Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-08
THE RElcHsTAG IN SESSION.
Chancellor Won Caprivi Introduces the
Amended Army Bill.

Bv Anglo-American cable to tho Dispatch.l
RrprrS July when the new Reich
stoo met 10. day for the first time Tor tue
cops,deration Of regular business nearly
ali the 3g7 members were in their places,
for IL was known that the goyernment
would al once introduce the AMENDED
army BILL and general interest was telt as
to the concessions, II any, tnat the GOV
eminent had made on the original OIL.
Immediately after tho opening OF the
House was concluded Chancellor Won "a
prlyi ascended the tribune and IN long
sneech introduced the amended measure;
He stated that the present form OF the OH
reported the minimum tnat the gO'S6Iln-
ment would accept IN men or money. Ine
Governments demands were the lowest
possible consistent with the safety Oh tne
empire. The previous bill hau Deen oeIOIo
Parliament and the country for nlne
months. and everybody understood what
the government demanded. IL was. there
fore needless to repeat the arguments
that had heretofore been advanced III
favor of the measure,
The palleries of the Reichstag were
crowded with people. among them many
prominent in the political and soclai IRE
of the capital. During the delivery OF ms
speech the Chancellor was frequently IN
terrupted by applause ana SHOUTS Vi
The KEYNOTE Of the speech was that
foreIon countries. not knowing intimately
the German character, had been led 70 be-
Eeve that Germany would lose confidence
in herself and that the countries CON-
posing the German empire were no longer
unit Rut. said the Chancellor, tins was
art erroneous impression which ought 10
be quickly dspelled by the speedy adop-
ton of the new bull ~, c,..o,
In the course of the speech the Chancel-
lor referred TO the action OF huSsla III III H
creasing the peace footing Oh ner army ot
"a OOO men since 1889, and said she hau DOT
vet exhausted her resources. Germany'
ho declared. must increase her peace loot
mo if her voice was 10 continue 10 nave
weight in the European AreOpagus. IEe
ASSERTION made by the opposition that Ter
many did not have sutlicientmen TO answer
fhe call TOR recruits was dIsproyed by
the fact that 10000 serviceable men hau
not been recruited.
Referring 10 the expense that would be
entailed by the granting OF the govern,
mepts demands, the Chancellor SAID that
the new taxes that must necessarily DC
levied would be borne on strong shoulders
These taxes would not touch the middle
classes or the agriculturists. lie could
not now. he added. definitely state the
tax plan. but it was the government IN,
tention 10 again introduce the old nnahclnl
proposals. especially the one providing for
a tax on Buurse transactions.
Herr Payer, a member OF the Eolksparte;
foIIowed fhe chancellor. Payer declared
il was not true that the country had pro-
nounced for. nor did a majority. of the
House support, the army bill. Such small
majority as the government might Obtain
would only be secured through diplo-
macy.
Herr Won Manteufel, Conservative and
an active supporter of the government
said be regretted that the government mad
abandoned its own bill for the Hnene com
promise. II was impossible for Germany
10 ba too strong. The lots III Paris, n'
added, furnished striking proof Of TINS as
sertion. The mob now shook and might
possibly overthrow the French govern
ment and establish a regime that migh
seek strength through foreign diversion.