Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-06

terschaft, as the chief Of the two estates,
was to continue to dominate the duchies.
A later measure provided for a parlia-
ment Of eighty-four members from Neck
lenburg-Schwerfn and twenty-five from
Mecklenburg- StrelitZ. The grand duke
was to be allowed to nominate several
members, and the ritterschaft were to
have important privileges. This proposal
was rejected. In 1911 a new bill was in
troduced 1t was intended to placate the
rftterschaft. The new parliament was
to have ninety-two members. OF which
the ritterschaft would elect twentyfour,
being elected by the population and by
the university or nominated by the grand
duke
When this bill was under discussion A
first class struggle began over finance.
The grand dukes demanded that the es-
tates should grant them money to help
toward the general administration. The
ritterschaft said YES" but added that
they must have control of finances. The
grand duke refused for the reason that
the estates cannot be dissolved. and IL
they once get control Of money they
would have unchallenged power. The
ritterschaft at last was induced to pass
the bill, but the landschaft refused, and
the bill was rejected. In 1912 the gov
eminent had to bring in a new draft con-
stitution. and the feud over this draft
constitution Is still going on.
The quarrel at present Is being aggra-
waited by problems Of finance. The con-
stitution. 1t Is admitted. cannot work I'M
less the confused financial relations be-
tween the domains and the rest Of the
finances are the present trouble.
The former grand duke autocrat of
Neustrelitz in the course OF his reign.
appropriated $2S,OOOOOO of the people s
money and sent ii for investment abroad.
For a country with 10000 population this
was not bad; it was in fact 500 a head
that is as much as If Kaiser Wilhelm APP
propriated $4,000 600 of money be-
longing to the whole empire This plum
der was made possible by the wholesale
neglect of roads. schools and general gov
eminent. Mecklenburg-Strelitz was suck
ed dry. The question has come up how
much the grand duke should restore Of
these ill-gotten gains give hundred
thousand dollars, said the generous
grand duke. The estates laughed. Next
the grand duke offered to pay $1,000. 600.
The estates again laughed; and appointed
a commission to inquire into the matter
In this position the bill has been put of
till the end Of July. and public opinion
predicts that for a fourth time the con-
stitution is doomed
Inat Is coHShtutOH - uooihcu VIM"
depends on the consent OF the estates.
But the left parties demand that the
dukes shall take matters in their own
hands, and promulgate a constitution
over the heads OF the obdurate estates.
Whether the dukes have this right is not
very clear, as they are only autocrats
i'm half their territories But il Is certain
that IL they take the plunge no one will
resist.
However. the two autocrats are not
united concerning the necessity of a
plunge. and they have vacillated in the
past Formerly Schwerin's grand duke
was keen on a constitution and Strelitz' 5
grand duke held him back. Now Schwer-
ms grand duke is cool and inclined to
wait. and his cousin Of Strelitz declares