New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-27
HOWL FOR REFORM
IN THE REICHSTAG

VV1 muu l lVOO n4OU WuAVD 1HDlO
tent Demands for Changes
MICHAELIS PICKS ADVISORS
New Council Receives Recognition of
Editors and Members of Reichstag
Berlin Despatch Explains Recent
Crisis".
Berlin, Aug. 26, via London.-If
frank discussion and unblushing crit
icism are capable of bringing on par
| liamentary reforms, it may be said
that Saturdays proceedings in the
Reichstag main committee have given
increased MON entum to the move
ment. To this must be added the
volume Of plain spoken editorial COM
ment by liberal press, which states
frankly. that it will not be satisfied
with half measures or substitute
makeshifts.
The discussion of national politics
was continued by the committee yes
terday. Chancellor Michaelis twice
took the floor for the purpose of ex-
planning his newly created council,
| made up of seven Reichstag deputies
and seven members of the Bundes-
rath, over which he is to preside. The
| new council will hold it's first meeting
on Tuesday. for the purpose Of dis
| cussing the governments reply to
the Papal peace note. The social
democrats centerists, national liber-
ais and progressives have agreed to
cooperate with the government on
this issue. The various factions, how
ever, have informed the chancellor
they have accepted the newly orga-
nized body as provisionary device
and consider it the harbinger of more
substantial and permanent measures
which will secure to the Reichstag
constitutional prerogatives and great
er responsibilities.
Among other demands, the coali-
ton will urge notification of para
graph 8 of the imperial constitution,
which prohibits Reichstag deputies
from becoming members of the Fed
eral Council. Elimination of this re-
striction would facilitate appointment
of members of parliament to secre-
taryships which carry with that mem :
bership in the Bundesrath
Warm Oratory Marks Session.
Detailed reports of Yesterdays ses-
sion of the main committee, at which
| the various factions apparently strove
| to outdo each other in the candor OF
their criticism, indicate that the
chancellor was an attentive auditor
and showed no inclination to oppose
some of the more emphatic demands.
In a statement Supplementlng MS
speech in the forenoon he said he
would consent to consider the seven
Reichstag deputies in the new coun
Gil as representatives of their political
factions. The session afforded the
party representatives ample oppor-
tunity to bring up their grievances.
Among them was the statement of
Matthias Erzberger, leader of the CEN
terists, that his party had not re-
ceived proper recognition in the dis
tribution of government honors.
The session gave the impression
that advocates of parliamentary re-
forms are inclined to support the
chancellor in his opinion that reor-
ganization cannot be undertaken
hastily. 1t is plain at this date, how
been augmented immeasurably by the
adhesion of the national liberals, now
constitutes Reichstag majority with
which the chancellor must reckon,
is to enter the new session next
month with definite outlined pro-
gram.
That the majority parties are now
inclined to give the newly created
council permanent importance is in
dicated by press comment.
The Seven Councillors.
The elected deputies are: Socialist
democrats, Philip Schediemann and
Friedrich Ebert centerist, Matthias
Erzberger and Herr Fehrenbach,
progressive, Friedrich Won Payer;
national liberal, Dr. Gustav Strese-
mann; conservative, Count Won West
arp.
While a slip of the tongue by the
chancellor and a bungled report Of
Wednesdays session were directly re-
sponsible for the tension of the past
week, the existence of much COM
bustible material of a political and
parliamentary nature is likely to call
for other f1are-ups, on account OF the
present mood and temper of the
Reichstas majority. Wednesdays
reaction is sympathetic of the ma
jority's growing appetite for In
creased authority and responsibility,
and further conflicts in the attempt to
appease that appetite hardly are
avoidable.
It now has become known that
Chancellor Mlchaeis made his second
statement of Wednesday,, definitely
fixing his attitude toward the Reich
-stag's peace resolution, before the in
PRODUCTION of the majority's declara-
ton regarding the establishment OF
full concordance between it and the
statement of the chancellor on July
49, Notwithstanding the chancellors