New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-13
FREEDOM OF DEBATE IN GERMANY.
PROVISIONS OF BISNtPCKS PARLIAMENTARY DIS
CIPLINE BILL-OFFENsIVE WORDS SPOKEN IL
DEBATE PUNISHABLE BY A CONVICTION.

III LINE BllL--Oft t.N-AN L NOhDS Ct'hL-' ~
DEBATE PUNISHABLE BY A CONVICTION.
LoNDoS, Saturday, san. II, 1879.
The Timcs's Berlin dispatch says: For some
time past been ahoat that the Cham
ccllor casting about FOR power to prevent members
ot the Rechsfag from using TnOecOmng expressions
in tic highest representative Assembly for
the lauC aud tonight al Berlin has been tut into COM
motion by the publication Of document which leaves
no doubt as To- the Intention OF this ,tronSw rd man.
1hl- uo less than IN. outline Of bill aiming at tue
Federal Council. and 10 must necessarily take such
prominent place history OF civil liberty that do
not hesitate To transmit it to You entire. The
document bears date FRI duchsruke, December 81
II places the power OF punishment OF members OF the
R~Ich,t,g % the hands of committee composed Of the
two vic presidents and ten members Of the Eelch,tas
which would Ia. order OF the president OF the
House. or on notion Of twenty members. The
. committee would be authorized to n1ict the
pena Ties, viz: UJ 10 order member 10 receive
public rrurp0f D.. fore the assembled House o. 10 oh-c
IN c'.ad,r o. make am aroI - before The assembled
fixed Us-ln Should Rails tN L-.u extend 10 flc cGurc
term Oh. tl- session Of o., Ic,ltulc member so pun
20 tne E.el-.1c; ,.d, further an udep"Ld"nt motion
may he brought forward i'm RE Hou.r. r TIE unberom
'1t conduct " winch ODD 'n'rr COL the ReIehdsi j. pro-
ton punishable by The common law, the dep
MY in question M'y Or. h,uded over 70 tn'
jud a' au,-urtIss 10 be- dealt win according 10 law
stimuli Hrcou-lv vitH tue MActon OF -uch punishment
hv he F.rhsIg In' reproduction OF The speech or re-
mar.s winch called n tprth. steuOgrJphc report, or
au7 other pgncon of them In the press. may be- pro-
h.htrd: cour.vrltpt- OF th+ prohibition to Dee punish
able with Imprisonment OF rom three weeks 10 three
/ months
ADAyGERoCs POWER.
The D1g Ntrss ria d. patch says: " The proposed
bill practically aJ,lshes ali guarantees OF freedom OF
debate, and puti IL IN the power Of the majority 10
turn any offending member over TO the courts 1t
makes it a penal oheuce for the press to
publish any speech which has been cen
suted ly the President OF the Diet. NOminally
aimed at the Socialist deputies, the law could
be applied or sapplIrl 20 any Objectionable member
~ the minority. The bill was wholly unexpected. ana
seems alarm the National Liberals, but they Will
probably reconcile themselves 10 II before II comes 10
YUt, J.. L.. Diet .
a.. correspondent adds: The rejection Of the bill is
predicted, hlt am quite ~ convinced tAa IL
OF The fine words the bcrals Prince smarck is as
yet master OF the situation"
A PRACTICAL DICTATORSHIP.
BERLIN, Saturday, Jan. II. SO. >
The bill on the subject Of Parliame utary Discipline is
pretty unanimously condemned by the liberal and mod
crate press OF Berlin. and the Interior. Conservative
ORGANS ara retIccut The National ZsitUHG has
au article whlrh FOR that paper u almost ferociOus 10
SAYS ironically, that the ult Of the measure l. that n
tC not rlr enough, thar H. would nave h"cu more
honest and better ~ propose complete abolition Of
Parliament and On" substitution or dictator; that
free lie slsl4tdro and -ucn .w Are irrcconclADle.