The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-05-14
AN ODD PARLIAMENT.
A BODY WITH a STRONG FLAVOR OF
THE MIDDLE AGES.

Most Vigorous Fist Is Entitled to
the Floor.
There is hardly anything more anti
auated in parliamentary life than the
opening of Mecklenburg diet Compar-
ed with the opening of the reichstag or
the Prussian, Saxon or any other diet,
all of which are businesslike bodies, it
In the middle ages. Agrarian conserva-
tism pure and unadulterated reigns su-
preme.
To begin with the calling of the SEES
sion, more verbose, long winded and an
tiquated document is not in use in any
modern legislative body.
This antediluvian document is sent to
the 800 knights and As burgomasters, but
only 30 or 40 put in their appearance.
Judging from the size of the hall of SEES
sion. both at Sternberg and Malchin,
where the sessions are held alternately,
this has never been otherwise. We're
they all to appear, the hall would not
hold half the number.
Only when a measure that may in prin-
ciple curtail their rights and privileges is
ON the docket the knights show up long
enough to 'skill'' the bill. This done, they
betake themselves again to their estates.
A member of the Mecklenburg diet Is
not an ordinary mortal. He is not oblig-
ed to undergo the ordeal Of a political
campaign In order to obtain seat, like
deputies in the other German federal
states. The ownership of a freehold gives
him a seat in the diet. Nor does he for
felt his prerogative by legal offenses
which elsewhere deprive the offender of
| all civil rights and honors. Only in case
| of bankruptcy and mental depravity
| must he discontinue the exercise Of his
rights. Daily allowances are not granted
him. However, they are quite unneces-
sary, as he enjoys large number OF 9TH
er valuable privileges.
Perhaps the most valuable Of these Ii
the one which exempts his estate from
the oppressive "canon," or perpetual lease
tax, while the copyholder or peasant Is
grooming under the burden.
After the knights and burgomasters
have convened the land marshals inform
the commissaries, who represent the
grand dukes. that the freeholders have APP
peared.
The commissaries then proceed with
much ceremony to the hall Of session,
where first the commissary of Mecklen-
| burR-Schwerin and then his colleague
| from Mecklenburg- Strelitz Doth grand
duchies have a joint Diet read the old
STYLED summons, after which it is handed
| to the marshal The capita, also drawn
up in the sixteenth century court style.
| enumerates the business which the college
of serenissimos has selected for the de-
| liberations, including also the petitions
that have been received.
| Parliamentary rules do not exist.
The presiding knight is perfectly free to
take up any bill he chooses, and only rare
| IL, that il In important matters, has the
| subject been discussed in committee before
reaching the house.
The knights divide all business into two
classes, styling the one indifferent mat
ters," the other matters pertaining to
the prerogatives of the knighthood." As
only the latter really receive the full at
| tention of the knights they are, upon the
| whole, the representatives of their own
| interests.
In case the minority, that Is, the 40
burgomasters. as against the 300 knights,
| wishes to defeat a measure, the two par
ties, the knights and the burgomasters,
| Riye their formal statements, whereupon
the matter is placed upon the table. The
| minority prefers this absurdity to joint
ballot in which it would be overwhelmed.
| The general order prevailing In the
! Mecklenburg diet has become proverbial
| throughout the German empire, and the
subject of much ridicule and comment.
| The tumuItuous scenes that often take
- - - L. lich
| diet.
Rules for the floor do not exist. Twen-
ty-seven members may speak simultane-
ously as long as they please without be-
ing called to order by the chairman; nor
| Is It necessary to be granted the right Of
the floor by the chairman in order to
make speech He who has the strongest
voice and can stand pounding on the desk
| longest prevails.
There is one advantage In the Mecklen-
burg methods. they expedite matters i'm
menseIy. still leaving every member an
opportunity for the full expression of his
| opinion.
Mecklenburg has no constitution In the
modern sense of the word. The absolute
rights of the duchy are limited ouly by a
knighthood. popular representation, as
| IN all the other German states, cannot be
spoken of.
Two-fifths of the country, which is dr.
rectly subject to the grand dukes, has no
representation at all. One-ffth Is made
up of the cities which are represented in
the diet by the burgomasters- AS. how
ever, the latter receive their appointment
from the government without any pre-
vious consultation of the wishes of the
cities, they are creatures of the grand
dukes. The remaining two-ffths are com
posed of the knighthood, with 1920 es-
tates owned by 800 knights.
The affairs of the government are con-
Quoted In a most arbitrary manner.
In Mecklenburg- Strelitz the states
budget Is never published for the informa-
ton Of the people. The taxpayers are
left entirely In the dark as to the receipts
and expenditures of the government.
The agricultural conditions are without
their equal anywhere. No one is permit
ted to dispose at will of his real property,
nor to divide farm which exceeds In size
two hides. The peasants can at best rent
the land, for which they must pay a rent
tar into the grand dukes treasury.-Phil-
adelphia Press.