The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-18
GERMANY'S CANAL PLANS
A Fill the Passage of Which Will
Benefit the United States.
OPPOSED BY AGRARIANS
German Press Complains Bitterly That
Germany'a Position at The Hague
Has Been misrepresentation Ger
many After More Islands.

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 its passing points. The
fate of the bill concerns America, as
the construction of a network of canals
Joining the three largest rivers in Prus-
STA, Elbe, Rhine and the Weser and the
far eastern provinces, those bordering
on the German ocean, will cheaper and
facilitate the freights of American ex-
ports. notably cereals, meats, cotton
and other bulky goods. Another point
interesting to America is the fact that
the Prussian agrarians and those
parties affiliating with them, the con-
servative rechts paxetei, and portion
of the center have made the bill a test
of strength almost a personal contest
between them and the emperor, though
with the entire Prussian cabinet pledg-
ed for the canal. His majesty left no
doubt this week that he strongly wished
summoned the crown council for the
purpose of agreeing with the cabinet
on line of action in the diet and per-
sonally drew up a declaration which
was read in the diet on Thursday,
promising compensation to individuals
and to provinces, especially Silesia,
financially injured by the canal. The
passage Of the bill through the lower
house of the diet will therefore be a
signal defeat for the agrarians, who are
always the most hostile 10 American i'll
terests in Germany.
The liberal press stood united for the
bill and it is confidently expected that
the canal will give 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 correspond
ent here Of the associated 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 opposi-
ton, as the agrarian representatives
usually dominate that body.
There will be a so-called pairs stube.
The emperor, as king of Prussia, will
create a sufficient number of new peers
to secure the desired majority. The en-
perors intentions are known to few OF
his intimates but they will be carried
out in the event of the contingency aris-
ing, as he is determined to demonstrate
that the agrarians are not strong
enough to defeat important legislation
required for the country's good.
It Is reported that his majesty is in
censed at the fact that the leading
agrarian organs and chiefs bad the as
surance to state openly and pointedly
last week that they meant to make
their bill prove their political predoml-
hence.
Immediately after Thursdays sitting
Prince Hohenhohe the imperial chancei'
lor, and DR.. Miguel, the Prussian minis
ter of finance, visited the emperor, Wht
insists on a dissolution If the bill Is re.
iected. The committee will begin the
discussion of the bill June 81. The cen
terists demand the passage of the mu'
nicipal election bill before action is ia
ken on the canal bill. The many claims
for compensation greatly compllcatt
the situation.
The recent developments at the peace
conference are generally commenced
'upon here and the statements OF th'
foreign papers, principally the English
that the German representatives at The
Hague are opposed to arbitration nave
been received with deep dfspieasure
Almost the entire press of German!
gives indignant voice to what the pa
pers term English intrigues in order e
prejudice the world against Germany
pacific Intentions.
An imnortant foreign official said t.
the correspondent here of the associated
press: "The incomplete and usually d1s
torted partisan reports OF the dolngs o
our representatives at The Hague ina
have appeared for weeks in the foreign
notably the English and French, pres
are calculated to create false lmpfes
Istons 1t was on account or TINS ina
Count Munster proposed that tuli re
ports of the transactions from day II
day be given out officially. The fac
shat such a proposition was made D!
Germany shows that we have nothing
to hide and have no fear of correct AM
full reports.
LAS regards England's proposal for ;
permanent court of arbitration, I'M
goes beyond Russa's proposal. Asid
from that we miss several seemingl.
essential features, such as rules provld
ing for absolute impartiality. AS sool
as guarantees of such impartiality ar
given Germany will be able to Assem-
to propositions going beyond the scoop
of the original Russian proposition
Some method will probably be found t,
improve on the incomplete and unfai
reports of the conference now in vogue
even if complete reports have to b.
printed in the official organ of the Ger
man government
This statement is borne out by the ut
terances of the semi-of1icial press. TIL
Berlin Post this week published editor
ials bitterly commenting on the falls
representations of the British press re
garding Germany's attitude at TIL
Hague and asks ironically why, if Grea
Britain wishes to found courts of arbi
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