New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-20
4 CABINET CRISIS AVERTED.
THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT NEARLY DIS
MEMBERED.
COUNT TAAFFE OFFERS TO ABANDON THE FRAN
CHISE BILL-IIGH OFFICIALS WITH
THE EMPEROR.

Vienna Oct ia Cabinet crisis to-day
seemed inevitable. but it is now believed to
have been averted The trouble has been due
chiefly to the Franchise bill, over which all
the parties irritated.
Count Kalnoky Minister Of Foreign Af-
fairs and Of the Imperial House for the whole
Monarchy and Count Taaffe. visited Emperor
Francis Joseph yesterday and 1t is reported
submitted their designations to him. They were
with the Emperor again tonight.
President Chlumccky. of the lower house
had an audience with Emperor Francis Joseph
in Ruda -Pesth this evening and presented his
resignation. His reason for wishing to retire
is that the German Liberals have been placed
and have placed him In exceedingly difficult
position since the introduction Of the Electoral
Reform bill. The Emperor refused to accept
his resignation Count Taaffe assured Chlu-
mecky of his readiness to abandon the bill The
Emperor concented to a dissolution Of the
Reichsrath in cas-. the coercion policy for Bo-
hcma should be rejected. Whether the Suf-
frage bill has been abandoned permanently
or only temporarily Is not known.
The Franchise BILL which was introduced on
October TO- in the Lower House of the Reichs-
rath by Count Taafe. Minister Of the In
terror. provides that the right to vote shall be
extended to all who have attained their twen-
ty-fourth year, have accomplished their mill
tary obligations. and have lived in one place
for at least six months. Illiterate persons will
be permitted to vote only when paying direct
taxes and when they shall have served their
time in the army. Persons of that class will.
however, be allowed to vote when in the en-
ployment Of the State.
1t was said al the time the bill was intro
duced that the Governments only object was
to allay the agitation of the Socialists in favor
Of universal suffrage. 1t was known that the
Conservatives would oppose the measure. but
the Government hoped to patch up majority
out of the other elements composing the Reichs-
rath. In this 1t appears to have failed ard
the bill is probably doomed. The bill intro
duced by the Government n few days ago to
sanction the action of the Ministry in declar-
ing Prague and other places in Bohemia to be
in a state OF siege will also fail Of a majority.
Ritter Won Zalesk, Polish Minister without
portf olio; Dr. Steinback. Austrian Minister OF
Finance and all the German members Of the
issued circular rejecting the Franchise bill
and commenting on the Governments action
with Indignation The circular declares that in
it's last programme the Government promised
to maintain existing National rights and privi-
eges, which ii IL now attempting TO set aside.
1t further accuses the Government OF A breach
Of parliamentary usage in submitting to the
Reichsrath a bill providing for sweeping re-
form without previously consulting the political
parties and the conn etent leaders OF the people.
The members of the Left declare that they
are not unwilling to support certain extern
sion of the franchise to increase the number
of Deputies who will be representatives OF the
workingmen.