The morning news., 1894-04-16
MIGUEL TO GIVE A DINNER.
II Will Be a Grand Function in Ger
man Political Life.

Ofhoial Position Is Not Shaken-Von
oaprivi's Speech Drawing the Lines
Between the Conservatives and the
Government One of the Ablest of
His Career Opening of the New
Parliament Building Emperor WILL
iam's Popularity in the Austrian
Army Greatly Increased Bismarok's
Health Much Improved.
Copyright 1894, by the United Press).
Berlin, April 15.-Dr. MIGUEL, the
Prussian finance minister, will give on
Wednesday the last of the dinners of
the present parliamentary session. 1t
will be grand function. Chancellor Won
Caprivi, all the Prussian ministers, and a
host Of imperial deputies have been in
vited and hardly a dependency OF modern
political life will be unrepresented.
The dinner cannot be said to celebrate the
success of DR.. Miquel's financial projects.
which still stick fast in committee. 1t is
meant rather TO disproye recent reports
that his official position is shaken. He
does not intend to give up his plan of
finance reform. He still hopes for better
told several intimate friends that he ex-
pected events would soon convince the
people OF the necessity and justice of his
tax bills. Thefederal states, he said, would
soon discover that the decrease of the
grain duties would affect their exchequers
unfayorably. Moreover, the recent
reduction of the estimates by the budget
committee Of the Reichstag would neces-
state an increase of the matricular con-
tributions from the federated govern
ments. These conditions would tend to
coerce public opinion to the acceptance of
the imperial wine and tobacco taxes, or,
perhaps, even to new beer and spirit
taxes. While holding that the bills now be-
fore the Reichstag were the best vet form
ulated for the purpose, DR.. MIGUEL de-
clared himself ready to discuss other
proposals.
DON'T FAVOR MONOPOLY.
Although now rather closely affiliated
with the conservatives, DR. MIGUEL does
not favor their projects of government
monopoly in spirituousIliquors and an
import tax on wool. The wool
tax, it is estimated, would pro-
duce an annual revenue of 10000. 900
marks and would be a fine thing for few
wool-growers but it would wipe out the
German manufacturers OF wooden goods
y
stag has proposed an alternative plan of
any particular value for raising the nee
essary revenue. Although temporarily
thwarted MIGUEL holds the field. AT his
sugges tion the government yesterday in
Eroduced a bill to amend the customs
tariff by raising the taxes on cotton, seed
oil, cocoa OIL perfumeries and ether The
bill was a surprise to the Reichstag, but
lobby opinion formed quickly in its favor.
he ~ Of 4
to their duties continues. Half of the
seats in the House were empty all the
week, and many hours passed without
the presence Of quorum. Even during
the debate on Count Won KanitZs pro-
posal for state monopoly of the import
grain trade, there were great gaps in the
ranks Of every party. The newspapers
try to remedy the abuse by publishing
homilies' on the duties of the deputies,
and exhorting the absentees to remember
their obligations to their constituents.
Won oAPRIvI's SPEECH
Chancellor Won Caprivi's speech on
Count Won Kanitzs motion in the Reich
stag yesterday was one Of the ablest
efforts of his public career. He drew
clearly the lines between the conserva-
tives and the government. What the
conservatives were pleased to call new
and dangerous commercial policy, he said,
could not be shown TO have imperiled
single German interest On the contrary,
the statistics of every year since the re-
ciprocittpolicy had been adopted showed
the extension Of German commerce, and
the increase of German exports. Count
Won Kanitz's proposal was calculated to
do great harm. 1t tended to sow
discord between the empire and foreign
countries IL was designed to rouse
enmity between the cities and the rural
population and shake the fundamental
principles of German unity. For purely
selfish ends, from motives Of narrow
class interest. the conservatives were
seeking to overthrow the present ad-
visers of the emperor. While they were
not likely TO accomplish their purpose,
they would accomplish some other things
much less TO their liking. The present
Agrarian agitation, If continued,
must bear fruits unwelcome to
everybody desiring the peace
and prosperity Of the empire.
The speech had a powerful effect upon
the deputies. 1t emphasized the govern
ment's decision to offer the conservatives
no terms involving the scarihce Of its
tariff policy.
THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING.
This is the last sitting of the reichstag
in the old parliament building. When
they return to town next October, the
deputies will find the new building az the
edge of the Thurgarten ready to receive
them. The change will not be regretted,
for the new building is as splen-
ded inside as outside. The
interior arrangement combines magnih-
cence and convenience. The great halls
and the commodous committee rooms and
lobbies are in pleasing contrast to the
reichstag's present quarters The deco
ratious have been made with little re-
gard for expense. A large space has
been allotted for the press and public
galleries. The floors are Of mosaic and
marble, and the windows are gorgeously
painted. The general arrangements for
the parliamentary correspondents are in
harmony with the spirit of the times
they far surpass anything that was ever
dreamed of under the Bismarckian
regime. The opening of the new build
ing Will be attended with any amount of
pomp and ceremony.
LIEBER TO RETIRE.
DR.. Lieber, leader Of the clerical party,
has declared in an open letter his desire
10 retire from politics. He remains in
public life. he says, merely with view
TO reunitinR his party, which has
never recovered from the rupture over
the army bill His letter is
regarded as an indication Of his
conversion from his former democratic
views 10 the opinion of Herren, Huene,
Schorlemer-Alst. and Ballestrem, whom
he helped TO drive from the party in the
last general election II DR. Lieber succeeds
in bringing the aristocrats and democrats