The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
Great Interest I'm the Proposed Leg
f~sIatfon, and strong Speeches
Against Its Adoption.
CANAL BILL ALSO DOOMED
AGRARIANs SEEN DETERMINED TO
DEFEAT THE MEASURE.
Lahtag Likely to BE D~fssolved-Re-
samoa, Desired by Germans.

BERLIN. June 4-The attention Of the
Reichstag last week was chiefly devoted TO
the anti-strike bill. and the public showed
more interest in this than IN any other
measure Of the session The galleries were
filled for the first time. and wen the mem
bers attended better. Usually half the seats
are empty. The press also devoted a vast
amount of space to the measure, and the
agitation against it became more active
during the few days preceding the debate.
This was not confined 10 the Socialists. as
the EvangeIicals. Catholics and labor unions
and the central committee Of Christian min
listers pronounced against the bill. Even
the committee of the trade court of Berlin.
a semi-court institution. petitioned against
the measure and asked all other such courts
and organizations Of laborers and employ
ers to do the same
1t was clear from the beginning OF the de-
bate that the governments case was lost.
The ministers and Conservatives never
showed a ray OF confidence. Their whole at
titude was apologize. On the other hand.
the attacks, which were uncommonly sharp.
came from all parties except the Conserva-
tires. The vigor Of the attack of the Cen
triste and National Liberals was scarcely
inferior to that of the Socialists. The Cen
frist leader, Herr Lieber, was called TO or
der for a sharp arraignment Of the courts
for recent "monstrous decisions" against la
borers and "mildness" toward employers.
The National Liberal leader. Herr Basser-
mann. complained that the measure pleased
nobody but the Social Democrats. giving
them excellent material for agitation. Herr
Bebel. the Socialist leader. spoke for two
hours, attacking the bill with great sar-
casm and vigor.
1 The points made by the more moderate
opponents of the measure were that 1t Is
unnecessary class legislation and that the
laws are adequate and reach all cases Of
strikers maltreatlng others. They demand
ed. instead Of the harsh punishment pro-
vided by the bill. full freedom for labor
unions to form coalitions with each other
II Is understood the Centrists will seek to
pass a law in the autumn abolishing the
prohibitions against labor organizations
confederating. Prince Hohenlohe, the i'm
perial chancellor. promised this years ago.
and IL the government refuses TO carry out
the promise the Centrists themselves will
present the bill. II the government yields
It viii aid the passage of a law protecting
workmen who are willing to work. But such
a measure must be based upon the common
law OF the empire. Inc IcluSdl VI the
Reichstag on Thursday, by an immense ma
5ority. to refer the bill to committee is
equivalent to its death, In the present FORM
The ratification Of the purchase Of the Ca
roIine. Iadrone and Pelew islands was passed
by a large majority. but with little excite
ment- Although the Centrists voted for the
purchase, their leaders spoke slightingly Of
the acquisition. and the public shows little
enthusiasm on the subject. The Kladder-
adatsch has published a striking cartoon
beiitting the purchase. In the foreground
are the head, feet and tail OF a horse, whose
body has been devoured by a rotund tiger
crouching OF the Island OF Guam. in the
background. wearing an Uncle Sans hat.
while the German eagle hovers in the air
and does not find a place to alight.
Before the canal committee. Herr Thielen.
the Prussian minister Of public works. In be-
half OF the Ministry and with the ex-
press approval of the Emperor, said that If
the bill passed the government would under
take to improve the waterways in upper
Siiesia to Berlin, so as to make them navi-
gable for 450-ton boats and equalize the rail-
way rates OF Silena with those Of West
pnalia and give westphalia a concession to
build q canal. The Lippe government de-
cltnes to embody these compensations in the
BILL DIR. MIGUEL. the minister of finance.
declared that further compensations were
INDISPENSABLE. The present prospects of the
bi1 are clouded.
As soon as II was seen that the Ministry
was able to make compensation the Agra
rians adopted a policy OF smothering the
measure under a multitude Of claims, esti-
mated already at half a billion marks.
Coun Won Kanitz and other Agrarians de-
handed. In behalf OF East and West Prus-
ala. an Improvement OF the vistula and a
system Of annals leading out of the rivers.
The Brandenburg members demand i'm
provement in the Odore, Spree and watha,
costing 100. 000, 900 marks, and Saxony and
Hanover. although they will benefit i'm
menseIy by the canal, claim compensations.
The Extremists demand a pledge that the
freight tolls Of the canal will not be lower
than on the railways.
In the canal committee Herr Barth, Frei-
sinnige leader. moved concessions which the
government regarded as inadmissible and
his motion was rejected. This fores6adows
the committees rejection of the bill. II it
IS not passed by the house over the COM
mittee's adverse report. the Landtag will be
dissolved. 1t is rumored the premier has
had q royal decree TO that effect ready
since the 18th. The Cologne Gazette not
only expects an early dissolution, but con-
siders a change OF Ministry probable. n
plainly hints that DIR. MIGUEL will nave to
20. The consequences Of an appeal to the
country are already occupying attention. as
~ Is evident il will be most important and
f~ar-reaching. inaugurating, perhaps. a new
era in Pr1ssian politics. The Hamburger
ment 10 express its views, says a dissolution
will result In a majority for the ana at the
expense of the Conservatives. The entire
government machinery will be set In motion
against the Conservatives. which will be
novel and risky. as 1t might compel the gov.
ernment to rely on the support OF men of
different principles than hitherto. The cleo
tons would strengthen the Liberals and
perhaps the Radical Liberals, which would
Be uncomfortable for the government. The
remnant Of the Conservatives would become
more agrarian than ever the alliance of the
the Centrists would hold more trumps than
ever
The Cologne Gazette Il most dissatisfied
with the Samoan committee decisions. II
says the failure TO emove Chief Justice
Chambers is in q high degree unfriendliness
upon the part OF Great Britain and the
United States towards Germany. The off,
eieIs Of the German Foregn Once question
tie correctness OF some OF the later news
kingship il entirely acceptable to Germany,
which never espoused the cause of either
candidate. While admitting Chief Justice
Chamberss competency. the Foreign ONCE
Que1uoDs the correctness OF his decision in
9he premises and doubt that the commission