The morning call., 1893-04-30
PLAYS FOR TIME.
Caprivi Not Ready for
Battle.
GERMANY IS AGAINST HIM.
The Center Party Will Form No
Sort of Alliance.
INFLUENCE IS OF NO AVAIL.
But He Has Not Yet Given Up His
Fight for the Army
Bill.
INFLUENCE IS OF NO AVAIL
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

BERLIN, April 29.-When the report of
the committee on the army bill was pre-
sented to the Reichstag a few days ago Won
LeveIzow, the resident. proposed that the
debate open ON Tuesday. The leaders Of
the different groups concurred that four
days would suffice fer the discussion, and so
a week hence the fate of the bill would have
been settled and the struggle over. To-day,
however, Won Caprivi caused TO percolate
into the lobbes information to the effect
that the Government would cause the second
reading of the bill to be postponed, presum-
ably because the Emperor desires to be
present in Berlin on the eve Of the dissolu-
tion of tie Rechstag.
Even at the last hour Chancellor Won
Caprivi has, with no apparent chances of
success, made fresh oveTtures for the sup
port of the Centrist leader, Count Won Bale
strem, through Major Hinngen Huene and
other prominent members of that party. 1t
is reported that the latter is reinforced by
letters from Cardinal Ledochowski, prefect
to the Propaganda Eide. urging the Center
party to try 10 come TO terms with the Gov
ernment Oh the bill. There is no doubt,
however, that the Centrists are unfiinching
in their adhesion to existing decisions. No
occult pressure can overcome the fact,
weighing most with the Centrists, that the
repugnance of Catholics electors is SO
strong against the bill that members repre-
senting the party in the Reichstag woulo
certainly be punished by their constituents
if they fail to observe the pledges they have
made.
The public is so utterly absorbed in theAhl-
wardt inquiry thatn0thing else political has
any interest. The affair reached its climax
p, dory ~, H..
history of the Reichstag. The committee
appointed to examine the documents sub
mitted by Ahiwardt in support OF the grave
charges of corruption lie had made held
meeting to discuss the report. Eotwith-
standing the disclosures of forgery of the
documents introduced, Ahlwardt remained
callOus and unabashed and declined to
withdraw his charges. Tho committee
delegated DIR. POrtsch and Herr Bebel to
confer with Ahlwagdt privately, but the
conference did not result in anything, Ahl-
wardt declining to withdraw from the atti-
tude he had taken. DR.. l.ieber urged the
committee 10 close the matter. He declared
that it produced in him feeling of moral
aud phy steal disgust to see German repre-
sentative make such a spectacle of himself.
This remark brought Ahlwardt to his feet
and lie meaaeed DIR. Lieber with his fist.
He said that Lieber's last remark was an
Obvious reference 20 the eifeums stanees {
Ahiwardts appearance before the commit
tee yesterday with rent in his clothing.
Lieber's allusion to this circumstance was
infamous.
The chairman of the committee called
Ahlwardt to order, but the latter repeated
his expression, whereupon the whole CON-
mittee arose. Ahlwardt hurled abusive
epithets at them collectively, and finally left
the committee room, shouting that he would
not remain to be insutcd. The committee
briefly passed the report, affirming that all
Of the charges were without foundation.
Dr.. Miguel proposes to bring criminal
action against Ahlwardt, and the Reichstag
may revive a disused law and expel him.
The May-day fete Will be celebrated by
the socialists of Germany generally, the
police taking no usual precautions. The
Austrian socialists also will make general
holiday, and will hold forty meetings and
street demonstrations on Monday as pro-
test OF the workingmen against their poll
tical nulIity. The meetings will demand n
general and equal franchise.
Phelps, the American Minister, reports
that the German Foreign Office knows
nothing about the expulsion of American
missionaries from the Marshall Islands.