Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-12-10
REIcHsTAG AT WORK.
Germany's Law Making Body Com
pick Affair.

2 r.
The recent outbreak in the reichstag
in the opening days Of the session was
a surprise to Germany, as well as to
the rest Of the world. And the opin-
ion Is that 1t was but the fererunner
Ok many clashes between the govern
nient and opposing parties, and not
few fear that these may end In
civil. strife. The dead word reyolu-
ton has already been hurled from one
side Of the chamber to the other, and
the cheers that received 1t outnumber-
ed the Misses three to one.
Emperor William has made no secret
OF his disapproval OF the doings Of the
reiehstag. He is incensed almost be-
yond control and this is dangerous
condition of affairs with man of his
unruly disposition. Yet he is powerless
to have the reichstag conducted as he
would wish, and the political leaders
opposed to him are bent upon proving
this in no gentle way. The number
Of deputies friendly to the government
ara largely outnumbered by the oppos-
ing parties, and, moreover, the latter
are managed with rare generalship by
leaders who are absolutely fearless.
Already the emperor has been called
crazy How much further the anti
government forces will go cannot be
prophesied by man. Perhaps before
this letter reaches the eyes of its read
ers the crisis will be reached.
Emperor William has already con-
ferred with Prince Hohenlohe relative
to the better management of the gov
eminent parties in the reichstag. He
claims that If the same able leadership
that characterizes the opposing side
existed among his supporters there
would be no more outbreaks of the
kind that happened on the opening
days. This has stirred up the leaders
Of the government forces, but their eff
forts can be of no avail because of the
absence of numerical strength
To make this clear the workings of
the reichstag must be explained. In
the first place it should be understood
that the political complexion of The
lawmaking body of the German empire
is as varied as the rainbow. The diff
ferenJ parties are so numerous that at
times it is difficult matter to identity
them. There are 1853 members of the
reichstag and at the present session
they are divided as follows: So con-
servatives, n imperialists, 100 CEN
trists, 49 national liberals, IA radical
unionists and richteritess radicals, 25
freisinniga volkspartei richterites, 19
volkspartei, As socialists, 80 indepen-
dents, including Guelphs; Bavarian
peasant party and two seats vacant.
The hall in which the reichstag
meets does not give one the impression
of being extraordinarily large, al
though, looking down from the gall
leries, 1t seems very deep room. Its
acoustic properties, however, would
only be exeusable in very large hall.
The walls are much higher, the gal
leries are further from the floor, the
presidents chair is more distant from
those of the members, and. altogether,
this one hall is on bigger scale than
the corresponding halls of congress
across the sea. Like so many public
halls in Germany, it is characterized
by an absence of proper ventilation.
The Germans, who are implacable foes
to fresh air. do not appear to notice
this deficiency, which sometimes forces
even the most enthusiastic American
to depart earlier than he would other
wise desire.
The decoration and coloring of the
hall are very simple and pleasing. The
wood work of white oak makes soft
background A few symbolical women
figures are there. supporting some of
the arches, but they are most modest
and unassuming creatures, who do not
mar the harmonious effect of the whole
by any garish display of color. The
carpet is a dull blue-gray color, and
the long curtains which drape the doors
back of the presidents desk are deep
wine color The only part Of the hall
which lacks taste and spoils the color
effect is the kaiser's loge, where the
cushioned seats are upholstered in
bright red brocaded satin.
The president of the reichstag sits
at a table raised above the floor of
the house, in high backed chair, on
which the Prussian eagle figures very
prominently. Just below the president
table is another one, where several
ministers sit, usually those at the head
Of the department which is concerned
in the question being discussed at the
time ia the reichstag. Within this
charmed circle sit the stenographers,
whose work goes down those steps to
the outside world On the level with
the presidents desk are the desks Of
bundesrath. two rows on either side,
fifteen seats in each front row, eight
in each second row, making up the
forty-six in all. The chancellor Of the
empire has the first seat in the front
row to the right of the speaker, fac
ing the house.
The arrangements for the seating OF
the deputies are not marked with ex-
a.nEr IA