New-York tribune., 1913-07-20
RE|CHSTAG CURBS SPEECH
Expressions UnnotiCed Here
Bring Sharp ReprlmandS.
ARMAMENT RAISES TAXES
Many New Assessments Levied
Foreigners Must Pay as
Well as the Germans.

Berlin, July lo-The actual power Of the
German Reichstag is so small that scoii-
ers have been known to refer tc ii as "A
gloritied debating society The lilnita-
tions upon the freedom of speech Of the
delegates are. however so great that IT
may be doubted whether this term IS
appropriate. For expressions which would
not even excite comment In an American
legislature speakers are admonished by
the President OF the Reichstag. and for
expressions slightly more daring there is
"A formal call To order. The third call to
order forfeits 20 the offender the right TO
the floor.
Every session of the Reichstag brings
amusing examples of this. Al recent
session the Social Democrat Peus was
speaking The Kaiser" he said. caused
to be issued yesterday decree which is
couched IN a more moderate tone than
was the case IN former times. Dr.
Kaempf. President OF the Reichstag. in
terrupted him thus:
Il beg you to cease using such express
slons. You may not say that the En-
peror has become more moderate That
gives occasion for the contrast between
moderate and immodegate."
Rebuked by Chair.
Scheldemann, another Socialist was
speaking OF the armament bill. There
is. he said. mo more shameless false
hood than the imputation that the
French armament bill was the cause OF
the German bill being submitted
81 trust YOU do not refer 10 members OF
this House with your remark about
shameless falsehoods, said President
kaempf
Il had the Spanish Parliament IN NINA
when | spoke" said Scheidemann graVely.
\ burst OF laughter from all parts OF
the house followed. but Kaempf did not
ioin I'm il. lie listened while Scheidemann
finished his speech, and then, half hour
after his former remark. said solemniy
You said that you had the Spanish
Parliament in mind when you spoke OF
shameless falsehoods. The remark, now
ever. might be construed as referring 10
the Reichstag. | call you to order"
4 former President OF the Prussian Diet
once called to order delegate VINO had
asserted that war rs reproach upon
God" Such an expression. said the
the President. was an insult to Germany
great Emperor warriors and particularly
To William |.
Increases in Taxation.
Before the Reichstag adjourned on June
90 President Kaempf said that the day
session would live as one of the most
memorable In its history. His words uio
not exaggerate the Importance OF the
work done by the House on that day. TOT
tbis included the bill increasing the peace
strength of the army by $4,000 men. as
we'll as the finarclal bills rendered neces'
sary by IT, These latter include two
classes Of bills, one for meeting the eN-
penses to be incurred In organizing the
new forces building forts, barracks ano
other extraordinary purposes. the other
for defraying the yearly expenses OF th'
increased military footing.
Tho first class of taxes which are 70
bring I'm at least s2i00Oo.oo0. consists OF a
direct tax on property and incomes. anc
II will be distributed over three years
Both taxes are on graduated scales, under
which the largest fortunes pay SIS a
thousand. and the largest incomes Vhos'
of Si2)0Do or more pay IS hundred
Foreignc~s resident In Germany must pay
on the same scale as Germans.
The permanent taxes consist OF tax
on the yearly increase in wealth from al
sources, certain stamp taxes hitherto De
LONGING 10, the states. an Increase or th'
existing inheritance taxes and the appro'
priation by the imperial government ol
intestate estates where there are no neal
heirs. A part OF the revenue also VIII
be obtained by retaining the sugar ta'
az It's present level. instead of reducing
II by 80 per cent, az a resolution OF th'
Reichstag some four years ago demanded
The total amount expected from TINS
class OF taxes Is about S50,N0,o0. An IN
teresting feature OF the tax on increases
OF wealth is that It includes inheritance'
of children from the estates OF thell
parents. Thus the inheritance tax whose
rejection by the Relchstag In 1913 caused
the resignation OF Prince Bulow, has no"
b,en adopted In an indirect way.