The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
IT NEEDS GEAR" REED
GERMAN REICHSTAG UNABLE TO
MUSTER A WORKING NUMBER.
Public Sentiment for the Naval Bill
Is Stronger-Demandso of the Agrar-
ians-Attitude Toward the War.
Copyright. 1900. by the Associated Press)

Copyright, 1900. by the Associated Press)
BERLIN, March 3.-Most important mat
tiers were transacted during the week in
the Reichstag before almost empty
| benches. Fridays opening session saw
precisely twenty delegates in attend
ance. Herr Eugene Richter, in the Fries
sinnige Zeitung, holds that the fact that
members of the Reichstag receive no re-
enumeration in any form for their services
as responsible for this condition Of affairs.
Certainly, in the Prussian and other Ger
man state Diets, where liberal compensa-
ton is paid, there never is such a scarcity
of delegates. The consequence was that
Herr Richter and other Reichstagers re-
peatedly, during the week. compelled the
Reichstag majority TO do their bidding on
the threat of ascertaining whether a
quorum was present, a quorum in the
Reichstag meaning one-half Of the dele
gates. The Foreign Office budget being
taken up. variety of matters came under
discussion. even the query as to why the
Prussian government gave Prussian dec
grafton to German of Chicago. However.
Count Won Buelow. the minister of foreign
affairs, made good showing and got his
salary voted. -
The chances of the naval bin have grown
rather worse lately. Both the Center. the
Conservatives and the Agrarians are de-
handing compensations for their vote, the
former asking for the recall of the Jesuits
and the latter demanding a meat law to
suit their conscience, and guarantees from
the government that Agrarian interests
will not be neglected in the projected COM
mercial treaties. There evidently will be a
hard pull to get the bill through, though
there is every indication that the popular
sentiment among the electors is rising for
the naval increase. One such indication
was in the Reichstag bye-election in the
Calbe-Aschersleben district, where the ma
tional Liberal candidate wrested a seat
formerly held by the Socialists evidently
under strong fleet issue. The programme
fixed for the Reichstag was as follows:
Thursday is fixed for the second read
ing of the meat bill. then the currency bill
and the final reading of the Lex Heinz.
against which there is strong opposition
by artists and writer's. Later there will
be final reading of the meat bill and some
other measures of less Importance, thus
carrying the sessions to the Eastertide ad-
journment. To carry the meat bill the
right side of the Center will summon all
its defaulting members during the COM
ing week to the Reichstag The National
Zeitung, speaking about the meat bill to-
day, expresses the belief that the govern
ment will not approve the bill as now con-
stituted and thus tie Its hands regarding
the coming commercial treaties not only
with the United States, but also with Rus
STA. Scandinavia. Holland, etc. 1t says:
"A general tariff war would be the re-
suit If the bill became law, all to appease
the Unsuitable Agrarlans. The total pro-
portion of meat imports after the New
Year of 1904 would be tantamount to meat
usury."
The Prussian Diet this week considered
/ the railroad budget. 1t was plainly shown
that the Prussian state railroad system
is fearfully behind in comfort and the lat
est improvements, all because of fear of
diminishing the annual surplus. Herr
Marco, a National Liberal civil engineer,
demonstrated that even Russia Austria
Hungary and Bavaria were ahead of Prus-
STA in this respect The minister OF pub
lie works, Herr Thielen, would not even
premise a passenger fare reduction, al
though certain Prussian fares are five
times higher than those charged in Hun
gary for the same distance.
The South African war continues to hold
the attention of the public here. While
sympathy for the Beers continues, respect
for the British has risen under their latest
successes. Lieutenant General Beecher, in
the Lokal Anzeiger, to-day says: 1.-THE
WELL planned action of Lord Roberts has
brought about a total change at the seat
of war, change such as a layman would
not have thought possible" The writer
concludes that the war for the Beers is
now hopeless struggle. "for they lack
that which alone could have given their
victories a permanent value-that 1t to say,
the capacity of fructifying victory by pur-
suing the enemy to the point of annihila-
tion.'
Prince Henry of Prussia intends paying a
visit of some length to his grandmother,
Queen Victoria, in England, but before do
ing so he will stay with his family at
Kreusenach and drink the waters.
Persons who have had occasion lately to
converse with Prince Hohenlohe describe
him as being extremely feeble, even to the
extent of senility.
viscount Cough, secretary of the British
embassy, informed the correspondent of
the Associated Press that the embassy
knew nothing about emperor William hav-
ing sent congratulations to Queen Victoria
on the occasion of the latest British sue
cesses. This is confirmed in court circles
here.
Ex-Lieutenant Meigs, of the Bethlehem
iron works has arrived at the Savoy Ho-
tel He will travel in Germany and else
where in search Of information.