Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-07
BAD FORTHELAWMAKER
The GERMAN BARON'S DIFFERING
POINTS OF VIEW.

IL Applied To His Case.
Freiherr Marschall Won Bieberstein,
the state secretary for foreign affairs,
who accompanied his imperial master,
the German emperor, on his trip to
Great Britain, while member of the
reichstag in 1878 very unexpectedly
found himself in an embarrassing situa-
ton, as result of his activity in secur-
ing the passage of "a law relating chiefly
b the Jews, the story Of which was re.
lated yesterday by Mr.. Moses Open
heimer, OF IS Broadway.
81 have met the baron many time"
said Mr.. Oppenheimer, 'at the Mann
helm Chess club, of which we both We're
members. He is an ambitious man,
and was much pleased when he was, in
1878, elected TO the reichstag, the first
ultra Conservative member that had OBJ
tanned victory in Baden. He was very
active in the German parliament, being
sne Of the brightest, as well as the most
aggressive, men in that rather dull con-
glomerate, the ultra Conservative party.
His prominent participation in the enact
ment Of the antiusury law resulted in a
rather tunny cOmpncauOn.
II happened to know personally the
other actor in the story, and l have my
information directly from him. His
name was Louis Altheimer, a well-to-do
Hebrew residing in Mannheim and H.
Ing on the proceeds of a snug fortune
which he had amassed in his youth in
the United States.
CALLED THEM BLooDSUCKERS.
"Altheimer's speciality was to lend
money to officers of the army, to officials
and others of that class Of society on
their promissory notes. His regular
charge was - per cent. per annum. He
would, of course, accommodate only
people who seemed TO be good pay. AS
rule he would extend the note from
time to time on payment Of the interest,
provided he had no fear of suffering
loss
I'm those days Baron Marschall's IA
ther was yet alive and in possession of
his moderate estate. The young prose-
cutting attorney had to get along in the
main on his rather modest salary. He
managed it pretty well until he had
some trouble with young woman. 1t
would never do for the rising young
courtier and conservative statesman to
have the scandal made public, and TO
hush it up about 5000 marks in cash
was absolutely required. The baron en-
tered into negotiations with Mr.. Alt
heimer and secured the loan Of his note.
The interest was paid promptly, and the
little bill was extended several times
without any difficulty.
In advocating the antiusury bill in
the reichstag Baron Marschall delivered
vehement speech against blood suck
ing usurers, especially those of Hebrew
descent. The law as passed, largely
owing to Marschall's persistency, was
exceedingly vague in its provisions, leav-
Ing it practically to the discretion of the
courts to say whether in any given case
the taking Of more than 6 per cent was
criminal usury, punishable by impris-
onment at hard labor and by fines.
WOULD NOT RENEW.
"The session of the reichstag closed;
the baron returned to Mannheim and re-
sumed the duties of his office. Mean
while his note for 5000 marks, held by
Mr.. Altheimer, was soon to fall due. The
baron wrote note TO his creditor, ask
ing him to call and arrange for an extern
sion OF time under the usual conditions.
Altheimer replied briefly in writing that
under the new antiusury law he did not
feel safe in continuing to lend money in
bis former way, and therefore proposed
to go into some other business, where
his capital would yield him legitimate
profits He notified the baron that the
note would be presented for collection.
''This turn of affairs was embarrassing
for the young statesman. He wrote
again TO Mr. Altheimer, saying that the
usury act was never intended for cases
like his, and could not apply to their re-
lation He urged "a renewal of the note
as perfectly safe and sensible transac-
ton.
"a reply soon came from the Hebrew,
acknowledging the baron's good inten-
tons as well as his legal acumen, but at
the same time pointing to the fact that
the Interpretation of the law was left
entirely TO the courts.
"'Under those circumstances Alt
heimer continued, i do not feel dis
posed to put my neck into the halter. /
cannot renew your note. You have been
accommodated so far by one of the
much abused Hebrew usurers at his
own terms. Your popularity and your
position will probably induce some of
your Christian friends to lend you the
amount without security on perfectly
legal interest
Mr. Altheimer's note, it is needless
to add, was promptly paid. Marschall
subsequently became the diplomatic rep
resentative of the grand duke of Baden
at Berlin, and still later he was appoint
ed under secretary of state in the for
eign Office, filling the place formerly oc-
cupied by Count Herbert Bismarck
New York Sun.