, and so has simply passed it onto Kaveyn--whose own stance on the topic, he having never ruled on inheritance disputes, remains uncertain.

:-: Accusations of tampering with the political process run high as the tariff amendment bill which had been sitting in the Yeomanry for a month now is defeated, with Harold Douglass-Skee managing to muster up sufficient votes among the Old Soil and Justice parties to remove it from the floor. The proposed tariff amendment bill, which would significantly reduce tariffs on agricultural imports from Brazul and Ommeroth, is believed to have attracted significant opposition from SteffeCo and Avon Maple, the two premier manufacturers of maple sugar in the country. With the price of maple sugar still slightly lower than that of imported, it's believed that SteffeCo's and Avon Maple's campaign in the last year against any such agricultural tariff reforms has finally culminated in this defeat of the tariff amendment bill, leading to accusations of bribery and corruption from among Free Colonials.

:-: Lord Protector Mayburn announces plans to visit neighboring Toguko for upcoming festival. Having spent the last month or so visiting Gallia and Germania, Mayburn will now be returning to Occidentia with a final visit to Toguko before returning to his home in Emancipation.

 

[Tyvia]

[transcript from the PDC-PBN, 2212-2235, 3 Jun. 1954]

TAY — For those of you just tuning in, you're right on time. This is the Republic Review, ninety-four seven, your regular late-night news and comment station. This is Simon Tay today joined by Hector Ertager, who is an economic analyst with New Colonial Banking, and by Jay Evehart, current vice-chairman of the Justice Party. Welcome to the show, you two, first time for both of you.

ERTAGER — Pleased to be here, Mr. Tay.

EVEHART — Just the same. Pleasure to meet both of you gentlemen.

TAY — Now, for those not in the know, the recent tariff amendment bill—which Mr. Evehart here was one of the chief architects of—was recently defeated in the Yeomanry. It's a bit of an upset, as the Justice party didn't vote together on the bill, with the Old Soil Unionists and Harold Douglass-Skee securing sufficient votes to remove the bill from the floor. Seeing as you're one of its prime framers, perhaps you'd like to talk about the nature of the bill, Mr. Evehart?

EVEHART — Certainly so, and might I thank you for your succinct summary. In short, the bill, which I drafted alongside Mr. Arthur Siward Sr. and Mr. Owen Cyneweaver, was intended to serve three purposes. The first and foremost, of course, was the stimulation of both our import and export commodity markets for agriculture; reciprocal tariffs being after all in place among several of the states which would be chiefly affected by the changes. It'd give our farmers—who produce far more than is necessary for our own domestic consumption—to off-load their wares at better, more profitable prices to our neighbors, without the—frankly—prohibitive tariffs we currently have.

ERTAGER — If I might, uh, sneak a word in here—I wouldn't necessarily call them prohibitive insomuch as inherently protectionist.

EVEHART — Yes, yes, it's been standing policy to protect the market for maple sugar here. I've heard the concerns, but I've read absolutely no studies which would lead me to believe that cane sugar would significantly alter or impact the market. We didn't see it when sorghum was introduced, and we didn't see cotton replace wool when Ommeroth's own exports increased! There's no good sense in propping up SteffCo and Avon Maple if they can't very well stand up on their own two feet.

ERTAGER — Both make quite a bit of money, and together employ nearly fifty-thousand people together. Mr. Evehart, it's about market share—cotton may not have replaced wool, but it's certainly just as big, and people buy those products just as much as cotton ones. Even then, it's not an apt comparison because one isn't technically superior—

EVEHART — Mr. Ertager, I'm certainly aware of their significant place in the Union's economy, but that should not deter us from seeking prosperity in greater forms! Why, what is lost in direct customs can be made up in bulk, with all the bounty of the Ryheath and Grimm territory finally open to our neighbors in Ommeroth and Togoku. I'm not convinced that any potential losses would outweigh the sheer gains that can be made from expanding our agricultural trade network!

TAY – Now, gentlemen, I'd like to ask: just what exactly do you view as the level of involvement of these companies in the political process here—especially with Mr. Douglass-Skee and the bill itself?

