New-York tribune., 1872-12-10


Yeas 10 81 Nays.
MEETING OF THE LANDTAG-rHE BILL FOR Po-
LITICAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE Gov
ERNMENT TOWARD THE HERRENHAUs'
IRON RBG0LAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TuBUSB'i
BERLIN, Nov 15.-The two Houses OF the
Landtag reassembed Tuesday hut have as yet done
little more than elect the usual officers Active woik
will hardly be resumed before next week. Meahlno
there are heard the Of preparation on all SIDES
the Ministry have nearly completed che new Couhues
BILL and the struggle viii soon be renewed IL VIII DC
recoeced that the Minister OF the Interior announced
at the close OF the session, that tho BILL when rem
troduced would embody certain notifications shown oy
the course OF debate TO be necessary There mas o
course curiosity 10 learn the nature anu eA
tent OF these notifications. Before the Oil 10 ah On
the table OK the Lower House, the precise character Oh
all OF them cannot be ascertained, but certain Oh
them and those perhaps the most important, nave
Inst been made known Within the past few DAYS there
have been several private conferences between the MIN
lsers and Representatives from the Liberal SIDE Oh Ihe
House. These Representatives aftorward reported at
meeting tho Liberal Deputies, tie result OF the Con
ferences and the published reports give toieraOy
reasonable notion OF the points which an agreement
waa reached and Of the form which the project viii
again 20 to The report Of their delegates was
unanimously accepted by the Liberals
In order understand the notifications Wnich nave
been made It Is necessary take into view the pro-
visions OF the original bill This was generally known
as Dill for the reform OF the counties government but
it vas that and something MORE II might be called
bill to reduce the privileges Of the nobility by enlargng
beuncons OF the county governments wherein their
urpponderanco should be marked, and limiting some
what those the wherein thoy are oIten aD-
soute rulers There in the six Eastern PROVINCES OF
Prussia three species OF cOmmunesthe city, the rural
and the feuda cOmmunes. In the former, OF course
there IA strong democratic element, and the reform
hardly touched them But in the two other classes the
andhoders are pretty nearly supreme. In the Ieudhi
communes which they hold az estates they are at once
mayor constable, and judge IN the free rural communes
they have the authority which the ownership OF the ahd
and partial give them. They sit IN the county as
sembnes as representatives of their estates, generally
manage 70 control the delegates for tile free rural com
u1nss and hus have nearly twohlrds OF the members
The Iandrath or chief executive officer or the county
nominaly appointed by the Crown is, in obedience TO
usage having the OF law, taken from their number
Thus il will be seen that these little potentates held
large number OF the oommunes pocket boroughs that
they were oaly supreme Fuera but were also Vrtu
ally masters OF the legislative and executive branches
OF the county government.
Not 10 20 700 deeply into details, the bill which the
Lords rejected sought, IN three ways, TO reform ths
grievance. The first extension OF the right OF
suffrage Instead OF leaving the representation IN the
county assemblies be determined by communes, hall
Of winch the mobiles controlled the bill practically
abolished this distinction and classified the people. Two
orders Of electors proposed, respectively above and
below property qualification, which was certain sum
paid a land Really the division was into land
owners and land cultivators and each class was al
lowed equal degree or representation IN the county
assembes and an equal degree OF power in most polt-
cal affairs The result would have been that the peas
ants being grouped into class by themselves would
have been assured the independent exercise OF certain
degree OF power. The fixing OF merely pecuniaTy
standard FOR the other would have neurazed the
power Of the mobiles by mixing them with other land
holders noble. Tins serious, though not sum
cently serious blow aimed at reuda privileges.
The second measure which followed q consequence
OF the reform OF the county assemblies was an enlarge
ment OF powers Of the same After the rule OF the
arstoeracy the counties had been shattered, it be-
came necessary modify even their extreme preroga-
tives on their own estates This effected by group
ing several communes together into districts (AmBe-
sire associ4ung each district free and feuda com
munes. placing over each an administrative council
elected by County Assembly, and then giving 70 II
many OF the local charges heretofore resting with the
isolated communes The judicial system was modi-
fed In much the same manner. The County E1-
ecutiye was reformed; first, ny taking from the
land-holders and giving to the assemblies the
right OF presentation FOR the Landrath second.
by reducing the powers OF these last officers, and max
ing them Little than presidents Of executive coun-
els which should be elected absolutely by the assem-
bcs These are the three reforms 70 which the Lords
are the most nAexibly opposed
So fr as can be learned bill will not make the
slightest concession the principle Of feudasm. The
amendments are not only amendments OF detail, but
they are made with view TO the practical operation OF
the proposed system rather than 70 an increase OF the
aristocrauo element in lts motive power one slight
ceptonImust be made. The pcoperty test, which sato
divide theitwo;casses in the commune Will be raised
very little. This will dIminbh the number OF small
landholders in the upper class and weghtito
.ha Iarpa reudal prcpretOrs To certain extent Is
concession 10 them II does not however. much affect
the character OF the reform The chief thing get
the property qualification substitute for feudal
privileges xed in principle and at present the precise
figure 70 be taken matter Of less Importance. Imay
seem absurd America 10 regard the establishment OF
pecuniary qualification in politics liberal measure
but in Prussia the stan lard must be set mp over
the ruins Of feudal rights old as the monarchy ITSELF
itts very radical aud significant reform. Wealth is
certainly better Of capacity than birth and blood.
The remaining changes will alter IN respects the
mechanism OF the system and perhaps viii render
the acceptable 70 the Lords buttthe LIB
erals promptly agreed them. At least they embOdy
the utinatum OF the The friends Of the
measure both the executive and the legislative cham
bers are in full harmony and equally resOlute There
will be no more evasions compromises, no more
delays Speculate may over the motives OF the
Crown in bringing forward this measufe reflect
must over this extension Of popular rights in
the train OF a victorious war; weigh the tre-
mendous resduum OF aristOcratc power In Prussia;
the fact remains the less clear that this BILL with
its far reaching consequences Is bound 70 become law
The petty despots who build barrier high enough
between themselves and people, the stupid reaction
aries who lack even virtue OF prudent selashness
are doomed. The Government could not now retreat
even so sposed. But there Is want OF evidence
show that the Minister'S whatever may have been their
original feelings sincerely in favor OF the re-