The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-20

that he has deprived the government CT
the advice and services of the venerable
and venerated soldiers and civilians Who
surrounded his grandfather and created the
present German empire. While 1t is true
that most OF the veterans have been re-
tired from active life and their places
have beeD filled with younger generation
there is abundant evidence that William III
Is nos without gratitude for the services
they have performed in the past. lie does
not permit Prince Bismarck or any other
subject TO dictate his policy or interfere
with his management of government af-
fairs but when the anniversaries of i'm
uortant events in German history come
around he seldom fails to send IA telegram
III CONGRATULATIONS and compliment to the
old generals and statesmen who werc iden-
tined vita those events. and he has mace
practice of comforting decorations upon
the commanders of the German army In
the Franco Prussian war ON the anniyer-
slries of the battles in which they par
ccipated.
Some time ago a childrens party was
given at the Potsdaln palace for the little
ones of the emperors family in which he
took personal interest He not only
planned but participated in their games,
ara went down street himself and hired an
old soldier who performs ON hand organ
IN thai city 20 come TO the palace and fur
nish music for the dancing. There are
dozen military bands in the barracks that
surround the palace, and the imperial or
chestra which furnishes music for social
functions, is always subject to the EN-
perers command. but the novelty OF having
a hand organ in the house seemed to appeal
to The emperor's sense of humor and the
party was great success.
There is a complaint among the people
here concerning the emperor's extrava-
gance His sra nd ather, William the Great,
never received salary for his services as
emperor He thought too much of his inn
perial dignity to accept such compensa-
ton, The official relations of the kaiser
are quite complex, The German empire
is confederation made UP OF number of
kingdoms. municipalities and iuchIes, and
the three free cities OF Hamburg Bremen
and Lubeck-twenty-niu In all, believe
ana under the constitution, which was
written by Bismarck. the king of Prussia,
whose subjects comloge more than three
iliths o. the entire population, enjoys the
imperial honor of virtue OF his royal office.
There Is 10 imperial crown. but the right
to have its king bear the title OF emperor
Is the eSgeeial privilege OF Prussia. The
language OF the constitution is: THE pres
idency OF the union belongs to the king OF
Prussia, who bears the tile o. German en-
peror, and thus whoever occupies the
Prusslan throne exercises the functions of
emperor.
In foreign affairs he acts as the repre-
sentative OF tha confederate government,
has the personal direction Of military mat
tens. declares war. with the approval of
the bundesrath, which is composed of dipIo-
matte delegates representing the subord-
nate powers and executes all laws that
concern tho general welfare. AS emperor
ne has no veto, bit as king he has very
extensive veto. AS emperor he is supposed
to consult the wishes and the opinions OF
the subordinate soyegesns, and he super
yises his own administration OF the king
OF Saxony or the duke Of Baden. In fact
his functions as emperor and as king are
so interviewer that It is difficult to dis
unguish them, but this complex state Of
Things is not so confusing to the Ger
mans as 1t is TO foreigners. for 1t is really
a case OF one man holding two offices, us
II President Mckinley also continued 10 be
governor Of the State OF Ohio
Until William II assembled the imperial
throne the expeuses Of the court were all
paid from the Prussian treasury, and the
same appropriation for the royal household
was made annually for sixty-nine years.
one year after he was enthroned, however
dum 10 the reichstag setting forth that II
was impossible for him to live in a manner
peiltslng his station upon that allowance.
and contributions were assessed upon the
subordinate states Since then there have
been several additions to the Imperial
chssS 10 maintain the pa,sces, the yachts
and other costly luxuries OF the young en-
peror. and the contribution Of tho other
kngdoms and duchies now amounts 10
100000 marks, or So 600 600 n vear u,h,.h
brings him official income to the sum a,
is;s2s'ssS marks. or nearly 81. 900 900.
EVERY three months one-fourth OF this
sum IN gold In carts u carried from fhe
treasury IN Berlin 70 the office OF the min
second day after that all OF his dependents
receive their stated compensation. which
Is fixed by board OF control more or less
undSr the personal supervision Of the en-
The kaiserin was pennliess bride and