The Pensacola journal., 1913-01-09
RE|CHTAG TO
BE CONSULTED
MEMBERS OF THE THEATRICAL
PROFESSION SEEK RELIEF FROM
PRESENT ARBITRARY pEcI-
sIoNs OF MANAGERS.
DECI-

Berlin, Jan. S.-The long campaign
waged by German actors has resulted in
the introduction in the Reichstag of a
bill designed to afford members OF the
profession relief from the present arbi-
trary decisions of theatrical managers.
If the legislation is enacted the right
of the manager to discharge a PLAYER
after months probation will be denied
The bill aholishes all probationary or con-
ditional contracts. No rehearsals may be
held after evening performances. and re-
hearsals on Sundays and holidays are
sharply restricted. The producer, too,
must supply all costumes that cannot be
worn in common life.
The managers claim that the last pro-
vision would work a great hardship upon
them and point out that it would OF ne
cessity result in lowering still further the
already small salaries which are paid to
German actors and actresses, except in
the case Of large, vell-paying playhcuses
in the big cities.
E. w. Kerngeld, ffteen-year-oM lad.
has Just been honored by the production
by the famous Philharmonic orchestra,
under the direction Of Arthur Nikisch. Of
a dramatic overture, his fourth work Of
Importance.
The Nikisch concerts are musical
events of the first importance in musical
Berlin and when the program was an
nounced musical critics and habftual con
cert-goers worried their heads over the
identity OF this mysterious composer
whose work has been selected for such
signal distinction.
Disregarding the youth of the composer
the critics have praised the work highly
as showing complete mastery Of the art
of orchestration and modern musical
technique and the experience Of COM
poser Of years training. A certain lack
OF originality, TO be expected in so young
musician under the influence of COM
posers like Strauss, was the chief criti-
cism brought against him and this he Is
expected to outgrow;
Although the story Of Madame Hum
bert and her fraudulent millions has pre-
sumably penetrated all parts of the
has just been stopped and the perpetra-
tor, Mrs. Anna Sanueck, sentenced to 21H
years Imprisonment
With a companion, an architect named
Spei, she played upon the sullibility of
Berliners through an alleged inheritance
of $3.50, 900 from an uncle in Russia.
Spei was enabled TO embark In extensive
building operations, many of which were
conducted at a profit on credit based on
the supposed inheritance. but finally de-
frauded workmen, contractors and others
out of hundreds of thousands OF dollars.
The pair led a luxurious life while the
sive apartment in a good section of the
city and played no small role in the So
cial life OF their quarter until the bubble
burst.
Gustav Woelferling, an eX-serseant in
the German army, has just ben SEN
fenced to fifteen years hard labor as a
penalty for too much prosperity.
Woelferling was long detailed as secre-
tary at the military headquarters at
Thorn, near the Russian frontier. where
he enjoyed the utmost confidence and
had access to confidential military plans.
Early in 1912 he resigned from the army
with the best wishes of his superior Of
icers, but suspicion was aroused when
after few months of quiet life he began
to spend money freely and place mort
cages on a scale all out of proportion
with his former pay and pension.
The military authorities had him close
ly watched and through counter espionage
and in other ways finally established that
the trusted sergeant had for years been
betraying to the Russian authorities mo-
bilization plans and other material OF
great value to them in case Of war.
After a secret trial he was given the
highest permissible sentence, fifteen years
at hard labor. fined S3.750 and money
loaned on mortgages by him to the
amount of $50 ordered confscated TO
the state: the total OF s21, 900 apparently
representing his profits as q Russian spy.