EVEHART – I think that should be fairly clear, Mr. Tay. I wouldn't go so far as to accuse either Mr. Douglass-Skee nor SteffCo or Avon Maple of bribery, but I do believe that there are very clear signs of political manipulation or possibly even coercion.

TAY – What would those signs be?

[a moment of silence]

EVEHART – Well—the reaction we're now witnessing is entirely at odds with the initial reception the bill received; SteffCo's and Avon Maple's fairly vocal denouncement of the bill being followed with what we know to be major contributions to several prominent opponents of the bill. I don't believe that the bill would have failed were it not for their direct involvement.

TAY – It doesn't really break any laws though, does it?

EVEHART – It breaks established precedent, at the least. I can't speak for the Yeomanry, but such direct involvement would not be tolerated int the Elect Assembly, and frankly shouldn't be put up with by Chancellor Forsythe either.

TAY – You're suggesting that Mr. Forsythe should overturn the vote and return the bill to the floor?

EVEHART – I do think that would be a fair notion. There are no laws in place, but myself and my colleagues in the Justice Party will soon pursue a bill to counter what we see as a rising problem: the ability by representatives to vote on things they're actively invested in. A requirement to taking office should be to divest oneself of corporate holdings or significant institutional titles.

TAY – Begging your pardon, but would the Assembly really go for that? Wouldn't that require a revision of the Accords?

EVEHART – I do believe so—and not necessarily. It's impossible to divest oneself of family ties, isn't it?

[TAY & EVEHART laugh.]

TAY – Very well. Returning back to economic matters, I have a question for Mr. Ertager. You've spoken about the rationale against the tariff amendment bill, but I don't believe the audience has really gotten a sense of your own—as a respected analyst—thoughts on the matter. How do you personally feel about the measure?

ERTAGER – Well, I do think it has some merit. An expanding commodity market, both at home and within our neighbors, can certainly do some good in fostering economic growth. I think this is the case with Togoku especially, as their production barely meets their average needs at the best of times—you might remember the relief packages of the 30s, of course.

EVEHART – Hah! Were the Rangers part of them?

[All laugh.]

TAY – Please do continue, Mr. Ertager.

ERTAGER – Yes—we've seen in the past that addressing food deficits often does lead to economic growth, most often due to diversification of labour and its increased availability. My, uh, reluctance to directly agree with Mr. Evehart stems from, heh, a desire to provide an economist's view.

TAY – A noble aim. Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure to speak with both of you. I'm afraid we're out of time.

ERTAGER – Likewise a pleasure, Mr. Tay. Mr. Evehart.

EVEHART – Much the same, gentlemen.

TAY – Well, now we're signing off. The evening music show is starting, with an old classic every patriot ought to know—the sweet tunes of “The Greenway Guard”, coming up.

[end transcript]
[

You must be registered for see links

]

Through rapids and hills and mountains vales,
And to the very walls of hell,
Along the Greenway's risen forks,
there stand the Deathly Regiments.

Stalking the heath and frayed black earth,
between the lilies and vintage firth
grave Sylvie barked and gave him a kiss,
and with Grizwald in hand he did enlist.

Fall in boys behind that drum,
hearts on fire, blazing aurum,
to stand adjudged by ne'er kin nor kith,
but attend the bidding of pious death.

A soldier's heart wanders where'er he goes,
and the winds what carry their scalding souls,
but when they do fall within these vales,
they march thereunto with passion's wills.

Gunnceaster forged them red hot,
flesh now bound to ne'er rot,
and by god's hand and devil's grin,
they'll stand right on up to them.

Grimm's now gone to that reaping holm
and seeds what sown t'be fore'er grown
there they stand, made wardens all
to watch way from spring t'fall.

Treading through woods of that anchorage,
and the meadows forth beyond countage;
marking down that way to the west,
there walk those Deathly Regiments.

​

[end transcript]

(OOC: I'm not much of a singer, but the link above is meant to give one a sense of the tune/rhythm, however well I can do. It's terrible, but I felt I ought to try.)

