The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-03
Thousands Of People Suffer
From the Emperor Down.
CONCESSIONS TO AeaARlANs.
Socialists Propose That the Army Be
Turned Into Militia.
Inc hefchstag Refuses to Authorize
the New Torpedo Boats. bur the
Emperor VIII Try Again Large In
crease OF Exports to America.

Copyrighted. 1s5. by the Associated Press.
Berlin. March 2.--Iniuenxa has taken
hold of the people of Berlin with a strong
grip. The muddy weather appears 10
have favored It's spread In fact. ae-
eording TO the statistics OF the local sani-
tary bureau. thre~-quarters of all the
sickness in the city at present is dse TO
Influenza. The epidemic has apparently
taken the ffrmest hold of the weiI-to-do
classes, and few houses in the west.
southwest and northwest districts have
escaped. II is also noted that the COM
paint, which was at first of mild char
aeter, has grown much more dangerous.
and ths number of deaths from influenza
and its complications this week has
stag the usual attendance dropped to
about 10. some $50 members either suffer-
Ing or recovering from an attack. The
total number OF cases In Berlin Ia esti-
mated at from 30 900 to 4a,ea. Among the
sufferers are the two eice presidents OF
the reichstag and numerous ceurt offic-
ials. 1t also develops that Emperor WILL
lam had Just recovered from mild at
tack of influenza when he started for
Vienna to attend the funeral of Archduke
Albrecht. The United States ambassador.
Theodore Runyon. has also suffered from
mild attack of the disease.
. As foreshadowed some weeks ago. the
emperor has convened the state cour.ca
Tor March L. the main purpose being to
devise means TO aid the agriculturists of
Prussia. who. especially in the eastern
provinces, are heavily depressed In finan-
eiai condition. as a result of foreign con-
petition In grain and cattleS The sections
OF the state council called to meet are
those OF husbandry. trade and commerce.
The session win be inaugurated by an adj
dress upon the International situation of
Germany by the emperor who. however,
viii not preside as he did In 1890. but
leave that duty to Chancellor Hoheniohe
The summoning of the council is interest
Ing as showing that the emperor and the
cabinet, In view OF the incessans agitation
OF the ag=arians, have resolved TO en-
dsayor TO arrange some measure OF relief
But they Will adopt nothing so radical as
Count kanitz' proposed grain monopoly.
According to the Frankfurter Zeitung,
the proposals which will be discussed by
the state council include the organization
of credit system for small farmers. set
tlements for agricultural iaborers. the
eheapening of production. tariff reform.
and a modification of the brandy and SUI
gar duties. Several political personages
considered to be experts upon agrarian
questions have been invited to sit with
the state council An interesting ques-
ton arose, In connection with the CON-
vening of the state council as TO whether
Prince Bismarck is stiii member OF that
body. This was settled by note in the
North German Gazette announcing that
the prince was not only member, but
that he still retains the vice presidency
of the council
The reiehstag has heen busy with the
naval estimates during the past week.
and. although the government demands
for new cruisers were conceded. the
reichstag testified its determination TO op-
pose expenditures upon an increase OF
the navy merely for display. by refusing
the credits asked for to build torpedo
boats. This rebuff of the government is
due 10 the opposition OF the conservatives.
who acted thus in defense of their tradi-
tional policy a warning TO the govern
ment to pay greater attention to the agra
rian interests. The discussion brought
out several interesting statements. Prince
Hohenlohe yesterday warmly appealed to
the house 10 grant the estimates. He said
the foreign trade OF Germany required
protection. and this end could only be at
tanned by an adequate navy. The German
navy must be equal TO Its task and keep
pace with the developments of German
trade. They must have vessels of modern
construction and modern armament.
Many of she German warships. which
few years ago inspired respect. looked
now as though they might be knocked to
pieces at the first shot. The government
did not want TO create a great navy, but
TO replace obsolete and useless vessels at
sea- He appealed to the feelings OF Ger
mans. and said he had once INDUCED
In the dream Of great and mighty feet
which would bear the German flag over
the seas. These dreams. however rapidly
vanished. He concludes with the remark
that he hoped the reichssag would agree
TO the present modest request OF the ma
val authorities
Count Won Mirbach. the agrarian leader.
announced that although the conserya-
tives would vote for the cruiser credit up
or, this occasion. they would not promise
to support it's final reading unless the
government showed itself more amcnabie
TO the agrsrtan demands
The reichstag's rejection OF the new tor
pedo boat was a great disappointment 70
the naval authorities. Two OF these ves-
sells were 10 have been built. ani they were
intended to be the swiftest vessels in the
navy. The general belief is the govern
nent will make another attempt TO get
the retehstag 20 sanction the building OF
these boats
After concluding the debate on the nav
al estimates, resulting In the adoption OF
the recommendation of the committee
I'm nearly every case. the reichstag CON-
usenced the consideration Of sFie military
budget on the vote upon the salary of
the minister Of war. Lsebknecht. the So
eialiss leader. moved an amendment PRO-
roxfng TO convert the German army snto
A militia force He advanced the Swiss
military system as "A model. ard referred
30 a similar proposal brought forward
hy the French socialists. He declared the
socialists were far frurs wishing 30 render
the counsry aefenseiess. bat The demo-
cratic spari; os the militia SYSTEM served
as A protection for the soldiers against
the tyranny OF their superior officers.
Rarabsch. rightist. declared q military
force was useless except for defensive
r,srposss. The militia system sHfsiee9 for
swfszertand and The United States. on
account OF their position Ia bis opinion
,hs most fearful state OF all was a as-
fssssve syxsens Of the defnoFsiizsd kind.
Ike thar of the Paris commune.
Rkrkerv. the freiasfnaigs ieaaer. said he
believed tie French. with the exception
Of the socialists would he eager for war
with Germany Il they Sels certain they