The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
THE " EEK
Past in the German
Empire.
EMPEROR'S PLANS
And General Comment
Gathered at Berlin.

ports nave been received from the
Rhine and it's affluents.
The new dam near Mayence was
washed away by the floods, while a
freight train was traversing it, The
engine and six cars fell into the har-
Dor; but there was no loss of life.
The rivers continue to rise, and are
causing anxiety.
The news from Samoa has not caused
great surprise here. 1t was foreseen
long ago that trouble would break out
sooner or later The tripartite treaty
has always been considered in official
circles here as being most peculiar
diplomatic document, creating an I'M
settled situation, which is really at the
bottom of the present disorder, al
though the election dispute precipitat-
ed hostilities 1t can safely be said,
however. that the German government
Is not particularly annoyed at the fact
that matters have come to a crisis, as
it will give Germany an opportunity
for reopening the Samoan question with
the view of establishing order on per
manent basis.
At the opening of the Prussian diet,
the members were very much diSap-
pointed with the new building The
acoustics proved so bad that even those
sitting close to the government bench
were unable to follow closely the bud
get speech of the minister of finance
Dr.. MIGUEL, while the reporters under
stood hardly a word. The members
declared they could not discuss the
speech until they received the steno-
graphic report, as they had not heard
quarter of Dr. MiquePs remarks. In
consequence of this, the house ad-
1ourned today, the builders being in
structed to endeavor to remedy the evil
in the meantime.
DR.. MiquePs estimates contained Moth
ing remarkable, except an unusually
roseate view of Prussian finances,
based on the vast increasing revenue
of the state railroads. In previous
years, however, DIR. MIGUEL has always
taken an unfaVorable view of the flu
ture, in order to discourage agitation
for increased expenditure and liberal
projects respecting education and
other progressive movements. Now,
however. DR.. MIGUEL has persuaded par
lament that the country is perfectly
able to bear the burdens entailed by
the new army bill. Hence his cheerful
forecast.
In the reichstag, while discussing i'm
perial home Office estimates this week,
the liberals called upon the govern
ment for greater activity in social leg
islation. Count Won Posadowsky-
Wehner. the minister of the interior,
replied, denying that social legislation
had come 70 standstill. He insisted
that slow pace was necessary for the
practical and sure development of such
legislation, and declared the govern
ment would not allow themselves to be
carried away by 'hysterical dilettan-
tism," or submit schemes which on
their face were doomed to failure. At
the same time, he promised to introduce
a measure to prevent abuses in connec-
ton with the labor of children in their
own homes.
While discussing the estimates for
Kiao-Chau, DR.. Lieber, the reporter of
the commission, mentioned that sales
of land. taxes and dues had already
produced 226, 800 marks, and Admiral
Tirpitz, secretary of the navy, said the
purchasers of land included some of
the best East Asiatic firms, so he looked
forward to a promising future for the
colony.
Some stir has been created by an
article in the Grenzboten, on Imperial
finances, by Herr Won Kassow, who was
apparently inspired from high quar-
tiers. He takes pains to expose the base
lesSness of the rumors rejecting upon
Emperor Williams monetary resources
TNhe GrenZboten'S article was prompted
more particularly by recent rumors that
his majesty intended to ask the Prus-
sion landtag for a vote to defray the
expenses Of his Palestine trip and that
he had written to Emperor Francis
Joseph of Austria begging for loan of
12,0O0000 gulden. In view of there re-
ports implying that the court finances
are embarrassed, it has been deemed
advisable to explain that the Prussian
crown funds are in a most f1ourishine
condition. Herr Won Kassow asserts
that although the maintenance of the
imperial dignity has necessitated large
calls upon these funds and while no as
sistance has been received from the en-
pire, yet other factors have placed the
emperor's finances in a much more ia
Yorable position than those of any of his
predecessors.
The writer reminds the public that the
princes of Prussia do not receive state
allowances apart from their private
means and that they are dependent
upon money granted them by the king
When William l assembled the throne
he had to subsidize the courts of the
Dowager Queen Elizabeth, the Crown
Prince Frederick, Prince Charles, his
son, Prince Frederick Charles, Prince
Albrecht and his son. now the regent OF
Brunswick, Prince Frederick, and his
two sons, and the Princess Liegnitz
who have all lived in great style. But
now most of these are dependent upor
the present emperor and either live in
comparative retirement or have inherit
ed large properties or requests, which
have placed them beyond need of royal
assistance.
Herr Won Kassow then proceeds tc
compare the expenditure of the present
emperor and of his predecessors anc
CONCLUDES: 1.-THE Berlin court, if any
thing, is too economical. The kaiser has
expended little on new buildings, anc
lives the greater part of the year al
Potsdam on scale far less pretentlous
than wealthy commoner The number
of festivities has been much reduced
and foreign potentates are not enter
tanned more frequently than desirable
in the interests OF the state.
In fact" this inspired article con-
cludes, the kaiser Is regulating his ex-
penditures on lines which will enable
him to view with equanimity the time
when the six young princes will REQUIRE
separate establishments"
Emperor William has turned his at.
tention to designing battle statues and
has commissioned Walter Schott, the
sculptor to execute design by himsel!
of monumental figure of q mailed
archangeL ten feet high, resting both
hands on a huge sword which will be
erected on the battlefield of st. Prviat
facing the French frontier.
A chair of military Jurisprudence has
been instituted by the Berlin Univer-
sity. This is an indirect result of the
agreement between the emperor and
the regent at Bavaria on the subject
of supreme military penal court,
which Is expected to lead to un-