 

[Tyvia]

The Gun Runner
printed daily in vittish, frankish, and diets​

Larkin Bluffs to Begin New Port Project Port to be "the West's Red Haven" ​ The Larkin Bluffs port development plans put forward last year by the Ryheath Governate's Office for Public Welfare & Development have, after nearly a year on the Governate's Assembly floor, finally been approved by a 201-22 vote. The 15-million guilder plan would, when completed, provide sufficient mooring and harbour facilities to expand the Port of Larkin Bluff's capacity to more than double what it can currently service at any given time. With Larkin Bluffs having nearly quadrupled in population since the turn of the century, many both in and outside of the city have called for an expansion of the city's port for the past two decades now. Though the civilian facilities did enjoy several expansions due to the hand-over of Union Fleet facilities to the civilian sector, there have technically been no efforts since 1911 to expand and modernize the port. Now, with the approval of the plan by the local Assembly, Governor Gregory Ryweaver believes that Larkin Bluffs will “become the west's Red Haven”. The numbers, according to the Office for Public Welfare & Development, would seem to support both Ryweaver's assertion and the expansion proposal. According to statistics put out by the Union Office for Trade & Commerce, Togoku went up from being the Union State's 6th most important trade partner (by bulk) in 1952 to 4th by this year. Likewise, the local Trade & Commerce Offices report an overall increase in annual cargo tonnage both received and dispatched from the ports of Lyresdale, Larkin Bluffs, and Utica since the beginning of this decade, indicating what Ryweaver has reportedly called a “strong trend of growth.” “Trade in the Far Occident grows more important with every passing day,” Ryweaver was quoted as saying, speaking before a public crowd after the plan's passage. “The expanding markets in Soria, Cárrana, and Tôgoku all provide us with a similar opportunity for growth by furthering our own trade and business relationships with them. This port is meant to accommodate and encourage that—not just to meet the new needs of a new century.” The costs for the project will primarily be fielded by the Union Office for Public Welfare & Development, rather than the local Governate's own. Apparently, 8.9 million guilders worth will be contributed by the Union, with a further 3 million guilders by the Ryheath office. The remaining amount will be covered by the Union Fleet and several private investors. The payment details were set down in the plan proposal itself, and have been independently confirmed by all participating organizations. According to a spokesperson for Kynes Group, the operating company of the Kynes Fleet Yards and one of the primary investors in the new Port of Larkin Bluffs, “the port will pay for itself and more in the long term.” Construction contracts have yet to be awarded to any major company, though bidding has already begun. Clyde West, Helmsey Major, and the Adamant Group have all made offers, and it is expected that bidding will continue for several weeks more until a contract is decided and a timetable for construction laid down. A spokesperson for the Ryheath Public Welfare & Development office made it known that they do not intend for “construction to in any way impede” or otherwise “interfere” with existent shipping. “All efforts will be made to ensure that renovation of existing facilities or construction of new ones will go as smoothly and with as minimal impact on current proceedings as possible,” they continued. Rumors have begun to circulate as well, given that the Fleet will be contributing quite a considerable sum. It's the belief of a few spectators that plans will soon be announced by the Union Office of War of a new naval compound in the west, given the increased importance of Implarian shipping. Since the closure of the original Larkin Bluffs Fleet Yards, the Utica-based Roughan Fleet Yards has served as the only permanent Fleet installation in the Far Occident, and it's believed that the Admiralty has been agitating internally for new and expanded facilities. Still, at the same time, this wouldn't really fit with the overall theme of downsizing which the Fleet has been going through; the budget for this year barely even allowing the Fleet to make this investment. Nonetheless, the growth of Larkin Bluffs into a city worthy of any on the Greenway's other end should be a source of great pride for all us native Ryheathmen, and a comfort that our taxes go to a project as worthy as this one.	Other News Shipping Fines, Redistricting​ Shipping firm New World Freight & Cargo has been fined by the Union Office for Trade & Commerce (UOTC) on account of supposedly questionable conduct by the ship and its captain in the waters of the Arretine state. According to the office's press release, the ship attempted to leave without appropriate payment of customs dues, resulting in a temporary seizure of the vessel and its crew until the corporation was compelled to pay for their release by the UOTC. The captain of the vessel has not been brought up on charges, but the corporation has been accused of giving him “faulty” and “morally questionable” orders. “This is not behavior which befits a vessel flying the Union State's colors,” commented a UOTC spokesperson. “The captain would have been within his legal rights to disobey the orders provided by his employer; though we will not arraign him for failing to do so. New World Freight & Cargo will be held responsible, though there are no plans for legal proceedings at this time.” The crew and vessel were allowed to sail home after being held for only a few days. New World Freight & Cargo has issued a petition in protest against the ruling, but neither the Chancellor nor the Presidium has in any form acknowledged it as yet. A local zoning board here in Larkin Bluffs has elicited protests from the inhabitants of the Oriander residential area, who have taken to the streets to protest the proposed redistricting of the area for light industry. The historic district, having its origins in the early 1800s, has been the subject of several protests by both historic preservationists and inhabitants. The city government of Larkin Bluffs has been considering assigning several new zones throughout the inner city to light industrial function, citing requests by numerous companies, labor availability, and growing demand. The zoning board has stated that it has not yet made any decision on the matter, but that they will account for “political and historical concerns” in the process. You must be registered for see images Ryheath Governate Assemblymen look over a model of the proposed new Port of Larkin Bluffs.​

