The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-08
THE NEW hRMT BIIL.
Chancellor Won Capriyi Introduces the
Amended Measure.


BERLIN. July When the new
Reichstag sat to-day for the first time
for the consideration of regular business
nearly all OF the 800 members were I'm
their places. for 70 was known that the
Government would at once introduce an
amended army bin. and general interest
is felt as 10 the concessions. If any, that
the Government h. made on the origi-
nal bill.
Immediately after the opening Of the
House was concluded Chancellor Won
CepriV assembled ie tribune and i'm a
long speech intro Wced the amended
measure. lie stated that the present
form of the bin reported the minimum
that .he Government would accept in
men or money. The Governments de-
mands were the lowest possible consist
ent with the safety OF the empire The
previous bill had been before Parliament
and the country f0r nine months, and
everybody understood what the Govern
ment wanted. IL WAS. therefore, needless
10 repeat the argum nts that had hereto
fore been advanced I'M favor of the meas
ure.
The galleries Of he Reichstag were
crowded with people among them many
prominent I'm the .'oiitical and social
folds OF the capital. During the delivery
Of his speech the Chancellor was fire.
quently Interrupted by applause and
shouts Of "Quite ri htl Quite true"
The keynote Of tie speech was that
foreign countries. not knowing Intimately
the German character had been led 20
believe that Germany had lost confidence
in herself. and thai the countries COM
posing the German Empire were no lon
ger united This. he Chancellor de-
clarfd. WAS IN c e1eOus impression
which ought 10 be quickly dspelled by
the speedy adoption Of the new bill.
In the course Of the speech the Chan
cellor referred TO the action Of Russia
in Increasing the peace footing OF her
army by 1900 men since 1889. and said
she had not yet exhausted her resources.
Germany, he declared. must increase her
peace footing. il her voice was 10 con-
tinue 20 have weight I'm the European
areopagus. The assertion made by the
opposition that Germany did not have
sufficient men TO answer the call for re-
cruits. was disproved by the fact that
$1,000 serviceable men had not been re-
cruited.
Referring 10 the expense that would be
entailed by the granting Of the Gov
ernments demands, Chancellor Won Ca
privi said that the new taxes that must
necessarily be levied would be borne on
strong shoulders. These taxes would
not touch the middle classes or the ag-
ricultural population. He could not now.
he added, definitely state the tax plan,
but II was the Governments intention
10 again introduce the old financial pro-
posals. and especially the one providing
for a tax on hOurse transactions
According 10 this bill the peace effective.
excluding commissioned officers and non
commissioned officers above the rank OF
corporal was 10 have consisted Of i9206s
men between October !. 1892 and March
81. 1892 The strength OF the various
branches Of the service during the period
mentioned was 10 have been III ba\llions
OF infantry, Al squadrons Of cavalry. 49i
batteries Of field artillery. q battalions
OF foot artillery p battalions Of pioneers.
7 battalions OF railway troops and p bat
talions Of the transport.
The average strength Of the standing
army was calculated in accordance with
the principle Of two years active service
with the colors for the infantry.
The increase involved the expenditure
OF 66.Q00O0 marks In lump sum. or
this amount 62.O0OO01 was 10 have ap-
peared I'm the budget for the financial
year 1891 The annually recurring ex-
penditure was fixed at $4,000 900 marks.
When the new system should have been
fully developed Germany would have in
times Of war trained army OF 100000
men.
Herr Paher n member of the Volks-
partei. followed the Chancellor. Paher de-
clared II was not true that the country
had pronounced for nor did a majority
Of the House support. the Army bill.
Such n small majority as the Govern
ment might obtain would only be secured
through diplomacy.