The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-01-30
Considerable Increase Advised by
the Emperor.
HER POSITION DEMANDS IT
President Fleet Inadequate to Maintain
Germany's Pretcntions as
Colonial Power.

ioeTlll, Jan. GA PROJECT Is now De-
ing seriously considered by the emperor
and the cabinet of providing for Cor
midable increase of the navy. 1t is well
known that his majesty has long wish
ed to do this, but the refusal of the
reichstag to vote the necessary funds
has rendered the scheme impossible.
Recent events, however, especially the
attitude of England toward Germany,
have ripened the plan to accomplish an
extension of the navy without the grant
of large sums of money by the reich
stag.
The emperor, during the last fort
night, has had a number of conferences
with authorities on colonial affairs with
reference to this position, and the needs
of the German colonies, compared with
the naval resources and the inadequacy
of the German navy, particularly In
frst-cass ironclads and cruisers, to
maintain Germany's pretensions as a
colonial power, was generally recog-
nized. This years budget shows but a
small item for new battleships and the
present reichstag, which expires in 1898,
will not vote large sums for the navy.
Therefore, in order to overcome the diff
ficulty thus presented, it is proposed to
raise a loan of 300,0O0000 marks, the
means for which are to be obtained by
the conversion of per cent funds into
Sl9 per cents.
His majesty sounded the leaders of
the parties. in the reichstag and In the
diet, during the recent fetes. and re-
ceived encouraging replies. DR.. MIGUEL,
minister of finance, was favorable to
the scheme, but Prince Hohenlohe,
chancellor, and several of the ministers.
are opposed to it.
The colonial party has been much
encouraged by Emperor Williams
speech, delivered on January 1S last,
upon the occasion of the 25th anniver-
| sary of the re-establishment of the
| German empire 1t has stirred them to
increased activity, and at an enthusiasts
tic meeting of the colonial association
on Thursday evening last, DR.. Peters
urged that petition be drawn up and
| addressed to the chancellor in favor of
a large increase of the navy, in order
to protect Germany's world wide inter-
ests at, for instance, Adelaide, San
| Francisco, on the Orinoco and in the
YangTse-K Kiang.
Among other things, DR.. Peters said
that Germany must have the power to
talking.
Prince Won Arenburg, who presided,
condemned any precipitate action, and
pointed out that it was impossible for
| Germany to create a navy which would
rival that OF Great Britain. The meet
ing, nevertheless, adopted DR.. Peters'
| resolution and a petition setting forth
| the demands of the Colonial assoca-
ton will be presented to the chancel-
lor and reichstag. 1t will contain the
request that 100000, 600 marks be appro-
priated to increase the navy.
An instructive contrast to these de-
mands is furnished in the official re-
| port of the colonies, which has Just
been published. From this document 1T
| appears that out of the thousands of
| Germans to whom the emperor referred,
| only 700 have apparently elected to take
up their residence in Greater Germany,
and of this number $50 are military and
civil authorities.
These figures do not include South
west Africa, for which no statistics are
given.
The trade of the German colonies,
the report also shows, is steadily de-
creasing, necessitating an increasa of
imperial subventions by 1,400, 900 marks.
making a total cost of over 1000, 900
marks.
Emperor Williams birthday, on Mon
day next, will be celebrated in the usual
way. Among the princes present will
be the king of Saxony, the grand duke
of Baden and others OF almost equal
rank.
AN AMBIGUOUS DECREE.
The amnesty decree which Emperor
William issued on January IS was so
indefinitely worded that the courts
doubt how to apply it. In Hamburg
and Altoona 500 prisoners were releas-
ed, but Of this number 164 had to be
rencarcerated the following day The
imperial court at Leipsic on Monday
last ruled on a case which affects the
rights of German-Americans. f. w
Beohine of Brooklyn, N. Y, was fined
in September last the sum of 200 marks
for evading military service by emf
grating. The court quashed the sent
ence, as not being in accord with treat,
rights.
Secretary of the Interior Herr Vor
Reike is drafting new regulations fo
the purpose of rendering the petroleum
: monopoly harmless in Germany.
The government architect, Herr Sop
Ike. has accepted the post of professo
of engineering at the Columbian uni
versity, Washington.