The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
WORK OF THE RE1CHSTAG
MANY IMPORTANT BILLS NOT
REACHED BEFORE ADJOURNMENT.
Attention Called to the Army Gam
bling Scandals by Herr BebcI-
Princes Alleged to BE Involved.
Copyright. 1899 by the Associated Press


the United State in regard to Samoa. which
have been partly carried on here. have
ceased for the present, and are now ex-
clusiyely carried on at Washington. Among
the reasons for this change is the one that
as Washington is the nearer, in point Of
time, to the scene of action, there will be
less delay in obtaining information. This
is the present status The negotiations in
regard to the commercial treaty also
confined to Washington, where the bureau
of John A. Kasson, special reciprocity COM
missioner, and Baron Won Holleben. the
German ambassador, are handling them. 1
am not aware of any interesting recent de-
velopments in the matter"
Replying to a question as to whether the
presence and doings in Germany of Mr..
Robert p. Porter have had any appreciate
effect good or bad. on the relations be-
tween Germany and the United States, Mr..
White said: mo. So far as L can judge
that has not been the case"
The Samoan question continues to en-
gross the attention of the newspapers, and
the comments on the subject have been of
such a character that the semi-official Post
to-day counsels moderation. The inspired
organ continues: Germany has no inten-
ton of abandoning her rights, but we ought
TO be grateful TO the government for OPEN
ing negotiations TO correct want and not
for inaugurating a conflict. Germany does
not propose to indorse any or all of the ac-
lions of her officials until she ascertains
whether these actions conformed with the
law. If Herr Rose (the German consul at
Apia) has contravened the provisions of the
Berlin treaty we, of course, will correct his
contravention. But Germany expects the
same respect for the law from the United
States and Great Britain. Germany's propo-
sition to withdraw all the officials involved
in the troubles, which is not yet reported, is
the only proposition promising success. 1t
is not the governments of the United States
and Great Britain which are blamable for
the middle. But it is their representatives,
who have willfully and unauthorizedly acted
contrary TO the treaty. The governments,
therefore had it entirely within their power
to set things right. Any resolve of the
United States or Great Britain separately
or conformity will not change the situation
an iota, as, according to the treaty, Ger
many's consent is necessary TO all pro-
posals. and one-sided resolves are invalid.
This clear right cannot be twisted or modi-
stances and the present political situation
it cannot be supposed that any one will
undertake to violate it"
The Reichstag has adjourned to April IL.
Since it convened it has accomplished a
great deal of work, having held sixty-one
plenary and eleven special sessions. The
various committees (here called commits
sions) have also dispatched much business.
OF the more important bills only the budget
was finally passed. The banking. judiciary,
Lex Seine, or law against unnatural crimes,
and several other bills are still progressing.
The postal, telephone, telegraph and meat
inspection bills have rot even had their first
reading, but these measures will come up
after the holidays. in the order named.
Before adjournihg the Reichstag had
most exciting discussion on the subject of
army gambling Herr Bebel the Socialist
leader, reiterated his charge that there was
a large percentage Of army officers in the
notorious Harmosen Club, adding that
similar state of things prevailed at the Turf
Club, where heavy play is the main feature.
Herr Bebel further asserted that many 9TH
GERS played there regularly, IN spite OF the
army regulations forbidding gambling. He
added that among those who frequented
the club were three princes or a relgnlng
German house The Socialist leader then
asked why the minister of war General Won
Gosser) usually quick in preventing papers
from speaking disrespectfully OF the army.
had not proceeded against the Tageblatt,
which had given details in connection with
these clubs severely rejecting on army Off
GERS. To this query the minister made an
evasive reply. Herr bepel' contlna al Sdi9
in the Turf Club was proved by the fact
that the club last year received 30O,co marks
from card money.
ent here of the Associated Press has more
than corroborated the above statements. 1t
seems that 50 per cent or the membership
of the club consisted of officers belonging
to the active and reserve forces OF the
army and that the frequenters of the club
until recently included Emperor William
brother-in-law, Duke Ernst Guenther, of
Schleswig- Holstein, three Baden princes, a
Wurtemburg prince, a prince or Inurlngla
and d number of members OF the Prussian
Herrenhaus, Diet and Reichstag. Any
number of scandals have occurred in the
club recently. One member, a Prussian
officer named Won Bredow, was caught
cheating after winning 10000 marks and
was forced 10 resign from the club and the
army and TO emigrate TO America, but was
not punished legally:
In the Prussian Herrenhaus there was
hot debate on a bill introduced for the pur-
pose of forbidding persons Of both sexes
under eighteen years Of age from visiting
dram shops or leaving their native place
without permission and reintroducing pun
fshment by whipping. This feature of the
bill has been referred 10 committee and
will probably pass. 1t is claimed that most
of those who were consulted as 10 the ad-
visibility of reintroducing whipping had
agreed that IL was necessary and added that
il seemed in most cases 10 be more humane
and more wholesome than imprisonment.
The German newspapers. in discussing the
commercial relations between Germany and
the United States. complain more or less
bitterly OF the alleged fact that. while here
everything is being done to bring about an
Germany being willing to sac
rifice something to that end, no reciprocity
has been shown by the United States,
where il Is asserted, even the calm and
moderate part of the press does not recon-
mend any steps in that direction A score
of articles written in this tenor have APP
peared in many of the papers. II Is believed
they were inspired by the government for
a purpose The most plain spoken article
was published IN the Cologne Nolks Ze1tung,
which said that the Americans were greatly
mistaken If they imagined that all the
Welding in the efforts to arrange a treaty,
would be done by Germany. Continuing. the
nauer rernar ked: Whether. under the cir
IL ~ worth while continuing
the negotiations which we have been carry
ing on for years and whether IL Is likely
Z hat the negotiatiS rs will finally be crowned
with success, seems TO be question which
we. at this time, cannot answer affirma-
lively"
The result Of Mr.. Cecil Rhodes's visit to
thss >ountrv Il ganarallv spokeu of by the