The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-08-07

he CLAIMS THAT PRUSSIA has THE RIGHT TO DIS
MEMBER HAMBURG.

BERLIN, May S.-The Official Gazette pub
fishes q dispatch from Bismarck to the Prusslan
representatives to the Federal States, dealing
with the Altoona and st. Paul question. lie
states that the Committee of the Bundesrath
have unanimously resolved to report to the Coun-
Gil only upon the technical side of the question,
and to keep altogether out of consideration the
constitutional aspect of the case. He lays stress
upon the necessity of avoiding, as far as possible,
for the sake of concord, any Interpretation OF the
constitutional rights involved. Bismarck points
out that it is the indisputable right OF Prussia to
divide any portion of her own territory from the
Hamburg Free Port District, and maintains that
the proposed severance of st. Paul has not been
urged in the interests of Prussia, as it is of ad-
vantage to Altoona that st. Paul should remain
outside of the Zollverein, but that it was rather
in the interest of Hamburg that the new customs
line was proposed. The Bundesrath can decide
upon the customs line without entering into an
examination of the constitutional bearing of the
question, which would likely produce a conflict
of opinion. Those Governments which consider
that by the severance of st. Paul from the Ham
burg District the Constitution of the Empire
would be violated can vote against the proposal,
but in that case Bismarck would not advise the
Emperor to renounce his right to uphold a de-
mand which is undoubtedly no infraction of the
Constitution. Bismarck urges the necessity of
maintaining an unImpaired concord between the
Governments, and expresses a hope that the res
pective proposals of Prussia and Hamburg may
be settled by mutual arrangement and without
r~esorting to a decision by majorities and minori-
ties. Prussia will willingly take into considera-
ton any proposal which would in its effects be in
accordance with the Constitution, provided the
Federal Government make a unanimous endeavor
to oppose with one accord the attempt of certain
members of the Reichstag to limit the authority
of the Bundesrath.
The Reichstag to-day discussed the second
reading of the Elbe navigation Act, involving the
severance of Altoona and St. Paul from the free
port territory of Hamburg. The Committee
moved that the House assent to the bill with a
proviso that the change ofcustoms on the frontier
stations on the Elbe shall only be enacted by spe-
cial law. Bismarck said this proviso was an at
tempt at pressure, to which the Government
could not submit. 1t was dangerous to sow dis
cord between Federal Governments. Only one
thing" he said, " retains me in Office, the will of
the Emperor. When / see the obstacles l have
to contend with l feel a strong desire for rest in
retirement. If you consider the power of the
Center unconquerable, 1 should advise you, on
my retirement, to select a Ministry representing
both Center and Conservatives. [ am tired, tired
to death, when | see my efforts constantly
thwarted by Liberals who will not yield on the
smallest points, when the continued existence of
the Empire is at stake"