The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-23
GERMAN
POLITICS.
Discussing the Army Bill.
II is Thought it Cannot Pass in its
Present Shape.
Developments in the Panama Canal SCan-
dal Shaking Russian Conf.
denCe in France,

position of the committee Of the reichs-
tag to which the army bill has been re-
ferred might at first appear unpromising
for the government, its elements admit
of such grouping, under inducements
that Chancellor Won Caprivl may offer,
as will enable the ministers to get Il ma
yorlty. The committee. which il com
posed of twenty eight members. is made
up of three social democrats. six mem
bers Of the freissinning party, eight CEN
terists tor clericalsl, two Poles, three ma
tional liberals, one free conservative and
tive right conservatives. If the chancel-
!or reduces the money vote to 100000
and mOdiiies the government demands
for an increase in the present peace eff
fective bill, he will have "a chance of ap-
proval. In lis present shape it will stand
no chance whatever Of becoming a law.
Semi-otiicial papers admit that certain
changes are essential to the success of
the measure, but they express confidence
that concessions will De offered that
will be sufficient to win over a majority
of the committee 10 tn" support of the
bill in a form that viii not materially
change its scope. The ominOus feature
If It's position Is evidenced by the tenn
per OF the conservative opposition. The
traditions of the conservative party.
which are all against the demands of the
government, and SO far as army reforms
are concerned. are now set at naught.
The implied threat of the chancellor
in his speech when the bill was present
ed to the reichstag to dissolve the house
and have a new election in the event of
the measure being rejected has had lit
tie. if any, effect upon conservatives.
1t is reported that the chancellor. in
disposed and worried at seeing it was
improbable he would obtain the assent
Of the reIchstag to his full demands for
an increase Of the standing army. told
the emperor that he would resign the
cares Of Office. His majesty, however.
vas not disposed to give the chancellor
any encouragement. He expressed his
determination to make the army bill a
even at the risk Of an appeal to the
country. lie assured Count Won Caprivi
that he would stand by him under all
A4NullolbICtS nv IlldICtllDT BdlJttl
courage from his interview with the en-
perOr and assented to remaining in Of
and lighting the battle out.
Nothing in his speeches IN the reichs.
tag showed the slightest signs Of dis
rourag"nent attributed to him by com
rulnOr ON the contrary. he was
quicker ana more spirited than aver in
iefeace or attack.
With the weapon afforded him by the
-mpcror's promise Of support. he ur-
quesUonably felt himself in a better po-
-ItIon 70 thrust and parry. and even ms
opponents conceded that he took full
advantage Of his personally improved
position Whatever concessions he may
o''cr - the committee he showed no in
t"ntion IN the open house Of abating one
Jot or little Of his proposals.
\ notable feature IN debates has been 4.
: ' omission of all illusions to Prince
bismarck ON any reference TO his
opinions. His old adhcrents avoided in
PRODUCING his name in the discussIons
aud also avoided indulging in their old
comparisons between the policy Of
Chancellor Won Capuyi and that FOL.
loved by Prince Bismarck.
Developments in the Panama scandal
watched with tie kecncst Interest,
and, II may be said. anxiety. one com
fort 10 Germany rs that the spectacle Of
cDrru ptlon and confusion among French
political leaders lessons the RUSSIAN de
to make France an ally.
Advices received here from st. Peters
burg show that information recently
the car that a certain Russian
had received from Paris the sum
If 100000 for advocating d Russo
French alliance. He at once ordered in
iulry 10 be made which resulted in the
discovery that the rcport was not true
and that part Of the brides distributed
by the Panama Canal company had been
accepted by prominent persons in
Russia.
The Russian court party, under the
cad Of VI. P~olOdonesZeiT, are hostile to
he French alliance and they seized the
opportunity to work on the cars pre-
udices against French republicans.
The German foreign officials are hope.
'ul that Gen. Werder. the new German
ambassador to Russia. will succeed in
ietaching the czar from France, and
70 lead to the grouping OF the powers.
Another, and to Germany a far more inn
view Of the situation, is that the
:haos in France may produce an advent
Irer who would hazard war with Ger
many as the best stroke to carry him
3elf into power.