The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-08
AN ANTI-TAX AGITATION.
GeTmany'S Social Democrats at Its
Back.

Proposed Tobacco Tax Reform-The
Emperor Assents to the ministerial
Draft of the Parliamentary Pro-
gramme-The Conservative Element
in the Ascendant at the National Lib
eral Congress.
Berlin, Oct. THE chancellor's con-
! ference with the emperor at Hurbuters-
| stock was finished on Friday evening
| The emperor assented to the ministerial
draft of the parliamentary programme,
and the ministerial council viii act fl
nally on the chancellor's proposals next
week
Among the bills to be laid before the
imperial deputies are those of new to-
bacco taxes, for the regulation of bourse
and loan transactions, and for the bet
ter control of political meetings and pub
ncations. The bourse bill will propose the
abolition or limitation of time bargains,
and is certain to arouse strong opposi-
tion of the radicals and many liberals.
The tobacco tax reform is the most gem
orally discussed of all the new measures.
Already it's opponents have concentrated
| NPOiA II ctAl NAlC dilei6OhAoil NillGtl NdS set
up last winter against DR.. Miquels re-
form programme. The Koelnische Zei-
tung says that the social democrats are
preparing a campaign book on the in
expediency and unpopularity of the pro-
| posed tax, have divided Germany into
fourteen districts for the purpose of ag-
itating against it, and will hold a grand
! national meeting in Berlin to denounce
1t a day or two before it is to be presented
to the Reichstag. One reason for this op-
| position is that the social democrats have
more men in the lower classes of the to-
bacco trade than has any other party.
The chief reason, however, is that the So
ctalists think the occasion opportune for
a loud protest against any increase of
taxation. The social democratic central
committee has given out thousands of
leaflets comparing the taxes affecting
the masses with those paid by the classes.
The results of this activity are growing
more apparent daily Dates have been
set for large anti-taX meetings in sew
eral cities. The first of these demonstra-
tions was made here to-day, and any
number may be expected within the next
week
The scope of the bill concerning politi-
cal associations has not bean finally de-
termined. Herr Won Boetticher secretary
of the interior, has been trusted with the
elaboration of the measure on lines ap-
proved by the emperor, and he in turn
has confided the task to Privy Councillor
Won Trott Zu Zolz, who, as district coun-
sellor Of Hoechst and Marburg was dis
ttnguished for his severity toward the
socialists The bill viii be drafted and
revised with the greatest care, as it will
be the most contentious measure of the
session. 1t probably will not be ready at
the opening of the reichstag, as differ
ences of opinion in the federal council
and the ministry will retard its passage
The national liberal congress has sat for
three days at Frankfort-on -the-Main. The
debates have been private, but their ten
dency has been disclosed by talkative del
egates. They show that the conservative
element in the party is in the ascendant
and is pushing the whole organization
away from the radicals and radical union
| ists who for many years have had hopes
of restoring the unity of all German lib
eral parties. The resolutions adopted by
the congress are in many cases little more
than reproductions of planks in the con-
serYatiVe platform. While not making
common cause with the agrarians, the
delegates have demanded much the con-
| SerVatives have proclaimed necessary
They wish to restrict the right of public
meeting, to increase the severity of legal
penalties inflicted on press offenders,
and to introduce exceptional laws against
socialists. anarchists and other enemies
of the existing social system. They con-
denim indirectly the emperor's concilia-
| tory policy toward the Poles and demand
the resolute vindication of German infiu-
ence in the Polish districts. They also
ask that the government take steps to
strengthen the German middle class as
societys principal bulwark against reyo-
luton.
The congress telegraphed expressions
of loyalty to the emperor and the Grand
Duke of Baden, and o few words of af-
fectionate venerat1on to the old chancel-
lor.
The emperor said, in his reply the ma
tional liberal assurances were n guaran-
tee that he could rely upon the party in
both good and bad times
Prince Bismarck said your message
recalls to me the days when l worked
with the national liberal party TO solidify
and complete the imperial edhce of
united Germany"
The Grand Duke of Baden telegraphed:
Il hope that the parties of social order
and good government will beat their
drums and rally their followers to COOP
crate in building the fabric of peace"
The Vossische zeitung, referring to Ru-
doph Won Bennigsens absence from the
congress-, says that DR.. Hammacher
spoke of this old national liberal leader
as under heaven called to be the savior
of Germany in the critical times now at
hand. Dr. Hammacher's obvious mean
ing was that BenniPsen was the national
liberal candidate for Chancellor Caprivrs
place.
The Kreuz zeitung processes to have
special information from military quar-
ters concerning the outbreak In the In
Walden Strasse school. The whole affair
1t says, was not a casual explosion of dis
content, aggravated by too much beer,
but was part Of widespread plot. The
Reichsanzeiger denies, however, that the
mutny had any political Significance II
promises to make a full statement on the
subject Immediately after the close OF
the official inquiry. The military authorl-
ties propose TO improve the discipline OF
the school by transferring 1t TO a quiet
town far from any large city. Several
non-commissioned officers who were ar
rested early In the week, and were con-
fined at Madgeburg, passed through Ber-
lin on Thursday evening on their way to
their regiments. They declined to give
the slightest inkling OF their experiences
while under arrest, or Of the reasons for
their detention.
DR.. Roesslers declaration against the
secret ballot and in favor OF a dictator
ship as a check on socialism. is criticised