The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-17
Silver Question Agitating the
German Government
THE EMPEROR INTERESTED
Endorsement of Won Mirbach's Res0lu.
ton by the Reichstag
Among the Many Members Who Signed the
Declaration Was Prince HohenIohe,
the Imperial Chancellor

the subject on which the political and
financial world in Berlin have been chiefly
occupied during the past week The
financial troubles in the United States
are followed here with the closest atten-
ton, and the National Zetung, kleiner
Journal and other newspapers have COM
mented at various lengths upon the situa-
ton at Washington.
On Wednesday night, during the sub
scription bali at the Royal Opera House,
the Emperor showed the interest he felt
in the matter by engaging in a lengthy
conversation with Mr.. Runyon, the Amer
lean Ambassador, on American financial
affairs. The conversation touched on the
tariff and political questions, but HisMajes-
ty asked to be informed more especially as
TO the financial crisis the coinage troubles
and the gold reserve in the national treas
ury. On receiving the Information that
he sought the Emperor added some re-
marks, including an expression of his
hope that the financial matters in Mr..
Runyon country would be soon straight
ened out again. He also took occasion to
refer to the close commercial relations
between Germany and the United States.
An important phase OF the silver ques-
tlon was referred to when the Reichstag
declared in favor of the resolution SUBJ
mitted yesterday by Count Won Mirbach,
an Agrarian leader, summoning another
international conference on the currency
question. Mirbach' 5 resolution instructed
the Federal Government to issue invita-
tons for an international monetary CON
gress to take action for the rehabilitation
OF silver as a circulating medium. Pre-
vious to its adoption, Count Won Posa-
dowsky Wegner, Secretary of State for the
INN ~ oil trau hoI, n1e .,f
eminent declared its sympathy with the
object aimed at bv the resolution. The
motion, which was submitted to the
Reichstag by Mirbach, had received the
signatures OF the unusually large number
OF 30 members of that body comprising
Conservatives, National Liberals Ultra
montanes of other parties. Among the
signers were to be found not only the
names of professed bi-metallists
but other members who have heretofore
maintained a more or less neutral atti-
tude on the question of bmetallsm. One
OF the slgners was the son of Prince Hohen-
lobe, the Imperial Chancellor. The BIZ
metallists who signed the motion want
nothing more nor less than bimetallism.
But for the time being they have been
prevented from formulating motion to
that effect by the opposition of their mod
crate colleagues. who do not desire an al
teration of the gold currency. There is
suspicion atioat that the support of the
latter is not entirely genuine, but has as
ITS motive desire to bring about an in
ternational conferences which decision
they believe will be adverse to the rein
statement of silver, and thus settle the
question for some time to come. The re-
suit OF the debate was foreshadowed yes
terday when Prince Hohenlohe indicated
the attitude of the Government in Il care
fully worded declaration which he read as
follows:
Without prejudicing our imperial cur
rency, one must confess that the differ
ence in the value of gold and silver con-
tlnues to react upon our commercial life.
Following, therefore, the tendencies which
lead to the appointment of a civil COM
mission, | am ready to consider, in con-
junction with the federal governments,
whether we cannot enter upon friendly
interchange OF opinion as to the common
remedial measures with the other states
which are chiefly interested in maintain
ing the value of silver
When Mirbach's motion came up in the
Reichstag this afternoon in its regular
Siegel, National Liberal He opposed
the resolution and urged that the impress
sion should not be created abroad that the
Reichstag considered the existing none
tary system unsuited to the interests of
Germany. He was convinced that Great
Britain would take no part in any inter
national agreement for the introduction
of double standard.
Leuschner, of the Reichspartie, declared
that he was in favor of an international
which he was fully persuaded
would adopt the principle of bime talism
Richter of the Peoples party said that
Hohenlohe was temporizing. His att-
tude indicated a desire on the part of the
government to bow before the Agrarians.
[ Laughter. This vacllation was
danger in such an important matter. The
present legislation was an Agraran inter-
mezzo preceding the principal act-the
protectionist resolution of Count Won
kanitz. II he got nothing the Agrarians
would stir up such discomfort as would
not be allayed by ten ant-revolution
bills. [Cheers by the Radicals
Count Won Posadowsky- Wegner, who
followed Richter, said that it was not to
be denied that the ever falling price of
silver was preiudicial to industry and to
the German silver mines. Consequently
the decline tended to deprive large. hody
of workingmen of their means of sub
81 stence. Even monometallists admitted
that the depreciation in the price of silver
was harmful.
1.-The Premier and Minister of Finance
of France had stated that France must
reverse the double standard and that Ger
many was responsible because she first
rural population believed that the fall in
the price OF silver was answerable for the
decline in the value of produce. This
opinion was shared, moreover, by many
manufacturers. Therefore it was the duty
of the Government to return a benevolent
answer to the question which had been
put by majority of the Rechstag."
This utterance was greeted with much
Conservative cheering.
Won Kardoff, a well-known champion
of law, described bimetallsm as prOtec-
ton to- the German peasant classes as q
sure bulwark against Socialism This re-
mark was greeted with derisive laughter
on the SOcialistic benches. The chief
opposition against double standard came
from privy councillors in the ministerial
departments.
Count Wegner here arose from his seat
and declared that the chiefs OF the depart
ments were responsible for the policy of
the department.
After speech by Meier which elected
a reply from Won Kardoff, the motion of
Mir6ach was put to the House and car
ried amid loud applause from the MEM
bers on the right. The motion was car
ried by the united votes OF the Conserya-
tives and Centrists, and, with few ex-
ceptions, the National Liberals.
The newly formed German Bimetalic
League will meet on the 10Th inst
Speeches will be delivered before the
league by Won kardoff, Count Mirbach
Arendt and two well-known manufacture
ers. The passage Of the anti-revolution
bill by the Reichstag seems now to be
assured, the negotiations between the
government and the leaders of the Center
all. s.lx. .t..,.