Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-24
IN THE REICHSRATH.
The Electoral Reform Bill of Count
Taafe Discussed.


The lower house Of the Austrian reichs-
rath was crowded in every part yesterday
with an audience eager to hear the pro-
ceedings relative to the declaration Of q
state Of seige in Prague and elsewhere in
Bohemia The report current q few days
ago that Count Kalnoky. imperial minister
Of foreign affairs, and Count Taafe, Austrian
minister OF the interior, had resigned be-
cause Of the troubles growing out of the
electoral reform bill also had its effect In
drawing many visitors to the chamber
though 1t was generally known that neither
OF the ministers had given UP his ONCE.
After the formal opening Of the house. and
after the election of a committee to con-
slider the bin sanctioning the government q
action in establishing a state OF siege In Ger.
tain places in Bohemia, Count Taafe arose
and declared that the government in pro-
posing the electoral reform bill had no hos
tile tendency against any party.
The bill maintained the fundamental prin.
ciples of the constitution
This declaration was greeted with laughter
by those who are opposed to the measure.
Continuing. Count Taafe said that the
governments main intention in introducing
the bill was to strengthen the constitution
EFFECTIVELY by an enlargement Of the right OF
suffrage. Grave dangers he added threat.
ened society and the state from elements
that have hitherto been without political
rights. Despite the present opposition OF
three great parties, the government would
maintain the leading principles Of the bill
hoping to find that parliament would co.
operate with II in bringing about the pro.
posed reform. while at the same time taking
care Of exciting legitimate interests
At the close Of Count Taafe's speech En-.
colbert Pernerstorfer (democraO spoke In
favor of the suffrage reform bill The Ger.
mans in AuQfr1a he said had &c
fear from the extension of the suffrage
Their contention that they would be politi
cally submerged In case the bill should be
come law showed they valued power more
than justice. Any party called liberal oughi
to avoid social struggle with the masse.
by accepting the present measure.
Dr.. Johann Slavik, Young Czech, deput,
| for Wittingau, Bohemia complained of III,
crying injustice Of the present electora
| system to the Czech subjects of the EN-
peror." Count Taafes proposed reform h,
said. would abate a great popular griev
| ance.
DIR. Won Plener, leader Of the German lib
erals. made an eloquent speech against tn
| bill. Count Taafe's plan of reform he de
| scribed as coup de theater. 1t would in
crease the number Of electors but not tn
number OF parliamentary seats. 1t woul,
submerge the middle class in the mob, an,
would place the German minorities power
| less at the feet Of the Slavs. An attemp
was making. apparently. to apply cut-and
| dried theories. evolved under other condi
tons. to the empire. The promises OF al
| men advocating this course were that tina
| which would have benefcent results In Aus
| states must have the same results in Aus
tria. Such radical doctrines ignored history
| Their theories of suffrage were impracti
| cable for a complicated national organize
| ton like Austria. The bill was really anti
1 Austrian In its every tendency. The Ger
man liberals realized that II was almos
| impossible to force Count Taefe from Office
but they hoped to make him feel tn
strength OF the antagonism which he ma
| aroused.
Before adjourning the deputies Shove
| their hostility TO the government by adopt
state Of siege in Prague sit in public, al
| though the government declines to divuig
the list OF offenses which led to the coerciv
| measures to any except a secret committed
IT looks as IL the dissolution must com
| within a few days.