The record-union., 1896-11-22
It Has Tended to Intensity the Existing
Prejudices
The Action of the War ninister During
the Discussion of the Subject Said
to Show That the Governments
Military Judicial Procedure Will
Come to Naught.

BERLIN, Nov. LIT is now con-
ceded on all sides that the debate which
took place in the Reichstag this week.
involving discussion of the subjects of
dueling in the army and the killing of
Slebeman by Lieutenant Baron Won
Brusewitz at Carlsruhe, instead of mod
flying the attitude of military officers
toward civilians, or tending to alter the
military code duello, has, on the con-
trary, had a tendency to intensity the
existing prejudices on the part of both
officers and civilians.
When General Won Gossier was ap-
pointed Minister of War upon the retire.
ment of General Bronsart Won Schel-
| lendO1f it was SurmiSed that Emperor
William had a very slight intention in
deed of intervening ITO prevent duel
ing, and the attitude assumed by Gem
eral Won Gossler in the Reichstag has
confirmed the worst forebodings. The
new War Minister showed himself
throughout the discussion as possessed
of the very narrowest ideas of military
| caste, and plainly showed that he was
fretting under the necessity of respond
ing to the assertions of the members of
the Reichstag. The result is that the
Government promised measure of re-
form in the military judicial procedure
is already thoroughly distrusted. No
body believes that the Kaiser is willing
to initiate a genuine reform in the army,
or that his majesty is In the slightest
degree willing to lead a movement to
persuade military officers that they are
not superior beings, but mere citizens.
The proposals of DR.. MIGUEL, Prussian
Minister of Finance. for the conversion
of the Prussian debt from four per cent.
into three and one-half per cent. bonds
include the paying of the debt annually
with the creation of a balancing or
sinking fund. This proposal is due to
the fact that the surplus amounts to
oo,oOOOOO marks, a sum transcending
the most sanguine calculations. The
Liberals oppose this scheme as they
want to have the surplus devoted to the
| reduction of the rate of taxation.
nevertheless, DR.. MIGUEL has got his
own way IN the formation of the budget.
ana inns fact confirms the expression
that he Will be the complete master of
the Prussian finances
The bill briefly referred to in the
speech from the throne, read in the
Landtag by Prince Hohenlohe. is
measure dealing with the law governing
associations. restricts the privilege of
public meetings, and especially those of
societles and clubs organized and con-
lrolled by a central association. Purely
local unions. however, are less re-
stricted by the operation-of the meas
ure than heretofore
The "Freissinnige Zeitung'' RadicaD
commenting on the Nbill, expects that
there will be a systematic limitation of
the right of association.
The 'Kreuz Zeitung'' (Conseryatfyel
advocates the plan of leaving the vari-
Gus Federal States to enact their own
laws in regard to societies.
Last June ambassador Uhl lodged a
complaint in the Berlin Foreign Office
setting forth that according to German
statistics considerable percentages of
the wines, beers and spirits exported
from Germany to the United States
were found to have been adulterated.
and asking what measures would be
adopted by the German Government to
prevent a continuance of the practice.
The Foreign Office did not reply to this
communication until a few weeks ago.
and then evaded a direct and explicit
statement as to what means of preven-
ton the Government proposed to take.
This response not being satisfactory.
ambassador Uhl repeated his COM
plaint, and now it is given out that the
Government will order an exhaustive
inquiry into the matter.
The Frankfort Zeftung," commenting
upon Mr.. UlIl's protest, suggests that
the United States Government is search
ing for pretexts to limit the volume of
German imports, and for this reason is
decrying German products. ''The charge
leVeled against the exports of bad beer.
wines and spirits,' the "Zeitung' saws.
may be disproved, but utterances
without proof are dangerous weapons
The whole question is one of high i'm
pcrtance to Germany, as the exports of
beer to the United States in 1895
reached a total of 100000 marks, and
the exports of wines 100000 marks.
The United States Consuls in Germanv
have reported to the Washington Gov
ernment upon the effect of the gold cur
rency upon prices and wages in Ger
many, and the consensus of their views
and observa tions is that the price of
goods has fallen, wages risen and the
deposits in savings banks have in
creased.
Well-knOwn Jurist Dead.