​

 

[Tyvia]

The Gun Runner
printed daily in vittish, frankish, and diets​

Grizwald & Sons to "Diversify" Corporation plans to go into aviation ​ According to a statement made last night by Grizwald & Sons, the large arms corporation is considering expanding its ventures to a new field: aviation. Traditionally a manufacturer of small arms, this announcement comes as a surprise to several investors and corporate supporters, who view it as an abrupt and distant deviation away from the corporation's usual enterprise. Present during the press conference which took place during the early evening yesterday was Godric Grizwald, the current owner and CEO of the corporation, there to make the announcement personally and to explain himself. “It's time to diversify,” Grizwald said. “We've been producing the same thing for a hundred years. You won't see almost any other company doing that. It's not healthy, especially with competition being the way it is these days.” Analysts speculate that the decision, which had likely been brewing within the corporation's private power circles for some time now, was made now as a result of the recent award by the Union Armed Forces of the 1956 service-rifle design and production contract to Gunnceaster Arsenal. Combined with a recent dip in firearm sales throughout the eastern stretch of the Greenway, Grizwald & Sons has experienced relatively little growth throughout the last year, though it has not yet officially gone into the red according to investor reports and publicized record. Should Grizwald & Sons be successful in asserting itself within the aviation sector, it will operate in an environment relatively sparse on competition. Skyway United and Cyneweaver Flight Technics serve as the only other manufacturers of aircraft within the Union State, neither one of them actually producing service craft for the air wing of the Union Armed Forces. Grizwald has asserted that the arms sector will remain the focus of the corporation, though it will likely produce civilian aircraft as well, just as it does firearms for civilian consumption. However, the decision has some investors alarmed. The high research and development costs in aircraft design and manufacture, coupled with the sheer time requirements for such proceedings, is a point of worry for several prominent stock-holders. The primary concern is that the corporation is likely to go into the red prior to any significant work being complete, and that the costs of “switching” will likely outweigh the profits to be made. This point was in fact addressed during the press conference at some length, with Grizwald claiming that the majority of the R&D is to be “outsourced”, with vague allusions having been made to potential contracts with such entities as Aodh-Mór and the Nemedia Corporation. Even so, it remains unclear to what extent Grizwald & Sons really is to make use of such contracts and to begin genuine work in the aviation sector. New facilities will be required to accommodate production and research both, and worries abound of the viability of keeping the corporation afloat while undergoing such a radical transition. The saving grace might be the Union Armed Forces, which have in the past mentioned a possibility of “significant” subsidies for a domestic firm producing combat-worthy aircraft. At the moment, neither organization has made mention of the offer, though it's expected that Grizwald is likely to apply for it sooner rather than later. Interestingly, no closings have been announced. “We intend to continue the production of all our other items as usual,” Grizwald stated. Though the prospects for the corporation seem uncertain, Grizwald certainly remains hopeful and optimistic. During the press conference, he was described as being “cheerful and charming” by reporters, possessing a “vivid energy and passion” about the subject matter. With a substantial share of his own personal wealth already invested in the project, it's expected that Grizwald will certainly carry through with it to the very end—whether it's sweet or bitter.	