The herald., 1894-12-23

to be special interference OF his pre-
rogative and the manner in which the
reichstgg is treating hie pet measure is
not calculated to diminieh his ire.
fhngs, in BRIEF hinge on the fate OF
the anti-revolutionery bill. without
counting the Centrists, the government
can only rely on about l rs votes. which
IS Il lesg than q majority. Thus, in
order to pass the bill, the government
needs to gain the support of the Centre
party, and the latter. knowing the value
OF its position. 10 little disposed to show
lamD-like obedience to the govern ment's
vishee. On the contrary, the members
OF the Centre party have already formu-
lated their demands and unless these
are conceded their support is extremely
doubtful.
THE ANTI-REvOLUTIoNARY BILL.
( According to the Centrist organs, the
Germania and Kolnische Volks lei
tung, paragraphs l30 and 13l OF the
enti-revolutionary bill require to be re.
vised. and what is more important to
the Centrists, the recall OF the Jeeuits
to Germany must be granted. As al
ready stated, the anti-revolutiona bill
ie really an amendment of the existing
criminal code of the emf pire.
Section $50 OF the criminal code reads !:
"Whoever publicly aud in manner
dangerous to the public peace lncites
different classes OF the population to
acts OF violence against each other is
punishable by q fine not exceeding 600
marks. or with imprisonment not ex-
ceeding two years"
To this the anti-revolutionary bill
would add: THE same unishment
may be inflicted on any one who in O
manner dangerous to the public peace,
publicly attacks religion, the monarchy.
the marriage. the family or property
with expressions of abuse"
Section 13l in the criminal code now
reads "Whoever publicly dissem mates
invented or distorted facts, knowing
they are invented or distorted, having
in view to render contemplate instltu-
tions of the state or DEGREES of authori-
ties, is punishable with a fine not ex-
ceeding 600 marks or with imprison-
ment not exceeding two years."
The anti-revolutionary bill would
make section 131 read "Whoever pub
licly asserts or disseminates invented or
distorted facts of which he knows or ac-
cording to the circu M tances must con-
clude, that they are invented or dis
torted, having in view to render con-
temptible institutions OF tine state or de-
crees of the authorities is punishable
with fine not exceeding 900 marks
(Sl50) or with imprisonment not ex-
cesdinz two years."
An ELAsTI SECTION.
The addition to section 100, given
above, forms one of the cardinal points
of the bill and one over which it is ex-
pected the controversy will rage with
the greatest fury. 1t ia termed an lin
dia rubber paragraph" and is 40 elastic
that it can be stretched at will by the
executive. The amendment to eecton
131 is directed against the press and has
therefore attracted greater share of at
tention from the German newspapers
than the rest of the law. 1t is claimed
that under its provisions the newspA-
pers, organs of all parties alike, would
be constantly exposed to prosecutions if
the amendment is enacted. Comment
ing on this subject. the Vossische Zei-
tung briefly called attention to an in
stance in which an editor was con-
demned to two years. imprisonment for
publishing his belief that the
policy of the government would
involve an increase of 200 marks
imperial taxation. The newspaper
referred to claims that before the
editor had been many months in
prison his prediction was far more than
realized; but the government never