The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-10
THEY FAVOR Us
IN FATHERLAND.
Mr.. Joseph Stumpf Gives Some of the
Impressions
GATHERED BY HIM IN GERMANY.
Sentiment Largely i'm Favor Of United
States-Germany' Naval Appropri-
alton Bill Plcascs the Majority.
Emperor Williams Popularity

Mr.. Joseph Stumpf the well-known
German-American of tnis city a few days
ago returned from trip 10 Germany
where he had spent seven weeks Mr..
Slumpf expressed himself as we'll pleased
with his experience abroad when he was
called upon by a representative OF The
Times last evening.
Ut is true that I spent most OF my
time in Onenbach and Frankfort on tho
Main" he said. where I went 10 wind mp
some private business matters. but I can
nevertheless say that / have been able 70
gather a general impression as 10 the
present status Of German az large and
its population for the conditions and cir
cumstances are very much the same all
over that country.
II am glad 10 say that found Germany
in a very hourishing condition; business
IS good everywhere and IL looks as n
everybody has plenty Of work. II is
certainly not hard for any one 20 md
employment who wants it, but very few
unemployed people can be seen and
dare 20 say II is their own fault that they
are idle.
sYMPATHIZING WITH Us.
when / first arrived in Germany the
people there seemed to take but little no
lice Of Cuban affairs and only during the
last few days OF my stay / perceived that
their interest became awakened and their
svmpathies were 20 a large extent with
the United States. when the report OF the
Board became known that investigated
the causese OF the blowing up 0f tho
Maine. Before that they had no idei
how the catastrophe occurred. but since
then they have become convinced that
mo dastardlv deed was done either nv
the Spanish government or certainly with
its consent and approval. on the whole
I aid not find much excitement over tnete
hut 7 have no doubt that the interest has
LARGELY Increased in Germany during the
past few days, since matters WaAed not
! ter.
sTha Germans. however were greatly
! absorbed during my visit In my native
( country with the question or increasing
| the German navy as proposed IN the h'-
val appropriation bill which was tn'h
| pendine I'm the German Diet II calls TOT
I an appropriation Of i00 million marks OF
! about 100 million dollars during Pc
Rod OF seven years.
BY AN INCOME TAX.
This amount is to be secured by an
! income tax which is 10 be paid by an
persons. whose annual income is b.W0
marks and over. or about $500. While
this tax will not affect i'm any way the
! laboring or middle class. yet II is bitterly
! opposed by the agrarian party whose
| members will have largely 10 contribute
4 10 its payment. In all likelihood. how
! ever. the bill will pass, because the cen
| tire party which holds the balance Of pow
! or in the German Diet is in favor Of the
same. provided that the tax IS raised In
/ the manner expressed in the bill.
During my visit in Germany I had
| ample opportunity OF ascertaining that
| Emperor william has been greatly mis-
represented IN the press Of this country.
! His popularity has certainly increased
, during the past few years and the bust
| ness men of that country especially are
well pleased with his colonial policy
which has greatly strengthened Ger.
many's Influence and power among for
! eign nations and has largely added 20
| the development OF the resources derived
] from other countries.
"Of course, the Emperor has his enc
/ mics like everybody else who takes a
prominent part in the affairs Of his coun-
! try but the general public are well pleas
! ed with him. His popularity extends over
| all classes OF Germanys population and
J he is especially well liked among the la
/ boring classes for the great interest which
| he has evidenced In their welfare and tho
! manner in which he is looking after every
/ detail OF what is going on in the En-
| pre."