Seneca buys Danish debt Recognizes Wendziema, causes acknowledgement of debt obligation​ An agreement was recently reached by Minister of Foreign Affairs Silas James Kysford and the Wendzieman Overseer of International Affairs, Boleslaw Zalenski, regarding the issue of Danish sovereign debt. The newly inaugurated Wendzieman nation-state, taking the place of the former Danish kingdom and empire, had previously refused to assume the burden of the debt which the now defunct Danish government had left behind. Claiming that it was an imposition upon them, the Wendzieman government attracted international ire and criticism from several detractors: the most prominent of which was the Brazulan government. Now, the Union Ministry of Trade & Commerce, in coordination with the Union Treasury and Grand Presidium of the Union, agreed to purchase half of the Danish sovereign debt. This was done on the precondition that the Wendzieman government will now, from that moment forward, acknowledge the remainder of the Danish sovereign debt and take it on as its own. Furthermore, political recognition and the establishment of permanent diplomatic ties between the Union State and the nascent Wendzieman one were contingent on this agreement, both having now been rendered by the Presidium following acceptance of the terms by Mr. Zalenski. The vote, conducted in an emergency session of the Presidium with a super-quorum, found both the Yeomanry and the Elect Assembly largely in favor of the measure. According to the Chancellor, who approved the bill's passage, "peace and stability in the Near Occident [Gallo-Germania]" is of "crucial importance" to the Union State. Though relations with Danmark had deteriorated in the months leading up to the nation's eventual collapse, business ties had been previously strong between the Union State and it, and it's thought by some that this gesture of support is a way to maintain them despite the changes in Wendziema. It is expected that this agreement will help to reduce some of the tensions that had been mounting between Wendziema and several governments which had been concerned about the topic of the Danish debt. Of particular concern are Ivernia and Brazul, both of whom possessed considerable stakes in the country due to the investment of several notable private firms. "Establishing the new Wendziema confidently and decisively onto the international stage, with a reputation of fair dealings" stated Minister Kysford, "is the most important step on the path to their reconstruction and integration into the international trade network and political concert." You must be registered for see images Grizwald makes the announcement, doing so within the Royce Convention Center in downtown White Harbour.​

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[Tyvia]

The Council Watcher​

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Chancellor's Presidium Address
Foreign Affairs & Defense lead in speeches
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During this year's address by the Chancellor's office to the Grand Presidium, Chancellor Forsythe decidedly focused primarily on the issues of foreign affairs and defense. This is a dramatic shift from the Chancellor's previous addresses, where domestic issues were highlighted and received the lion's share of attention. “Now,” says Chancellor Forsythe, “it's time for the Union to address her place upon the world stage. With the world growing increasingly smaller as international markets expand, Seneca can no longer stand idle and content in a state of blissful isolation.” Indeed, the Chancellor went on to make several other statements in which he called upon legislators to fall in line, with Forsythe emphasizing the need for a “reevaluation” of what has been the traditional Seneca foreign policy.

“We've seen remarkable growth in recent years,” agreed Theodore Yandry, a sitting member of the Yeomanry, in the aftermath of the Chancellor's speech. “Our traditional partners in the Gothic Sea and northern Thaumantic have experienced lessened economic growth over the past decade, effectively plateauing in many cases. Yet, at the same time, we see that new markets are opening up and expanding all along the south of the Near Occident [Gallo-Germania] and across the Long Sea. We can't just sit complicit and expect that remaining economically and politically uninvolved in the forementioned region will somehow work out for the better.”

