The San Francisco call., 1897-02-01
EMPTY SEATS IN
THE REICHSTAC
Barely a Corporal's Guard
Meets to Transact
Business.
Germany Will Join the Powers
in Their Move to Coerce
the Sultan.
The Po itical Struggle in Austria
Watched With the Keenest
Ilterest-N;
Copyrighted, 1897, by the United Associated
Presses.l


Pressesl
BERLIN, GERMANY, Jan. S1.-Public
interest in the Reichstag this week has
been at the very lowest ebb. At no time
Lave there been more than thirty men,
bers in the building, including those in
the restaurant or library, and it has been
next to impossible TO obtain a quorum.
In view OF this state of apathy on the
part OF the imperial legislative body, it is
not surprising that the res;aurateur who
holds the contract 10 supply the members
with meals refuses TO keep the restaurant
open any longer unless lie is subsidized,
anG has given formal notice that he will
retire on April l. In the meantime an
other contractor will be advertised for,
but what success will attend the attempt
to get a responsible and competent person
10 undertake the service remains 10 be
seen. Apart from the fact that the keeper
receives no subsidy, the terms of his con-
tract require him to furnish members of
the Reichsiag with full dinner at the
very reasonable rate of mark and q half
head ana q limited repast at one mark
each.
The National Zeitung, commenting
upon the fact that there were only ten
NJ mGers present upon the occasion of
recent debate upon all important
measure, says: 'Memb bers of the Reich
stag appear to think that debates are
useless, as they lead to no practical
action.''
The Berlin newspapers. noticing the
visit to the German capital OF Count
Muravieff, the Russian Foreign Minister,
contrast the general indifference shown to
his presence in the city with the interest
taken in the recent sojourn of Count Co
Iuchowski. Brief as Count Goluchowskl's
stay in Berlin was, it resulted in an i'm
portant change in Germany's policy to-
ward the Sultan and probably also n the
Balkans.
The Austrian Government has long
maintained that the objects of the Drei-
bund, and especially of the dual alliance,
could only be attained by concert of
policy at Constantinople The adhesion
of Germany to the Russian schemes of re-
form without coercion, while Austria ard
Italy supported England in insisting upon
coercion if necessary, was held by the
Aus trian Minister to menace the stability
of the alliance.
Count Goluchowski is understood 10
have made the ali-importsnt declaration
to the Kaiser and Prince Hohenlohe that
Austria and Italy would join them in i'm
posing by force the needful reforms upon
the Sultan, if they had to act without the
cooperation of France and Russia. Moth
ing but defeat in diplomacy and disap-
pointment of aim has resulted from the
attempts of Germany 10 cultivate the
friendship of Russia. The Russo French
| entente has grown in closeness, while the
understanding between the Dreibund pow
ers has been subjected to some strain
Count Goluchowski has now succeeded
in obtaining such full agreement with
| the Kaiser as will enable the En- bassadors
OF the three powers 10 work in perfect har-
mony. II the Turkish corresp spondence is
sued by the English Foreign Office had
been completed up to date, instead of fin
Ishing at the close OF December, the mod
ihcation in Germany's policy would have
been set TO alter the position in the east
The Kaiser is no longer a hard and fast
opponent of coercion, but has agreed to
join in coercion if the other powers are
unanimous.
Europe is thus within view of present.
ing the Sultan with a programme of re-
form under compulslon, not the moral
pressure that the Russian Government
still! holds out for, but the material en-
forement which AustriR, Italy and Eng
land have for some time agreed upon.
A draft of the reform demands have at
last been pr sented to the Sultan through
Baron vnn Calice, the president at the
En- bassadorial conference
The semi-official idea of the scheme of
the powers has been received The prov-
inces, Asiatic as we'll as Europe. are to re-
irra ~ nf aia Il
administrative governments. A council
OF State, com posed of mem bers represent
ing the provinces and mem bers appoir ted
by the Sultan, Is to sit for stated annual
period in Constantinople. This council
will have voice in the appointment OF
Ministers and in the arrangement of
finances. The Sultan is to govern through
his Ministers and not through the palace
functionaries, and the administration of
justice is also TO be reformed.
The struggle which Is proceeding in
Austria between the Clerical and Anti
Semitic coalition and the German Liberals
and the Social Democrats is watched here
with the keenest interest. The forecasts
OF the results of the election, predicting
the triumph of the Clerico-A nt1- -Semite
parties, have already been cabIed. Count
Badeni. the Austrian Premier, despite his
circular to the provincial governors direct
ing them to observe the strictcst i'm
groups which the Liberals call reactionary.
Count Badenls organ, the Reichswehr.
in an official co communication diffuses the
necessity of creating a new governmental
party, which is TO embrace all parties of
conservatism and catholicism and which
will "worthily sustain the best traditions
of the Austrian state"
The arstocratic clubs, such as the
Hohenwart the feudal party in Bohemia,.
and the Clercals in the Tyroi- SalZburg
Upper Austria and Styria, are raIlying 10
the call of Badeni. This new party will
form the center in the coming Reichsrath
and the nucleus of strong Government
ma jority. The Socialists are actively
working an electoral agitation in Vienna
and in all the manufacturing centers. and
expect to secure about twenty seats.
They have fair prospects in some work
ingmen's districts in the north. especially
in Bohemia, where the excitement is in
tense, and the elections are not likely to
pass off without rioting. The mixed
nationalities of Austria are in q ferment
and present q more complex election
problem than ever, but Count Badeni will
get he sort of ma iority he wants.
The young Princes received a visit from
the Empress, who came to Ploen TO see
her sons, who are attending school there.
and later proceeded TO kiel, to he present
at the christening of the newborn SON of
the EN- mperor's' brother, Prince Henry of
Prussia.
The Emperor has added the penalty of
expulsion from the army to the sentence