The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-19
BIsMARCK WANTS MORE POWER.
A BILL THAT PRA ACTICALLY ABOLISHES FREE
DOM OF DEBATE IN THE REIcHsrAa

London, Jan. 1.-THE Times Berlin des
patch says: "For some time past sinister
rumors have been afloat that the Chancel-
lor was casting about for power to prevent
members of the Reichstag from using un-
becoming expressions in the highest repre-
sentative assembly for the land, and to-
night all Berlin has been put into commo
tion by the publication of document
| which leaves no doubt as to the Intentions
| than the outline of q bill aiming at the
Federal Council, and it must necessarily y
take such prominent place in the history
of civil liberty that do not hesitate to
transmit it to you entire. The document
bears date 'Friedrchsruhe, Dec 81 1t
places the power of punishment of mem
| bers fthe Reichstag in the hands of COM
mittes composed of the two Vice Presidents
and ten members of the Reichstsg, which
! would meet at the order of the President
| of the House, or on motion of twenty
| members. The committee would be an
thorized to infiict the penalties. viz: l. To
order member to receive pnblic reproof
before the assembled House. 2. To oblige
an offender to make an apology before the
assem- bled house. 3. To exclude deputy
from the Reichstag for fixed period
Should this exclusion extend to the entire
term of the session of the Legislature,
member so punisbed may also be liable to
stag /; aud, further, an independent motion
in favor of depriving deputy of his right
Of election may be brought forward in the
House. If the unbecOming conduct of
which member of tbs Reichstag is pro-
nounced to have been guilty involves an
action punishable by the common law, the
deputy in question may be handed over to
the judicial authorities, to be dealt with ac
cordipg to law, smultaneo with the
inflictIon of euch punishment by the Reich
stag. The reproduction of the speech, or
remarke which called it forth, in steno-
graphic report, or any other publication of
them in the press, may be prohibited
contraventions of this prohibition to be
punishable with imprisonment Of from
three weeks to three months.
The Daily NeUs' Berlin despatch says:
"The proposed bill practically abolishes
puts it in the power of the majority to turn
any offending member over TO the courts.
1t makes it a penal offence for the press to
publish any speech which has been censur-
ed by the President of the Diet. Nomi-
nally aimed at the Socialist deputies, the
law could be applied or misappiIed, to any
able member of the ajority.
The bill was wholly unexpected, and seems
to alarm even the National Liberals, but
they will probably reconcile themselves to
1T before IL Games to a vote in the Diet.
Franz D0oSer, an ex member of the |
Otl RUSSIAN 1aTIlAmSnI. mas Deeu !
prosecuted by she Piuss'an Ministry for
writing an ar5icle in the Tolka Zeitung, on |
the 18th of August, criticlsing the Anti
S1cia!iet bill, and has been fned 200
marks"
Berlin, Jan u.-Tne bill on the sub
ject o. Parliamentary dscip pliDe is pretty
uuanimousiy condemned b. the Liberal |
and Moderate press of Berlin and the in
terror. The Conservatives organs are re-
ticeut. The National Zeitung has an
article which, for that paper, Is almost
ferocious. 1t says, ironically, that the |
fault of the measure is that it does not go
far enough that it would have been more
honest and better to propose complete
abolition of Parisment and the substitu-
tion of a dictator; that free Legislature
and such few are irreconcrlable.
London, Jan. 1.-THE Berlin CORES
pondent of the Daily NearS says "The re-
lection of the bill is generally predicted,
but l am convinced that it will be adopted
without essential notifications, in spite of
the fine words of the Liberals. Prince Bis
marck is as yet master of the situation"