Despite protests of the Greenway Democrats, all of whom voted no on the measure, the Chancellor's speech was successful in rousing the interest of the Presidium in discussing the matter, with a hearing on the matter scheduled for the 24th in the Yeomanry and the 29th in the Elect Assembly.

Most interesting of all, however, was the overwhelming support that the Chancellor received from several government ministries – including, but not limited to, both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Silas J. Kysford, and Lord-Protector Elijah R.R. Mayburn. Indeed, this has lead some to speculate that this attempt at a foreign policy shift is a united effort by both the Lord-Protector and Chancellor, in a rare move of political solidarity. The Lord-Protector's Union Address was of a characteristically similar tone, though no different from the previous year's, where Mayburn called upon the Presidium to cancel scheduled budget cuts to the Union Armed Forces.

“I do believe that we need to take up a more active involvement,” Kysford commented, through a press secretary. “Given the increased weight of shipping through the Long Sea from the Far Occident, it's only natural.”

Many have praised both addresses, with polls across the Union showing an increase in approval ratings for both the Lord-Protector and the Chancellor. It's believed that should an attempt be made to push through a revised agenda and budget through the Grand Presidium for this unfolding year, that the main opponents will likely be the Greenway Democrats and perhaps only a fraction of the Unionists and Justiciars. With Forsythe having clamped down on his own party, it's not believed that there will be much dissension from the Fairfax Patriots and that they are very likely to vote as a bloc and in-line with the Chancellor's views.

Aside from the topics of defense and foreign affairs, the Chancellor stated that he remains determined to continue the infrastructure projects and healthcare reforms of the past year. Though no concrete plans have been revealed, it's believed by many speculators that the Greenway North-South Twin Turnpike project, previously canned by Chancellor Arnold Kasterly, will be restarted – owing to exploratory work done recently by both the Cislable and Oweiga ministries for the interior.


Other News:
:-: The Wyyling State School in the Stone Town district of White Harbour was evacuated in the early hours of yesterday morning after an apparent bomb threat came in via the telephone. Union Marshalls were on seen shortly thereafter to evacuate the school and to perform a thorough inspection, upon which they discovered nothing of note or suspicion in the building. Though the school will remain closed pending further investigation for the next few days, the lead investigator believes that the threat was likely to be a "hoax", though he believes that the safety precautions undertaken were "correct" and "appropriate" despite it.

Students face disruption to their usual schedules and schoolwork as a result of the threat, and many are concerned that they will have to face an increased workload when they return. None were able to comment on who they thought might have issued the threat.

:-: Floyd Catheran, owner of Skyway United, has announced that he will be following the lead of Godric Grizwald and likewise begin "diversifying" into the field of military aviation. With Grizwald having done the same during the middle of the last year, Catheran now aims to provide for him some "competition", much to the dismay of both his own and Grizwald's shareholders. Though Skyway United has experienced a slight dip in stock prices, they now remain steady some days after the announcement, with Catheran confident that establishing a relationship with the air wing of the Union Armed Forces can be "only beneficial" to his company.

 

[Tyvia]

