The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-18
GERMANY Y.

Exciting Debate In the Lower Chambor-Dr.
LeOnhardt Corncrcd-viOlent Reply Of Hon.
Twesten-(:rcat Commoti0n I'm tho House.
Hons. Laskcr, DIR. Jacoby, Waldcck and
virchow Take Part In the Dcbate-Defeaf
Of Government Motions.
BERLIN, Dec. 3, 1885,
In the dearth OF political and general news at pre-
sent hand late fracas at the Lower Chamber be-
tween the Minister OF Justice, DIT. Leonhardt, and
Hon. Twesten, virchow and other liberals comes like
q godsend, and viii form TIE principal topic OF my
todays letter. The day before yesterday the discus
sion on the Budget continued, and in the course
OF it. the government having demanded 900 thalers
for the substitution OF Supreme Judge In cases OF
absence Sickness the opposition strongly opposed
1t. The government Commissary OF the Judiciary
Department endeavored in lengthy speech to JUS
ty the demand; but the opposition insisted that the
Minister OF Justice should have no right whatever to
interfere with the appointments OF supplementary
or additional Judges as experience has shown
that such a course was detrimental to the
proper administration OF justice. DR.. Leon
hardt then thought fit TO launch out into a
review OF his activity since his accession to ofce
last year. lie designated this as very unpleasant
notion one attacking the highest court OF the
try whose organization had been firm for period
OF century, As far as his recollection went no SUI
hitherto been subject to such attack He had ad-
mitted last year that In principle 1t was not deslr
able to admit additional judges to the Supreme
Bench, and promised to have no recourse to such a
proceeding except In cases OF necessity and after
the most careful examination. He thought that no.
body In the House would assert that anything con-
trary to this promise had been done by him. Why,
them this notion 1t could not be on account OF
thousand thalers nor on account Of the additional
Judges who had been appointed. They should con.
slider the difficulty OF keeping the bench In Its COM
plete number. owing to the aged judges being fire.
quently prevented attending on account OF sickness
and also from some OF them accepting seats In the
Legislature. He was far from saying that those
members OF the Supreme Court who had seats in
the House eve may name here Hon. waldeck the
stanch democrat also Reichenspcrgcr) were not Of
great assistance to It, though he must express strong
doubts as to their furtherng the progress OF business
In the Supreme Court. As to the judicial point, he
expressed hts conviction that the appointment OF
supplementary judges was perfectly legal. III they
thought by striking out tho 1000 thaiers to prevent
him from making such appointments they could net
do 10. lie would admit that they would save tl3
money, but they would not gain their other point.
With some warmth he observation-disclosures, do
not doubt that the royal government agrees with
me on that point have been called by his Majesty
the King TO the head OF the judicial administration
OF this great country; 1t Is my duty to superintend
the entire organization or the courts. and am my
self responsible. My duty shall perform, and with
such energy Of purpose ,S as VIII Leave nothing 70 90
men, be not deceived about me by newspaper re.
ports; have no liberal procvltes whatever. nIcar,
hear.l still less do ike 20 listen 70 party oyerturcs
CIravo ~ by the fcderasts) What, then, viii on
sucS shall make these appointments and the saia.
RES will come iUto the cfuh There gentlemen,
would be the condlct-a connict winch the govern.