The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19
CAPRIVTSFALLATHAN
THE GERMAN CABINET WILL GO TO
PIECES OYER THE ARMY BILL.
The Chancellor Too Unbending I'm His At
titude Before the Committee and
the Emperor 10 Displessed.


the scene Of the next Cabinet crisis. The
feeling that the last minute the Emperor
and his Chancellor would concede few
thousand recruits rather than submit to
a disheartening defeat in the Army bill
commission was current throughout the
Empire until the announcement was made
that the national liberal offer of $1,000
more recruits had been finally refused.
1t then became apparent to all that not
only In the commission. but also in the
plenary sitting of the Reichstag the Army
bill was doomed. This means at best a
general election. The Government is
doing its best to defer an appeal to the
people who would be likely 10 return a
Parliament fully as much opposed TO the
bill as the present one. besides electing
many anti-Semitics and Social Demo-
Gratis. the bitter enemies of all decent
parties.
Even the Conservatives agree that
Chancellor Caprivi had been too unbend-
ing In his attitude towards the parties,
and II is believed that his arrogance will
cost him his Office. Twice during the past
week Re has borne sharp reproofs from
the Emperor, who was especially
chagrined by his Chancellors failure 10
NiooI NAu fOu DtiAiSSSHg WIN was
Ing TO deliver the forty votes OF the Gen.
trail Liberia party IL the Chancellor would
abate his demands about 10 per cent.
News of this interview was whispered
throughout the city on Wednesday after
noon. two hours after 1t took place. the
withdra wal Of the Army bill was believed
to be assured and despite the accom-
panying reports that Caprivi would re-
sign, prices on the Bourse rose several
broker gave a good index OF the situation
when he said that nothing would help the
prices of German securities more than
the immediate retirement Of CapriW and
his Army bill.
That the retirement OF the successor OF
Bismarck is at hand few persons doubt.
Chancellor Won CapriW informed an East
Prusslan Conservative to-day that he was
weary Of office. and after the fate of the
Army bill was decided he would retire.
II Is not believed, however, that the EN-
peror will wait for a final decision on the
bill before calling a new man TO the
Chancellorship. Lieutenant Won Huelsen
has already been dispatched to Altona TO
convey letters from the Emperor TO Cen
eral Won Waldersee, and the report is
abroad that this able soldier is the COM
Ing man. The majority OF the Conserva-
tlVes look to Waldersee as the rising
sun In German politics, not only on ac-
count or the latter's increasing close re-
latlons to the Emperor. but also because
after Capriyi. he Is the only well-known
German who Is at once a capable soldier
ana an astute politician. The Radical
press hints that April 1st, or at latest
May lst, Will see the fall of the present
Chancellor. the appointment OF a success
sor and general Parliamentary election
approaching In the near future. The
Conservative newspapers led by the
hreuse Ieltung suggest the same even
tually. The Social Democratic editors.
with tfebknecht, OF the Vorwaerts. at the
head, say plainly that the Capriyi regime
is failure, and that the Emperor awaits
only favorable opportunity to end It,
Before the final vote OF the army bill
committee left the Government face to
face with a definitely hostile majority.
Chancellor Caprivi had a conference with
Hueze, Rickert, Bennigsen and Lleber
the chiefs Of the parties represented on
the committee. The negotiations left
the Government and the committee more
hostile than ever toward each other
Only the Conservatives and free Conser-
vative members of the committee sup
ported the bill. The Chancellor gave as
resolute a rejection to Bennigsens COM
promise proposals. though they largely
the Governments demands, as
he did to the proposal OF Lieber. which
conceded nothing. Lieber's proposal,
about which much mystery has been
showed that the centre party
had no desire 10 further treat with the
Government. His proposal was practi-
cally the submission of a new bill. pro-
viding fOr the maintenance of the pres
ent peace footing with a reduced term
Of service, the Government having the
option, In the event OF emergencies, 10
retain I'm active service the men who had
served their term.
The report OF the committee will be
submitted to the Reichstag after Easter.
Every indication now points TO the Reich
stag supporting the committee. The
determined attitude Of the Chancellor
proves that Emperor William had re-
solved TO take an extra step. II is now
expected that the Relchstag will be dis
solved at the end OF April. The closinu
speeches in the committee had a pro-
election character, being less
directed TO criticism Of the bill than 10
,ttacks upon the Government. Herr
Richter declared the rejection OF Herr
compromise was an event In
he light OF which the whole pohtlcai
situation was thrown into clear renet'
4 was proof that there was no possibility
n deal with Government Wnlch "hS M
mnerious will. All the parties ne sald'
night now combine In defense ol oV"-
against absolutisH| -
Herr Won Bennigsen denounCvu VI"
,and made by Chancellor Won NApil'i
8 precludlng all hope OF an arrans''h7I,e
"a assuring the certainty Of shipwrecH |
a the hill. He declared that the oost-
,acv of the Government would precpl-
- q yanaral election. Were the minis |
ers aware. he asked Of what dissolution \
nplied? II would bring about the widest
Genes OF political confusion: !. would
ause disorders hitherto unknowa TO the
,erman electors.
Rennigsen warned the Government that
hev had no chance to rally the country
q their side They could rely upon no
ar,v but the Conservatives, and not
ven with the Conservatives unless they
ada terms with the agrarian factions.
Then Freiherr Won Buo-Berneberg, a
'entrist. posed as ar advocate or imam
ial retrenchment, repeating all the old
rguments on that question.
Won Caprivi rightly characterized the
'entrfst proposal as the negsitiOn or the
biect of the bill. Bennigsen's proposal
o rejected on the ground that the foderal
overnments must adhere to the complete
cheme OF organization submitted TO the
.eichstag. The Chancellor held that the
eiterated appeal TO the Government TO
onsider the burdens upon the Empire
as insulting. and he declined TO reply 10
ennlgsen's predictions about the re-
llts OF the committees refusal 20 pass
,e bin. Finally the Chancellor tried 10
efend the action OF the Government as
ntirely constitutional He resented Herr
t.htor.l rarnarks about absOiIffisn1 and |