The Gun Runner
printed daily in vittish, frankish, and diets​

Armed Forces to offer greater enlistment incentives Militia's status in question amidst changes ​ According to recent statements made by certain high-ranking representatives of the Union Armed Forces, specifically the offices of Generals Jonathan Hyland and Ermon Flynn, respectively responsible for military procurements and training standards, contract terms are set to “improve substantially” over the course of the next few years. Weakened historically by low recruitment rates and a constitutional requirement to forever be a volunteer force, the Union Armed Forces now seeks to boost its numbers by offering substantial welfare and financial incentives to bring in a new influx of manpower to help cope with increased demand placed upon them by shifting geopolitical objectives and forces. Included in this package of incentives are such provisions as guaranteed schooling, deferred healthcare payments, and a considerable subsidy to allow discharged or retiring servicemen to get back on their feet financially and employment-wise. Though it has traditionally been the case that the majority of Senecans joined their local (either Riding or Colonial) militias rather than the Union Armed Forces, enlistment rates with even those forces has fallen off considerably in the last few decades since the Grand Revolt. The colonial militia of Ausable, once the largest and best-armed of them all, now stands at only some 15,000 men, whereas it boasted a standing force of nearly ten times that in 1915. It's hoped that by providing new reasons for young men to enlist that new interest in the military can be established, particularly for the navy and the budding air service. A representative of the Admiralty, speaking on behalf of Vice-Admiral Elmo Yaughly, had the following to say on the matter: “we're starting to see that it's more important to grow our unified, national armed service in this modern age, than the local ones.” “Even so, I'm a patriot, and to do away with militias entirely would be a grand disservice to our forefathers,” he continued. “Better to cement their status as ultimately subordinate – with the Lord-Protector having ultimate jurisdiction over the who and the what and the where of it.” In fact, the Lord-Protector's ability to “raise the accords”, wherein he's able to defer both new recruits and serving personnel from militias to direct service with the Union Armed Forces, has been suggested in the past as a potential “fix” for the problem of low enlistment rates. Lord-Protector Mayburn has in the past been skeptical of such a solution, however, and has instead suggested providing additional incentives for militia veterans to transfer over to the Union Armed Forces following the conclusion of their local service: such as advanced promotion or increased pay. These measures are likewise being considered, and will likely be on the docket for discussion in the next hearing of the Grand Presidium on defense. It's likely that the status of the militias relative to the Union Armed Forces will be up for debate, though it's not entirely clear where exactly any leaders stand on the issue. “It's perhaps silly now, in this day and age, to view militias as sacrosanct,” said Harold Templeton, a sitting member of the Yeomanry with the Colonial Justiciars. “This isn't Sylvania, and the minuteman tradition has never been a driving force politically as it was there.” Greenway Democrat Edmund Osferring, however, felt otherwise, saying that the militias were forever the “backbone” of Colonial society. “They're what brought us down the Greenway,” he continued, “and what kicked the Vithrais right on out. There's a reason we have 'em, and that's because the people needs a means of fighting for themselves.” It is a topic which sharply divides voters, and it's expected that should a decision be made either way that a referendum will likely have to confirm it.	Other News Esperance-class vessels to go up for auction​ Minister of War Dorian Brynnean, in an announcement made this morning on behalf of the Union Fleet, has made it public that the battle-cruiser type warships Independence and Remembrance will be put up for sale in an upcoming fleet assets auction. The two vessels are the last of the Esperance-class still in service with the fleet, finally being retired from service with the fleet after a fifteen year career. According to the Minister, this decision was made together between his office and the Admiralty, after “careful determination” and “concerted assessment” of the ramifications of recent budget reductions. “We're not in a position at this time where the continued service of these warships is necessary,” Minister Brynnean explained. “The defensive requirements of the Union are met more than adequately by our remaining assets, and those which we have planned to lay down in the near future. To put it bluntly, these vessels are out-dated and of little utility even for the most basic of duties.” The Minister's comments drew the ire of several veterans and former seamen who crewed both vessels, some of whom took offense to what they viewed as inflammatory and unjustified comments regarding the ships. Some have called for one of the two to be made into a museum ship, to be preserved in one of the Union's major ports and available to public access. This idea has gained some traction among citizens in Port Republic, Red Haven, and White Harbour, where a petition in each has already managed to acquire more than ten-thousand signatures between them. The decision will ultimately fall to the Minister of War and the Admiralty, who have yet to express any opinion regarding the idea. You must be registered for see images The Remembrance, last of the Esperance-class battlecruisers built.​

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[Tyvia]

The Council Watcher​

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MSSA passed through Assembly
After a year of indecision, bill passes in revised form
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Godric Ainsley's flagship bill this year, the so-called Municipal Services Standards Act, passed the Elect Assembly yesterday evening after already receiving multi-partisan approval in the Yeomanry. Having originally been proposed by Ainsley in the beginning of last year, the bill underwent multiple revisions while in the Assembly, and spent quite a while going back and forth until now – the topic of funding source for several so-called “essential services” proving quite contentious for many legislators. Even so, with it determined that there will be no changes to existing funding methods for the majority of municipal services—at least not on the level of the Union government—the bill has now finally managed to pass, garnering many votes among Colonial Justiciars, Fairfax Patriots, and even some Old Soil Unionists and Greenway Democrats.

