The herald., 1893-07-09
FLASHES FROM ABROAD.
Sparring for Wind in the
German Reichstag.
Speeches For and Against the
New Army Bill.
The Discussion Likely to Last Till
the End Of the Week.
Arguments Before the Boring ses Court
of Arbitration Closed-Mr. Phelps
Highly ComplImented ON
His Brilliant Effort.

By the Associated Press
BERLIN, July 8.-The speeches made
Tor and against the army bill in the
reichstag yesterday and today were
purely OF partisan character. indicat-
ing nothing of the undercurrents which
may ultimately guide the votes of the
several parties. Each speaker indicated
the known programme, and avoided any
reference to a acompromise. The obvious
determination of large number of
members to be heard on the bill implies
that the discussion will last until the
end of next week.
At today's session of the reichstag
Groeber spoke against the army bill in
the name of the Center party. The
Centrists, he declared, were firmly op-
posed to the bill. All the newly elected
representatives of the party were pledged
against it. From a military point OF
view, the bill was needless; from an
economical standpoint, it was ruinous.
1t would be better for the government to
enter into an organic federation with
Austria than to increase the army super
huously. The present government game
to secure mouse-trap majority was un-
dignified. Doubtless if the house knew
how the government intended to cover
the extra cost involved in the measure
1t would not he able to find majority.
Boeckel, anti-semitic, said the MEM
bers OF that party would only vote for
the bill on condition that the costs
would be covered by taxes exacted only
from the rich. To secure anti.eemitic
support, Caprivi must declare the gov
ernment would not increase the indirect
food tax. ssS
Boeckel declared that the anti-semitics
would strive to abolish the possibility of
heaping up enormous fortunes like those
possessed by the Rothschilds and
Bleichroeders. He added that the bill
must be the absolute conclusion of the
increase OF the army ifis wer6 nos snsi- .sssE
grafton from Germany would increase.
Caprivi reiterated the statement he,
made yesterday that it was at present
impossible to give the details OF the
financial plan to cover the incraase ex-
penditure that would be incurred
through granting the governments de-
mands. He asked Boeckel to trust the
government's honesty, and promised to
relieve weak shoulders of the burden OF
Increased taxation. Only the well-to-
do, he said, would be called upon to pay
the new tax.
Wednesday next is day for private
members' motions. The Centrists will
then raise the question of the re-
admission OF the JesuitB into Germany.
The Freisinnige papers persist in stating
that the governments support of or re-
training from opposing the ultramon-
tame proposal will be the price paid the
Centrists for their support of the army
bill. Both the Centrist leaders and the
government adherehts deny this COM
pact. The chancellor undoubtedly has
majority in favor of the bill without
the Centrists. In the lobbies today it
was not the Jesuit, but the taxation
question upon which the Centrists de-
clared an arrangement for their support
was possible. While Herr Crober pro-
claimed no compromise in the house,
the members of the Lieber wing of the
party stated in the lobby that if the
chancellor pledged the government to
cover the increase in expenditures by q
progressive imperial tax on incomes
over 12.000 marks, the Centrists would
vote for the bill. Privately they
are angling for deal, which
is likely to be arranged, giving the
government large majority. DR.. Liebsr
means to insist that the bill shall go to
the committee, and this will give time
for negotions to be carried on.
The National Liberals have given no.
tice'of a motion in regard to the dis
trees caused by drought, and also in
regard to the lack of fodder. The Rich
terists will propose entire suspension of
import duties on fodder until May, 1894.
The Socialists will support the measure.
For the fret time In the history of the
reichstag the Socialists have obtained
the chairmanship of one of the promi-
nent committees. In the elections for
members of the Bavarian landtag, for
the first time the Socialists captured
seats and two candidates were elected in
Munich. They also won seats in War
temburg, Augsberg and Bamberg.