The San Francisco call., 1899-06-18
BOUND TO PASS
THE CANAL BILL
Emperor William Means
Business.
Copyrighted 1899, by the Associated press

Copyrighted, 1899, by the Associated Press.
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
ultimate 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.
viii cheaper and facilitate the freights
OF American exports, notably cereals.
meats, cotton and other bulky goods
Another point interesting to America
is the fact that Prussian Agrarians and
those parties affiliating with them. the
Conservatives, Reichspartei and a por-
ion of the Center, have made the bill
a test of strength between the Govern
ment and almost a personal contest be-
tween 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 coun-
Gil for the purpose of agreeing with
the Cabinet on a line of action in the
Diet, and personally drew up a declara-
ton, which was read in the Diet on
Thursday, promising compensation to
individuals and to provinces, especially
Sllesia, financially injured by the canal
Ihe passage of the bill through the
lower house of the Diet will therefore
be a signal defeat for the Agrarians.
VINO are always the most hostile to the
American interests in Germany
The liberal press stood united for the
bill, and it is confidently expected the
canal will give a powerful impetus to
German industry, especially in the
highly developed Rhine and Westphal-
ian districts and will create a more ex-
tended and more uniform market for
agricultural products
The correspondent here of the Asso-
ciated Press learns on high Government
authority that the acceptance of the
bill by the lower house Of the Diet does
not mean its 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 its final
passage, which has not been tried in
i uSSldH polIlCS Tor generdti This
will be also called pairschub. The EN-
perOr. asking of Prussia will create
SUFFICIENT number of new peers to Sc
cure the desired majority.
The Emperor's intentions remain A
secret, known to few of his intimates.
but they will be carried out in the
event Of the contingency arising, as he
is determined to demonstrate that the
Agranians are not strong enough to de-
feat important legislation required for
the cOuntry's good.
1t is reported that his Majesty is in
a t the fact that the leading
Agranian organizations and chiefs had
the assurance to state openly and
last week that they meant TO
make the bill prove their political pre-
Immediately after Thursdays sitting
Prince Hohenlohe. the Imperial Chan
rellOr, and DR.. MIGUEL, the Prussian
Minister of Finance, visited the En-
Deror. who insists on a dissolution if
he bill is rejected. The committee will
begin the discussion Of the measure
June 23 The Centrists demand the
passage of the municipal election bill
before action is taken on the canal bill
The many claims for compensation
greatly cOmplicate the situation