The act effectively lays down a set of standards which all fire, police, and emergency medical response departments will all be obligated to adhere to. The Ministry of the Interior will be responsible for both creating and maintaining these standards, with several new sub-ministries ordered created by the act for the purpose.

Ainsley's stated goal with the act is to ensure that a “uniform standard of emergency service” will be provided across the Union State, with multiple disparate agencies no longer to provide different levels of service. It is further hoped that by creating a uniform system of training and by instituting equipment standards, that various agencies from numerous colonies will be able to co-operate and provide mutual aid during severe or particularly devastating disasters to one another without concerns about difficulties of interoperability. This point is especially emphasized by the bill, with the question of jurisdiction and response protocol on emergency scenes or situations being a matter specifically addressed by the act as requiring precise clarification in the standards to be introduced.

Interestingly, no other specific instructions are provided in the act with regards to what these standards will entail. Even so, the ministries will be tasked with keeping them “cohesive” and “quality” according to the wording of the bill, and will ultimately answer to the Minister of the Interior and the Lord-Protector thereafter.

Public support for the act while it was still a bill was quite widespread, particularly in the territories and the western colonies, where in many cases municipal services don't have a long or especially storied history. Polls conducted find support of the bill to be highest in Ryheath, with a hundred men and women surveyed 79% in favor. Arkanroa, a traditional voter for increased rights and powers for the colonies, shows the lowest at 51%.

“It doesn't weaken us,” commented Roger Eaverly, a captain with the Tynefirth Volunteer Fire Service. “I know some people think that it does, but that's not true at all. It's only a good thing. A firefighter from Utica will know exactly what to do just as one from Port Republic might. We can work together like we never could have before.”

Police are likewise enthusiastic. “We have problems sometimes with different agencies,” stated an anonymous police chief, “they do different things, or engage certain problems differently. Sometimes that makes it hard to do our jobs when crimes cross riding or even colony lines.”

Opposition to the act primarily cites the ability by colonies to self-regulate as vital, though this isn't a legal position which has enjoyed much support in courts or the Grand Presidium. It is expected that the colonies will be able to set standards on any topics not specifically covered by those issued by the Ministry of the Interior, though it still has not been addressed.

Other News:
:-: After a grueling, three-day chase which saw Union Marshalls cross colonial borders twice, Fredrick Galain has finally been apprehended just outside of the small town of Mayles not fifteen miles from Tyneburh. Having started in Saranac, Galain lead Marshalls on a chase into Kirke and finally into Tynevale, having managed to lose them several times during the pursuit. An exceedingly dangerous individual, Galain served several years with the Greymane Rangers of the Grand Army of the Union before taking up a career of bank robbing following retirement. Managing to avoid police attentions for many years, Galain was only now targeted after Marshalls suspected--correctly--the object of his next heist, and so interrupted the robbing of the New Valley Bank bank in Laketown, Saranac. Two accomplices were apprehended on the spot, and will likely be sentenced similarly to Galain, who is now being held in Tyneburh pending a trial.

:-: The Oneida referendum on alcohol prohibition concluded without incident, with the results shocking proponents for maintaining prohibition. After the passage of a bill in the Oneida Assembly granting ridings the ability to choose for themselves whether to remain "dry" or to allow alcohol sales, a colony-wide referendum was held to determine their respective statuses. According to the results, all but two ridings -- the Westfirth and Harroway ridings in the colony's far west -- having elected to permit alcohol sales. Westfirth and Harroway decided to remain dry, though at a slim margin with only 55% and 52% support respectively. The result will be respected, according to colony legislators.

:-: Lord-Protector Mayburn to tour Occidentia, with another visit to Sylvania, Camden, and others.