The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-25
The Attention Of the ReichStag Was Given
Over 10 the Anll-Strike Bill.
THE BILL, IT is SAID, WILL NOT PASS
The Ratification of the Purchase of
the Spanish Islands Was FL
nnlly Agreed Upon.

| leries were filled for the first time and
even the members attended better. Usual
| ly half the seats are empty The press
also devoted vast amount OF space to the
measure and the agitation against 1t be-
came more active during the few days pre-
ceding the debate. The opposition was not
\ confined to the socialists, the Catholics
and the labor unions, but the central COM
mittee of Christian miners announced
| against the bill. The trade court OF Berlin,
seml-court institution, petitioned against
the measure and asked all other such
courts and organizations of laborers and
employees to do the same
/: was clear from the beginning of the
debate that the governments case was
| lost The ministers and conservatives
never showed ray OF confidence. Their
whole attitude was apologetic On the
other hand the attacks. which were ull-
c, mmonly sharp, came from all parties,
except the conservatives. The vigor of the
attack of the centrist and national liberals
was scarcely inferior to that of the So
c.alists, The centrs, leader, Herr Leberr,
was called to order for a sharp arraign-
meut of the courts for recent "monstrous
decisions" against laborers and "mildness"
toward employers. The National leader,
Herr Basserrmann, complained that the
measure pleased nobody but the social
democrats, giving them excellent material
for agitation. Herr Bebel, the socials,
leader, spoke for two hours attacking the
bill with great sarcasm and vigor.
The points made by the more moderate
opponents Of the measure were that 1t Is
unnecessary class legislation and that the
present laws are adequate and reach all
cases OF strikers maltreatng others. They
should have full freedom for labor unions
to form coalitions with each other. It is
understood the centrists will seek to pass
a law In the autumn abolshing the pro-
hlbiion against labor organizations con-
decorating, Prince Hohenlohe, the inn
perial chancellor, promised this years ago.
and II the government refused to carry
cut the promises the centrists will present
the bill themselves. Such a measure as
this is based upon the common law of the
empire
The refusal of the reichstag on Thursday
by an immense majority to refer the bill
to committee is equivalent to the death
OF the measure in its present form. The
ratification of the purchase of the Caroline
Ladrones and Pelew islands was passed by
large majority with but little enthu-
siasm Although the centrists voted for
the purchase, their leaders spoke
slightingly OF he acquisition and the pub
/ lie shows little enthusiasm on the subject
| The Kladderadatsche has published a
! striking cartoon beittling the purchase.
In the foreground are the head feet and
/ tail OF horse whose body has been de-
! voured b. rotund tiger crouching on the
1 Island OF Guam in the background wear
ing an Uncle Sam hat. while the Ger
man eagle hovers in the air and does not
find place to alight.
Before the canal commission Herr
Theen, the Prussan minister of public
/ works, in behalf of the ministry and with
/ the express approval of the emperor, said
that If the bill passed the government
would undertake to improve the waterways
in upper silescia to Berlin so as to make
them navigable for 45O-ton boats and
equaliae the railway rates OF Silescia with
these OF Westphalia and give Westphalla
4 a concession to build a canal. The Llppe
government declines to embody these COM
/ pensaucns in the bill. Dr. MIGUEL the
minister Of finance. declared that further
compensations were indiscusSable.
! Inc present prospects of the bill are
c!ouded AS soon as it was seen the min
siry was able to make compensation, the
agrarians adopted a policy OF smotherna
| the measure under a multitude OF claims
estimated already at half billion marks.
Z uni Won Kanitz and other agrarians de-
/ manded in behalf Of East and West Prus-
! STA an Improvement of the Vistula and a
/ s!stem Of canals leading out of the river.
/ The Brandenburg members demanded I'M
prcvement in the Oder, Spree and Wartha.
costing 100 900 marks, and SaxoI4 and
! Hanover although they viii benefit inn
mensely by the canal claim concentrations
/ The extremists demand pledge that
iree toll canals will not be lower than the
railways. The head OF the commission.
V Barth, says the concessions which the
government regarded inadmissable should
be accepted, but the government rejected
lis suggestion. This foreshadows the
commissions rejection Of the bill II 1t
is not passed by the house over the en-
mlItees adverse report, the landtag VIII
Dc desolved. II is rumored the premier
has royal decree to that effect ready
since June 10.
The Cologne Gazette not only expects
an early dissolution but considers a
change in ministry probable, and plainly
hints that DR.. Miguel will have to go.
The consequences OF an appeal to the coun-
! Try are already occupying attention as II
Is evident II will be most important and
laF-reaehing, inaugurating perhaps a new
GA in Prussian politics. The Hamburger
Correspondez, often used by the govern
ment to express its views, says dissolu-
I uon VIII result in O majority for the can q
at the expense OF the conservatives. The
entire government machinery will be set
IN motion against the conservatives, which
VIII be novel and risky, as IL might COM
pei the government to rely on the support
hitherto.
The elections would strengthen the lib
erals and perhaps tho radical liberals.
which would be uncomfortable for the gov
| eminent The remnant of the conserys :
yves would become more agrarian than
ever the alliance OF the government par
uts would be broken up and the centrists
wSuld hold more trumps than ever.
me Cologne Gazette Is most dissatisfied
with the Samoan commission decisions. Il
says the failure to remove Chief Justice
chambers is in high degree unfriendli-
ness on the part Of Great Britain and tie
United States towards Germany.
The relations between the United States