The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-19
WiIlidfll T$baffled
Fails to Bluff the Reiebsta9
REGARDING the HrtnV Bill.


~~-O-NNN-~O0-oO~0OOO-O
copyright, 1899, by the Associated Press9
Berlin, March 1S.-The unexpected reich
stag crisis, which has overshadowed ev-
erything this week, was brought about by
the fact that the reichstag, judging from
the words and manner of the minister of
war, General Won GOssler, was led to he
Jieve that the emperor and bundesrath
were eatisid with the military bill as
fixed by the budget commissions report,
granting everything demanded in the
shape of reorganization of the artillery
and cavalry and an increase of the army
peace footing except that only 1000 men
were granted out Of the 5000 asked for
This, however, is really not the case, so
far as the emperor is concerned, and II
was only after the minister of war sud-
denly announced that the report was con-
sidered insufficient that ft was discovered
that his majesty insisted upon the pass
age Of the bill in its original shape, or else
the reichstag would be dissolved and new
elections ordered on this issue. Those VINO
are close to the emperor nave repeated
his sayings on the subject which leave no
room. to doubt his ma jesty's attitude. But
yhe is virtually acne in the stand taken,
since a majority of the bundesrath made
st clear to the imperial chancellor, Prince
HehenIohe, on Wednesday, that the gov
ernments were satisfied with the bill IN
the shane reported. He further declared
that d dissolution of the reichstag on such
a trifing matter seemed undesirable and
aniudicious. The bundesrah being cOnsi-
Tutionally the final arbiter in the matter,
the emperor Tisked being discredited if he
carried out his intention Of dissolving the
reichstag and it also seemed clear that
the result of an election would not be
more favorable to the emperOrs wishes.
The popular votes represented by the ma
joI-ty rejecting the increase in the peace
footing of the army on Tuesday, the vote
standing 209 to al, Outnumbered the votes
rejecting other proposals by almost 20 to /
The statements Of the leaders Of the reich
stag carried much weight, DR.. Lieber,
spokesman Of the Center party, showing
that within d few years, besides the regu-
lar military appropriations, the reichstag
has voted 33.O0O,00O marks, but the peace
strength Of the army is much greater than
appears from the bill, being really con-
siderably over 600, 900 men.
This effective arraignment of the insa-
table military demands, and the state
3nents of other OPPOSITION leaders, made
considerable impression. Herr LIGHTER, the
German Radical leader, said: IF the
reichstag was row dissolved it would not
be because of this trining reduction in the
military bill, but because another reich
stag is wanted-one which viii pass a re-
dictionary anti7strike bill and modify the
election law, and its motto Will be 'au-
tocratic, absolute government and destruc-
ton OF the reichstag's independence"
This sally and similar remarks made by
another speaker, weer vigorously applaud
ed by the whole right, and it was even de-
clared that the members of the party
wer not eager to enter into a new fight at
the polls. Nevertheless. it was very hard
to change the emperor's mind and it was
only at the last moment before he started
for Friedrichsruhe TO attend the entomb-
ment of the remains of Prince and Prin-
cess Bismarck, two hours before the de-
cision of the reichstag, that he told the
imperial chancellor and Count Won POsa-
dowsky-Weh secretary Of state for
the interior, that he would content him
self with the reduction, and this was only
after it was shown to him, by the addi-
1ionaI resolution, the government would
he assured, a few years hence, Of what II
contedded for. Still the emperor felt that
the reichstag's action was a personal de-
feat, and his modification was cores
ponding1y great, for the influence of the
court military party for weeks had been
strongly exerted in the direction Of not
yielding in this matter.
The triumphal shoutings and spoutings
of the opposition on Tuesday. when it be-
came evident that the government and the
emperor would yield, and utterances of a
like nature in the opposition press. have
helped TO intensity his majestys mortifca-
ton It is said that he feels dissatisfied
with Prince Hohenlohe, General Won Cos
Ter and Count neutrality-suspicious. for
what he considers to be the unskillful
manner in which the matter was manipu-
lated in the reichstag and the lack of sup
port of the government in the press.
Before the decision OF the reichstag was
arrived at. the correspondent here Of the
Associated Press heard a gentleman OF
the emperor's surroundings say: This has
heen old Hohenlohe's Pyrrhus victory The
emperor is tired of him and he viii have to
go at the first fitting opportunity"
1t is said that his majesty is further irri-
tated by the fact that the ulramontanes,
though only one-third Of the minority.
upon this occasion triumphed in Protest
ant Germany over the Protestant emperor.
This also seems to be most CALLING reflec-
ton in government circles, especially as
the ultramontane leader. DR.. Lieber. spoke
on Tuesday and Thursday in a defiant.
challenging tone and with the manner Of
n master Of the situation.
The newspapers are discussing the
chances of enecting a commercial treaty
with the United States, taking as 4 basis
the arguments for and against the figures
quoted by Count Won Observation-Disclosures
ner in the reichstag a month ago. nurport-
ing TO give the official statistics Of the IN
ports and exports OF Germany and the
United States. These are SeriiuSlv incor-
rect and do not tally with the figures flIr-
nshed 10 Mr.. Robert =. Porter. since, ne
has been here. 10y NIr. Oscar =. Austin
chief Of the bureau Of statistics of The
United States treasury department The
latter has collected official figures deal
ing with both fiscal calendars for -ba
year l>sS and they both snow an an0r1, 7r,s
discrepancy compared with ,ae figures of
Eount Won PoeadowSky- Wehner. The
latter set forth that the excuses Of i'm
Ports OF American goods compared with
ire oXpo--s 10 the United States in 1>aS.
"Nre 5's.5oooo9 marks. the imports beng
A'-.o''.'-7 marks and the exports $4,000 la
marks. According To he United States
'feafuTH. the American exports 20 GER
many lrrinr - f.st g.. 49,.