Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-18
THINGS BRIGHT AT PALACE
Chancellor Won Buelow Takes Rosy View of
Political situatiOn.
HANDS OF R:IcHsTAG REALLY TIED
Vote of Supplies Only Means POpuIar
Branch of Government Has of
Controlling Policy of
Government.

BERLIN, Feb: 17-(Special. fittings
are bright in the Radziwil Palace and
Prince Bernard Won Buelow, imperial
chancellor of the German empire, is taxi
ing a rosy view of the situation This is
since the elections. Before that every
thing was apprehension and chaos.
When Bismarck drew up the German
constitution there were many who re-
Nhrded the placing of the reichstag on
the basis OF universal suffrage ss a mis-
take, but these objections the iron chan
cellor swept aside He considered that
when he had created the reichstag he had
created an Institution that was nothing
better than a high class debating society.
No bill can be passed by the reichstag
which has not first had the approval of
the federal council. The federal council
is appointed by the kings and princes Of
the German federation. But the nomi-
nees of the king Of Prussia form ma
tority, so that in the end all the reach.
stag can do is to say mo" or Yes" to
what the Kaiser is willing should be laid
before 1t. And the Kaiser appoints The
ministers who are responsible only to
him and quite Indifferent to any criticism
or votes of censure by the reichstag, so
the government of the German Empire is
as much in his hands as If ne had been
the czar of Russia
Nothing more monotonous than the de-
bates Of the German Imperial Parliament
could be imagined. AS rule out of the
500 members there were not two score in
the House. In fact when the Parliament
was in session It was rare IL half of the
members were in Berlin. Now things are
better so far as attendance goes for each
member is given an allowance for the
time he is In attendance but is fined for
being absent unless he IL excused by the
president. The only real power which
the rechstag has had has been it's in
fuence over public opinion. Its debates
were public. were reported in the press
and were commented upon accordingly
This was a power with which the gov
eminent had to reckon.
Dismarck's Idea.
But without the Kaiser's consent the
reichstag was helpless to influence the
action Of the government 1t was only
in one way that II could apply the screw
and that was by refusing the money 1t
had indeed the power to bring the gov
ernment OF the country to a standstill by
refusing to vote supplies but until a few
months ago apparently IL never had the
courage to do that sort OF a thing
PRINCE Bismarck when he began to
realize the danger in the growth OF So
cialism was not disinolined to drastic
measures and realized the necessity OF re-
stricting the suffrage under which the
reichstag is elected AS far back as 1892
he proposed this plan to the Kaiser. But
wilhelm II at the outset of his reign
was averse to doing anything that might
bring him into conflict with his people
or render him unpopular. He saw that
such a measure might lead to open revolt
or. as he put II to his chancellor. he mad
not the slightest desire to be known in
history as the grape shot kaiser" Bis
marek eontented himself with prophesyIng
that he would so farther and fare worse.
One thing Is certain and that is that in
any event there are lively times ahead
for socialists and imperialists.
Considerable anxiety and curiosity is
being felt in Germany as to the effect
which the death OF the queen Of Hanover
win have on the relations of the duke
OF Cumberland and the German empire
II has long been supposed that II was
only out OF hlial piety that the duke main.
tanned his claim TO the throne of Ham
over. The duke is enormously wealthy
and when things are finally brought ia
focus Il is possible that he will refuse
to reign over an insignificant duehy.