The record-union., 1897-05-31
IN TIE RgICHSTAG.
Interesting Sketch Of Germany's Law
Making Body.
Each Party Divided Into Religious
or Racial Factions, and Peace
Seldom Reigns.

The recent outbreak in the Reichstag
in the opening days of the session was
a surprise to Germany, as we'll as to
the rest of the world. And the conSen-
sus of opinion is that it was but the
forerunner of many clashes between
the Government and opposing parties,
and not few fear that these may end
in civil strife, says a Berlin correspon-
dent of the ST. Louis 'Globe-Democrat."
The dread word revolution has already
been hurled from one side of the cham
Der to the other and the cheers that
received it outnumbered the Kisses three
to one.
Emperor William has made no secret
of his disapproval of the doings of the
ReichStag He is incenSed almost be-
yond control and this is a dangerous
condition of affairs with a man of his
unruly disposition. Yet he is power
less 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 Gov
ernment are largely outnumbered by
the opposing parties, and, moreover,
the latter are managed with rare gen.
eralship by leaders who are absolutely
fearless. Already the Emperor has been
called crazy. How much further the
anti-Government forces will go can not
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
ernment 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 efforts
can be of no avail because Of the alb
sence 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
w-making body of the German En-
pire is as varied as the rainbow. The
different parties are so numerous that
at times it is a difficult matter to iden-
tify them. There are 3o9 members Of
the Reichstag and at the present ses-
sion they are divided as follows: %
Conservatives, y Imperialists, 100 Cen
trists, 40 National Liberals, IA Radical
Unionists and Richterites Radicals, %
Freisinnige Volkspartei Richterites, Ii
Social Reformers, 10 Poles. l.
Deutsche Volkspartei, As Socialists, 81
Independents, including six Guelphs,
three Bavarian peasant party, and two
seats vacant.
The hall in which the Reichstag meets
does not give one the impression of be-
ing extraordinary large. although,
looking from the galleries it seems
very deep room. It's acoustic properties,
however, would only be excusable in
very large hall. The walls are much
higher, the galleries 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 i'm
placable foes to fresh air, do not ap-
pear to notice this deficiency, which |
sometimes forces even the most enthu>
he would otherwise desire.
The decoration and coloring of the |
hall are very simple and pleasing. The |
woodwork 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 |
Nf ..A1n N11at
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 Kaisers lodge, where the |
cushioned seats are upholstered in |
bright brocaded satin.
The President of the Reichstag sits |
a table raised above the floor of the |
house, in a high backed chair, on which |
the Prussian eagle figures very prom |
nently Just below the Presidents |
table is another one, where several Min |
listers Sit usually those at the head of |
the department which is concerned in |
the question being discussed at the |
time in 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 the |
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 en-
pire has the first seat in the front row |
to the right of the Speaker, facing the |
House.
The arrangements for the seating of |
the DEPUTIES are not marked with ex- |
|travagance. and in comparing them with |
those of the congressman in Washing !
ton the latter seem immeasurably |
grand. In the Reichstag the Deputies
do not have individual desks: instead, |
number of them share one long desk !
schoolboy fashion Each member has |
an individual drawer, however, and that |
is something.
The principal factions in the German |
Diet or Reichstag are the Conservatives, |
the Free Conservatives, the Catholics |
the National Liberals, the Independents, |
and the Social Democrats. Each of |
these has several subdivisions but on |
general question they stand together. |
In the present dispute between the mill |
tary and the civilians the Government |
forces consist only of the Conservatives |
or Imperialists and Free Conservatives !
The latter are different from the former
because of their opposition to the Jews |