The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14
GERMANY'S TARIFF BILL
THIRD READING DEBATE OPENED
DY CHANCELLOR Won BUELOW.
Although the Duties Are Higher Than
Desired the Government Will Ac-
cept the Measure.

BERLIN, Dec. BIN the Reichstag to-
day Chancellor Won Buelow opened the
discussion OF the third reading of the tariff
bill, saying that the allied governments
had agreed on the bill as it passed its sec
ond reading and also would accept the
abolition of the municipal octrois now that
the date of it's taking effect had been fixed
for 1910 The governments had also agreed
that at a future date pension fund be
established for widows and orphans from
the proceeds of the tariff revenues. and ac-
cepted the Herold motion, according to
which animals and meats will not have
minimum duties. and the duties on grains
as changed from the committees figures
to those Of the government, except mailing
barley, the duty on which is raised from
20 cents to 81, and that other barley will be
without a minimum duty.
While the governments original figures
on grain are restored, the committee in
creases in other sections stand, including
neaVy advances on animals and meats
above the governments figures. The for
mer tariff becomes a general tariff which
will be enforced except where commercial
treaties may be made. Some of the meat
duties adopted compare as follows with the
governments: Bacon, 50 per metric hun
dredweight, against $3.50; simply prepared
meat, sl., against s.. 20; meat delicacies, $50,
against $3.50; oysters, so, against $3.50
After Herr Richter and others had spoken
DR.. Barth made sharp attack -on Chan
cellor Won Buelow, who replied, praising
the patriotic spirit of the majority parties
and admitting that he had taken an active
part in effecting compromise on the tariff
bill In the form of practical basis for
arranging efficient commercial treaties,
which would surely be reached with the
good will /of both sides. But the situation
was not helped when DIR. Barth and his
friends asserted that Germany had more
need treaties than q
chancellor added: II wish to warn foreign
countries against attaching too great
weight TO such assertions. We are not in a
position or economic distress which COM
pels us to pass through the caudine forks.
Germany Is the best buyer in the world.
Our imports exceed our exports by a
billion Other states have precisely the
same interest in the renewal of treaties
as we have. Therefore we enter into the
negotiations with loyal intention to reach
a just and reasonable mean between con-
hicting interests, domestic and foreign, but
with the selt-confidence which the economic
power of the German people gives u.s."
The balloting on the tariff bill lasted I'M
til $50 this Sunday morning, when the
bill was read a third time by POP votes
to 10O
Professor Mommsen publishes to-day in
Die Nation an article on the parliament
tary situation, which he pronounces to be
the result of a selfish alliance between
squirearchy and priestocracy." The ma
jority's tariff action in the Reichstag, the
professor classes as a fragrant breach of
the constitution, and he summons "all the
National Liberals who have not polluted
the Liberal name" to join the Radicals and
Socialists in organizing a great party to
resist Agrarian aggression and reaction
airy tendencies He says Socialists at the
present moment compose the ''only great
party deserving of respect" but he calls
upon them to mend their behavior toward
the parties willing to help the laboring
classes.
Professor Mommsen's utterances have
caused a viii MIA
a considerable part in next years electoral
campaign.