The morning times., 1896-03-22
NEAR 4 CABINET CRISIS
German Quarrel Over The In
periaI Revenue Surplus.
PRUSSIAN MINISTER WON
Dispute Was Caused by Count Posa-
dowsky's Desire TO Divert the Sur
plus From the Use Prescribed by
Statute-Kaiser Was Present at u
Stormy Cabinet Meeting.

Berlin, March 21-Tbe strong divergence
of opinion existing between DR.. Mlquel,
Prussian minister of finance, and Count
Posadowsky Wehncr, imperial minister
OF the treasury, over the question Of the
disposition of the years surplus of the
imperial revenue has come very near pro-
ducing a cabinet crisis.
The affair has been very widely dis
cussed by the press and public and has
divided public interest with the matter of
the attitude OF the Dreibund toward the
Anglo-Egyptian expedition.
The newSpa perS have made the announce
ment that Count Posadowsky had resigned
and have also limited at Dr. Miquel's resig-
nation, but neither the announcement nor
the suggestion was true. The facts of
the case are, that an actual crisis has
been ayerted, leaving Dr. MIGUEL in occu-
patton OF the stronghold OF advantage, forti-
fled by the statutes.
CAUSE OF THE DISPUTE.
Under the laws and constitution of the
empire the surplus of the imperial revenue
goes to the federated states by division
The trouble came about in this way:
Count Posadowsky proposed to comply
with the spirit of recent vote Of the
reichstag, and divert part of the surplus
for the amortisation OF the debt of the
empire, and DR.. Lieber, leader OF the Cen
trist party, supported Count Posadow wsky
by introducing in the reicbstag q motion
proposing the creation of an imperial sink
ing fund, while DR.. Miguel adhered to the
statutes, providing for the division of The
surplus among the federated states.
The dispute came during the proceed
ings OF a cabinet council at which the
emperor Unexpectedly made his appear
ancc. Not one OF the ministers seems
TO have suspected the intention OF the
emperor 10 interfere, and 1T is probable
that his action was the result OF q suddenly
formed resolution.
EMPEROR WAS PRESENT.
His ma jesty first drove TO the chancellerie,
PrcSuIning that the council was being
held there. He found that Prince Hohen.
lohe was absent and that no council was
in session there. From the chanCellerie
he drove to the reichstag building, and
entered the bundcsrath chamber, where
the ministers were assembling.
He took a seat next To Prince Hohcnlohe
and gave close attention To the discussion.
In the debate which ensucd DR.. MIGUEL
supported the Bavarian, Wurtcmhurg, and
Saxony plenipotentiaries in the bundles
rath. he insisted upon the sttct ObScrY-
ance OF the provisions OF the statutes.
contendiDg that the question had close
relation to financial reforms Which he
had long planned. 1t was necessary,
he said to demonstrate to the rechstag
that the disposal Of the surplus of the
Imperial revenue must have a bearing upon
those plans.
1t was finally agreed 10 prepare a bill
providngfor such temporary appropriation
of funds for the purpose of amortization
OF the Imperial debt from part OF the sur
plus as will not interfere with the claims
or the federated States. This decision
is a compromise indorsing the principle
OF DR.. Liehcr's proposal without infring-
ing upon the statutes.