Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-01-20
continuation

(GOlllnutllOu.j
AS the Bundesrath is composed Of
representatives from the twenty
two kingdoms and States and three
city-states Of the empire, it will be
seen that they arc representatives OF
the States and not of the people di-
rectly. The Bundesrath members
are appointed by the individual king
doms and States, as the President
of the United States appoints am
bassadors, but the Bundesrath is the
Judge OF the qualifications OF its
member, having the power enjoyed
in that respect by the Senate Of the
United States.
This power is really the ultimate
power in o State and its exercise by
the Bundesrath and the authority
which the Bundesrath has to extend
its own powers, gives to that body
what German jurists style the Com
petenz-Competenz, that is, the COM
potency Of deciding its own comDe-
tency which is a prerequisite Of any
representative body if it is to main
tain its power and independence.
The German Empire, as will be
seen, is in really a republic, with the
King Of Prussia as it's hereditary
president and commander-in-chici OF
the army and navy. The real force
of its government is located in the
Bundesrath, the president or Ger
man Kaiser having very limited
powers.
The members Of the Bundesrath
arc men of great prestige and
prominence in their respective fields.
They include the greatest executives
of large enterprises and trusts, the
most noted lawyers and professors,
statesmen of the highest rcpute,
financiers and bankers Of the first
rank, great land and realty owners,
and prominent manufacturers and
merchants and the body is thus COM
posed Of the foremost minds Of the
empire 1t is to this body that Ger
many entrusts her destiny, and not,
as is popularly supposed in America,
to the Kaier.
Indeed, to tho German coming to
this country, the enormous place in
the public mind occupied by the Kali
ser is o great surprise. In Germany
his powers and prerogatives are
understood and he stands in his true
relation to the other branches OF the
governments In America, however,
the Kaiser appears to be the domina-
ting spirit OF Germany. This mis-
apprehension Of his real position is
the source Of much error in Judging
Germany's relations to this country
Bismarck, too, looms much larger in
America than he does in Germany
while the Bundesrath, the true pow
er Of tho empire, is only known as
q legislative term.
The members OF the Bundesrath
and Reichstag serve without pay
The bodies are coordinate branches,
but the unique feature OF the Ger
man government is in the Bundles
rath, for the Reichstag does not dif-
fer materially from the lower house
of other republics. 1t is elected by
districts and the voters must be 25
years Of age, but no property quali-
fication is demanded. Bankrupts
incompetents, pauper, and those
who have forfeited thear civil
rights are not permitted to vote, and
as a precaution against what we
term in America "militarism" sol
diers IN Germany cannot vote during
the period Of their active service.
Thus German officers in service have
no votes and they have no power and
but little influence outside OF the
army
rhe Great Secret of German
Progress.
The great secret Of German prog
-acc "a IN bp fOund in fbo pOWprg Of