The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
ARMY OFFICERS GAMBLE
A Heated Debate Over the Matter in the
German Reichstae
A NUMBER OF SCANDALS HAVE RESULTED
Press u sim Complaining over the
Commcrcint Relations with Amer
icnn-Rhodcs Failed.

the Samoan sit,sstion, made the tolloNlng
statement TO inc correspondent here OF
the Associated Press:
THE negotiations between Germany and
the United States regarding Samoa, which
have been partly carried on here, have
ceased for the present, and are now ex-
carried on at Washington. Among
the reasons for THU change Is the one
that Washington is nearer in point of time
to the scene of action, and there viii be
less delay in obtaining information. This
is the present status,
THE negotiations in regard to the com
mercial treaty are also confined TO Wash
ington, where the bureau OF Mr. John A,
Kasson, special reciprocity commissioner,
and Baron Won Holleben. the German am
bassador, are handling them. | am not
aware OF any interesting recent develop
ments in the matter
Replying TO a question as to whether
the presence and doing in Germany OF
Mr.. Robert p. Porter have any apprecia
BILE effect. good or bad, on the relations
between Germany and the United States,
MIR. White says:
NO so far as | can judge, that has not
been the case"
The reichstag has adjourned TO April II.
Since it has been convened it has accom-
plshed a great deal of work having held
sixty-one plenary and eleven special ses-
sions. The various committees there
patched much business. OF the bigger
bills only the budget was finally passed
The banking judiciary. lex SEINE tor Law
against unnatural ctimes) and several
other bills are stlll progressing The pos
tai. telephone, telegraph and meat inspeo-
ton bills have not even had their first
but these measures will come up
after the holidays in the order named
Before adiourning the reichstag had
most exciting discussion on the subject OF
army gambling. Herr Rebel, the socialist
leader. reiterated his charge that there
was a large percentage OF army officers
in the notorious Iarmlosen club, adding
that similar state OF things prevailed at
the Turf club. where heavy play is the
main feature. Herr Bebel further ASSERT
ed that many officers played there regu-
larly, in spite of the regulations forbidA
ding gambling He added that among
those who frequented the club were three
princes OF a reigning German house.
The socialist leader then asked why the
OF war, General Won Gossler,
usually quick in preventing papers from
speaking dsrespectfully OF the army, had
not proceeded against the Tagehlatt, which
had given details in connection with these
clubs severely rejecting on army officers.
To this query the minister made an eva
sive reply
Herr Bebcf continuing. said that the
extent to which gambling fourished In
the Turf club was proved by the fact that
the club last year received $50, 900 marks
from card money
An investigation made by the corrc-
spondent OF the Associated Press has
Gnore than corroborated the above state
meuts. 1t seems that 30 per cent of the
membership OF the club consisted OF Of
tlcers belonging 90 the active and reserve
forces of the army. Any number of scan
dals have occurred In the club recently
Ono member, q Prussian officer named
Won Bredowa was caught cheating after
winning 100000 marks, and was forced
to resign from the club and the army and
10 emigrate to America, but was not pun
lshed legally.
In the Prussian herrenhaus there was
hot debate on bill introduced by Herr
Younkers for tho purpose OF forbiddng
persons Of both sexes under is years of
age from visiting dram shops or leaving
their native place without permission, ana
reintroducing punishment by whipping
This feature of the bill has been referred
TO committee, and will probably pass
1t is claimed that most of those who were
e nsulted as 90 the advisahility of whip
ping had agreed that 1t is necessary, and
added that il seemed in most cases to be
moro humane and more wholesome than
Imprisonment.
The German newspapers, In discussing
the commercial relations between the
United States and Germany, complain more
on less bitterly of the alleged tact that
while everything is being done about an
improvement, Germany being willing to
saorifice something to that end, no reci-
procity has been shown by the United
states, where, 1t is asserted, the calm and
moderate part of the press does not recon-
mend any steps in that direction. score
of articles written in this tenor have APP
peared in many OF the papers. 1t Is be-
lieved they were inspired by tho govern
ment for a purpose. Tho most plain
spoken article was published 10 the Co
loene Volz Zeitung, which said that the
Americans were greatly mistaken II they
imagined that all the yielding In the et-
forts TO arrange treaty would be done by
Germany
Continuing. the paper remarks.
Whether under the circumstances it Is
worth while continuing the negotiations
which we have been carrying on for years,
and whether It is likely that tho negoiia-
lions will finally be crowned with success.
seems TO be a question which we az this
time can not answer afhrmatiyely.'
~
The result Of Mr. Cecil Rhodes mission
to this country is generally spoken OF by
the press as equivalent to failure, The
financial papers laugh at tho idea that
the government viii furnish guarantees OF
the financial success OF that part OF the
projected cape to Cairo railroad which is
to pass through German East Africa.
The Berlin correspondent OF the Mag.
dehurg zeitung, writing in this connection
says mir. Rhodes may be shrewd enough
in asking Germany TO take the financial
responsibility Of this part OF the road. but
we think he is welcome to build the road
with means OF his cwn raising. Germany
has not the slightest reason TO guarantee
tho interest"
Respecting the reasons which prevented
the emperor from dlssolving the relehstag
Il now appears that the whole bundles
rRth. Prussia alone excepted was agaIns,
him Not only the king OF Saxony. but
q number OF other sovereigns personality
advised his majesty against dissom-
lion and IL the emperor had insisted on
the bundesrath putting the motion for
dissolution Il would have been over
whelmlngly defeated.
The bundesrath today accepted thu