New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-23
LIVE TOPICS IN BERLIN

Berlin January q.
| DANGER BY FTOODs.-severe weather has pre-
vailed throughout Germany. where the gaies haFe
reen causing considerable damage DisquIeting r'-
porrs nave been received from the Rhine and ia
nn1uen,s The new dam near Mayence vas wasneu
away by the foods while freight train was fa ,
barbor but there was no oss OF life. The rivers
continue 10 rise and are causing anxieiy-
L11Tf E SURPRISE OVER SAMOAN NEWS
The news from Samoa has not caused great surprise
here I. was foreseen long ago that trouble would
break ont sooner later. The trip1rute treaty mas
always been considered I'm official circles here az
! most peculiar diplomatic document. creating an u
settled aitpaton whch rs resiy a. elccfion dispute
| prec plated hostties. II can safely 10 san ~"
| larry annoyed at the TACT that matters have come
70 crisis I VIII give Germany an qpP9 5e T,e
! for reopenlns the Samoan question, VITA the VIZ"
| OF establishing order on permanent OASIS
PRUSsIAN DIET IN SEASONAL The opening
OF the Prussian Diet the members were disappointed
with the new building The acoustics proved so bad
that even those sitting close TO the Government
bench unable to follow closely the Budget
speech OF the Minister OF Finance. Dr. MIGUEL WHO
the reporters understood hardly word. The mem
bers declared they could not discuss the speech unH
they received the senoaraphic report. AZ they had
| not heard A quarter OF Gr. MqueVs remarks IN
consequence Of this the House adjourned to-day. the
builders being instructed 10 endeavor to remedy The
evil in the mean time
! able except an unusually roseate view % Prussilp
finances. based on the vast increasing revenue 81
the State railroads In previous years however Dr
MIGUEL has always taken an unravorable vicw Of
creased expenditure and liberal projects respecting
dgea9H and 9hST da5
the country Is perfectly able 10 bear the burdens
entailed by the new Army bill Hence his cheerful
! forecast.
MORE SOCIAL LEGIsLATTON.-In the Reichs-
tag while discussing Imperial Home Ofice esti-
mates last week the Liberals called upon the Cow
eminent for greater activity in social legislation
Count Won Posadowsky- Wehner. Minister Of the
Interior. replied denying that social legislation had
come to standstn. He insisted that slow pace
necessary for the practical and sure develop
ment would not allow themselves 10 be carried
away by "hysterical dilettanteism" or submit
failure At the same time, he promised 70 intro
with the labor Of children IN their own homes.
| PROSPECTS AT KTAO-CIIAC.-Wh!te discussing
| the estimates for Kiao-Chau. Or. Lieber. the re-
porter OF the Commission. mentioned that the sales
Of land. taxes and dues had already produced 226
! 300 marks. and Admiral Tirpirz Secretary Of the
Navy said the purchasers OF land ncuded some
ward to a promising future for the colony
STATE OF THE IMPERIAL FINANCES
Some stir has been created by article In the
'Grenzboten" on Imperial finances. by Herr Won
Kassow. who was apparently inspired from high
quarters. He takes pains 70 expose the baseless
ness Of the rumors rejecting upon Emperor Will
iam's monetary resources. The "GrenZboten's'
article was prompted more particularly by recent
rumors that HIS Majesty intended to ask the PTus
sian Landtag for 70 defray the expenses Of
his Palestine trip and that he had written 10 En-
peror Francis Joseph Of Austria. begging for loan
OF f., 100000 guden In view of these reporta i'm
plying that the Court finances embarrassed, II
has been deemed advisable TO explain that the
| prussfan Crown funds IN most hourshiug
condition. Herr Won Kassow asserts that although
the maintenance of the imperial dignity has made
necessary large calls upon these funds, and while
no assistance has been received from the Empire
yet other factors have placed the Emperor
finances In much more favorable position than
those OF any Of his predecessors. The writer re-
minds the public that the Princes Of Prussia do not
receive State allowances apart from their private
means. and that they are dependent upon the
money granted to them by the King. When Will
lam | assembled the throne he had 10 subsdize the
courts of the Dowager Queen Elizabeth the Crown
Prince Frederick Prince Charles. his son; Prince
Frederick Charles. Prince Albrecht and mis- son.
now the Regent Of Brunswick Prince Frederick
and his and the Princess Llegnitz who
have all lived In great style But now most OF
these dependent upon the present Emperor. and
either live I'm comparative retirement, or have In
heriied large properties or requests which have
placed them beyond need Of royal assistance