Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-07
TIDINGS FROM BERLIN.
The Penal Press Laws But
Slightly Modified.
THE KAIsER's NAVAL CRAZE.
Grave Doubts as to Whether the
Conference will Settle the
Samoan Question.

/ Associated Press DISPATCHES to the HERALD
BERLIN, April 6.-The Bundesrath at a
p'enary sitting to-day reconsidered the
press laws, and remitted them to the
Commission with important modifca-
tions. The Commission had previously
reported that they were divided on the
the proposals, and that there was no DOS
sibility of their reaching an agreement.
The repr esentatives of Saxony and Ba-
varia protested against the operation of
the law. If the proposed measure should
be passed by the Reichstag, it would
create disco ntent and imperil public or
der Their opposition, combined with
the representations of Won Bebnigsen
and other National Liberal leaders, ap-
pears to have induced the Emperor to as
sent 10 Bismarck's urgent request for a
re modelling of the law. The articles de-
signated as penal offenses, to-wit, criti-
cisms of the Government, of monarchy,
the institution of marriage, the rights Of
property and church, will be amended.
The exact form of the new law will
not be revealed until the Commission has
finally reported. Prince Bismarck, in an
interview with Miguel and Won Benning-
sen, indicated that the bill in the form
in which it would probably be presented
to the Reichstag, would leave free for
discussion social topics, such as family,
religion and property, and permit theo-
retical analyses of political questions, re-
tanning the articles making it penal
offense to incite to hate of. or contempt
for the government and calumny of Off
cials. The clauses providing for the sup
preston OF offending papers and expul-
sion from the country of condemned
editors will lso be retained. The expul-
sion clause meets with fierce opposition.
On Tuesday the Emperor will go to
Wilhelmshaven to inspect the corvette
Alexandrine before that vessel sails for
Samoa. His Msjesty's letter to the Chief
of the Admiralty, expressing conf
dence that the recent disaster at
Samoa will not retard the pros
porous development Of the navy,
does not represent the real state of his
mind. He keeps the Admiralty busily
engaged in supplying him with reports
minutely detailing the construction and
condition OF every war-ship. Since the
English Parliament voted an addition of
seventy ships to the navy, his Majesty's
attention centers exclusively upon Ad-
miralty affairs. Officials expect that the
recently advanced scheme for the re-
organization of the navy will be recast
and enlarged. The Emperor freely ex-
presses his determination to make Ger
many naval power of the first rank. In
conversation with Sir Edward Malet, the
British Ans bassador, he said that nothing
he would see during bis coming visit to
England would interest him as much as
the promised naval review at Spithead.
Officials here are in doubt as to whether
the Samoan question can be amicably
settled unless the American commission
ers shall be empowered to assent to some
form of compensation for the native out
RACES upon the Germans. 1t is believed
that nominal concessions in this direction
will result in an easy adjustment of the
relative positions of the three powers and
save the natives from German retribu-
tion.
The Nord Deutsche WochenblQH says
that the Government has advices from
Zanzibar to the effect that the native re-
volt there is rapidly extending and that
a large military force will be required for
its suppression.
The labor strikes are spreading. Three
thousand bricklayers are out in the north
ern districts, 1,300 tailors in Hamburg,
and 800 house-painters in Cologne.
The Duke of Nassau will take the oath
of office as Regent of Luxemberg in the
Chamber on Thursday.