The record-union., 1899-06-18

\SoPJ iiSHe, Io0J, Uy ASSOClapeQ PfeSS.)
BERLIN, June 1.-THE canal bill en-
crossed attention this week, and the
papers had much to say pro and con,
according to party STANDPOINT The ulti,
mate fate of the bill concerns Amer
lea, as the construction of a network
OF canals Joining the three largest
rivers in Prussia, the Elbe, Rhine and
Weser, and the far eastern provinces.
those bordering on the German ocean,
Will cheaper and facilitate the freights
OF American exports notably cereals,
meats, cotton and other bulky goods.
Another point interesting to America
is thd fact that Prussian, Agrarian and
those parties affiliating with them, the
Conservatives, Reichspartei and a por-
ton of the Center have made the bill
test of strength between the Govern
ment, and almost a personal contest
between them and the Emperor, who
with the entire Prussian Cabinet is
pledged for the canal
His majesty left no doubt this week
that he strongly wished the great canal
to be built. Tuesday he summoned the
Crown Council for the purpose of agree
ing with the Cabinet on line of action
declaration, which was read in the Diet
on Thursday, promising compensation
to individuals and to provinces, espe-
cially Silesia, financially injured by the
canal. The passage of the bill through
the lower house of the Diet will, there
fore, be signal defeat for the agrar-
ians, who are always the most hostile
to the American interests in Germany
The Liberal press stood united for the
bin, and it is confidently expected the
canal will give powerful impetus to
German industry, especially in the high
ly developed Rhine and Westphal lian
and will create a more extend
ed and more uniform market for agri-
cultural products.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns on high Government au-
thordty that the acceptance of the bill
by the lower house of the Diet does
not mean it's adoption by the upper
house, where the Government expects
determined opposition, as the, Agrarian
interests are usually predominant in
that body. If, as is most likely, the
majority of the upper house opposes the
bill, the Emperor is determined to re-
sort to the expedient Of forcing it's final
passage, which has not been tried in
Prussian politics for a generation. This
will be also called padrschub. The EN-
peror, as King of Prussia, will create
a sufficient number of new peers to Sc
cure the desired majority.
The recent developments at the peace
conference are generally commented
upon here, and the statements of the
VII ,-lx
lish, that the German representatives
at The Hague are opposed to arbitra-
tion, have been noted with deep dis
pleasure. Almost the entire press of
Germany gives indignant voice to what
the papers term English intrigues in
order to prejudice the world against
Germany's pacificatdons."
The Cologne Gazette" expresses the
belief that the whole conference will
soon end in smoke"
This view is supported by score of
other influential papers. The National
Zeitung" says it hopes the Government
will soon establish method of regular
and reliable daily reports of the doings
Of the conference.
The snub administered to Germany
by rejecting her Minister'S proposition
at The Hague has been bitterly COM
mented on by the press here.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns on reliable authority that
are really pending between
Spain and Germany for tSe cession of
the West African Island of Fernando
Po and some other important Spanish
colonies The negotiations are at such
a stage that mutual secrecy is insisted
on. 1t is learned that the Canaries are
so within these negotiations. Spain
asks big sum, however, much higher
than Germany is willing to pay.