, 1890-05-08
REICHSTAG 0PENFl
A Synopsis OF Emperor "
iam's Address.
THE WAGEWORKERS OF GERMAN
Legislation Proposed to Ameliora,,
Their Condition-Tho Relations
With Other Countries.

BERLIN, May 0,--The roichstap wa,
opened by the emperor to-day. In M,
opening address his majesty maintaiD,i
that the efforts to keep peace must In.
crease. lle expressed the conyictio,
that ho would succeed in confirming M.
confidence Of the powers In the pacigc
policy of Germany. The emperor said
that he recognized II as his duty to ps,.
pctuate peace by cultivating alliance.
for purposes of defense and petleo,ln,
the armaments, for which purpose a pes
military credit should ba establishes
Tho emperor announced that measun,
would 10 presented for improving "A,
condition OF the workingmen
lie said that the strikes during j,
year suggested examination. II w.
question whether the existing laws Luz.
erning the interests OF the workinvn,p
were competent. The question claiming
foremost attention concerning laborer,
were those of Sunday rest and women,
aud children's labor. The federal gov.
eminent was convinced that the propo,.
ais of the last reIclistag might In essen
tinl points become laws without detn.
ment to other Interests.
The provisions for the legal protection
Of the workingmen against thc dangen
threatening their lives, health and NOR.
ais wero susceptible OF amendment, a.
were also the laws relative TO tho issa,
Of labor regulations The rules concern.
ing workingmen' books also required to
be supplemented with the object of as
suring parental authority, In view Of
the Increasing insubordina,ion amons
the youthful workingmen. a bill on
this subject would be laid before the
reichstag.
The emperor continued: II trust you
are willing to cooperate TO bring ApoNA
an agreement between the legislaN
bodies upon the proposed reforms, 20
thus take a significant forward step In III
peaceful development of the Goa.
ditions surrounding labor. A just
solioiiude for tho workingmon con-
stttutes most ctlectual means b,
which to strengthen the resources VITA
which anu my exalted allies are re.
solved to oppose with unbcnding deter.
minatiun any attempt to disturb ths
legal order Of things. In etiocting theN
reforms only such measures will come
up for consideration rs can DO carried
out without enuangering the Industry q
the fatherland Our industry only
iorius a link In the economic work q
the nations competing In this world'i
markets. | have therefore made n poini
OF going about among the Europeaf
states whose economic position has sons
character for an exchange of views ~
gardlng the joint recognition OF the leg
islation required Co protect the working
lnen. most gratefully acknowledr
tic favorable recognition OF my sugges-
tions by all the states concerned.
The resolutions adopted by the recent
labor conference at Berlin expressed tie
common yiows concerning the most iIa-
porthnt iicld Of work Of our times
do not doubt that the principlcs lad
down In these resolutions will form seri
under Gods hnlp from which Will sp<.s
up happiness, and that the workinnSa !.
will be blessed by the fruit which ~,
he harmonious relations bctween'y's' I
people"
Reicrrlng to the foreign relations o,
Germany. ho said that his efforts were
directed toward the mala-
tenHncc OF peace. lie said; III am abb
to express the conviction that my Gu
dcavors to strengthen the confidence Of
all foreign governments In the security
afforded by our policy have been sue
cessiul" "
Tho emperor also recommends that
the German field artillery and the whOl
army bo Increased and strengthened
Measures looking to this end will coms
Into force by October 1.
lie also spoke of tho efforts OF the Ger.
mans to suppress the slave traffic IN
East Africa, and hoped that tranquility
would soOn prevail there.
Tlie reading OF the emperor's speech
was frequently interrupted by cheer.
After the delivery of the speech Chaneel-
Ior van Caprivi declared the reichsas
open.
Members oil the frelsinnige party si
\ motion ON the table demanding thats
bill he passed reducing the corn duty "a
three marks pcr double quinthl, abolish
ing the beet root tax and ex-
port bountles, and withdrawing
from the distillcrics the existing min,
leges relating To the spirit tax, and iinsl
ly demanding a general revision OF tiY
tarilt with n view to the abolition of -
rorn and cattle duties, and reduci
OF the duties on other articles OF gend IL
especially farm prodtli4<7
The socialists will introduce bill kf
The immediate repeal of the corn duties
The new military bill provides that
after October the army will consist Of
o3s bnttalions OF infantry, 1885 Squadrons
Of cavalry, $50 field batteries, 81 batter.
les OF foot, aud 10 pioneer and n trsin
battaiions. The non. recurring expen.
litures entailed by tho new measure
amounts TO 100000 marks. The In
,rease IN the permanent yearly expen.
iitures is 100000 marks.
LOSS OF THREE MIIIIONA