South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-07
BAVARIAN UPPER
HOUSE MAY FALL
Reform Wave Over Germany
Threatens AriStoCratiC
Ruling Body.
international New. serrics:

International News Service:
MUNICH. Sept. THE reform
wave now sweeping over Germany
threatens not only the Prussian
junkerdom. but also the Bavarian
house Of lords. the most aristocratic
body .u the German empire.
According 70 the Muenchener
Nueste Nachrichten, the government
Is preparing a bill for the recon /
struction of the ultra -feudalistic
first chamber OF the parliament
along democratic lines The meas
ure viii be submitted 20 the diet
when Il reassembles in October.
The step planned by the govern
ment under the pressure Of public
opinion Is little short Of revolution
airy. So far all demands for the
modernization OF the upper house
have been rejected Indignantly by
the crown and the ministry. In
April 1914, a few months before the
outbreak OF the war. the second
chamber OF the diet passed bill
which would have done away with
some OF the privileges and powers
of the lords. but the measure was
promptly vetoed by the government.
The council OF the empire. as the
upper Bavarian house is called. is
even more a bulwark Of feudalism
and aristocratic class privilege than
the Prussian house OF lords. Under
the law OF May 26. 1913. the body
consists OF the royal princes, the
crown officials. the Roman Cath
oils archbishops, the heads Of the
priHcely families. the head Of the
Protestant church and a number Of
councillors Of state appointed by
the king The latter either hold
their rank for life or their positions
are hereditary. but under the constL-
tuition all hereditary members must
belong TO the landed aristocracy and
pay at least $165 taxes a year.
Amoug the members appointed
for life are a few fnanciers. cap
tains Of industry and college pro-
fessors. but the cities. tiie univer-
stiles. commerce and industry the
farmers and the working classes
have no representation. The bill
prepared by the government restricts
the right Of appointment by the king
and amends the law so that one
half Of the members of the council
OF the empire are 70 be elected by
universal franchise in a manner Civ
ing representation 10 all classes Of
the population
Nearly 20 years age, after the
revolution Of 1S4S, a movement was
started 10 reform this Bavarian
upper house and curb the powers OF
the nobility Strangely enough this
movement was led by two cF the
most prominent and aristocratic
members OF this feudalistic body.
Count Geich and Count Seinsheim.
Later the far-sighted prime minis
ter. Won der Pfordten. took up the
fight. but he also was unsuccessful
In 1868 Prince Chlodwig ~ HO-
henlohe. who later became chancel-
Tor of the German empire, submitted
a bin 20 the king which proposed to
give the universities FIVE elective
representatives In the upper house.
while commerce and industry. the
cities. the farmers and the working
classes were to have eight members
each. The measure was turned
down by the ruler, however.
During the last 25 years numer-
Gus bills for the reformation OF the
house or lords have been introduced
By liberal and radical members of
the second chamber. but the gov
eminent always has seen to II that
these revolutionary" measures were
killed promptly A few were re-
ported out OF committee and then
voted down by the reactionary ma
iority of the diet, and two that
succeeded IN getting through the
chamber were vetoed by the lords
and the king
The war. the greatest revolution
ist. now promises to bring the re-
forms which the struggles OF two
generations have not been able TO
accomplish. The days Of feudalism
and class rule are numbered in
Bavaria. as everywhere else.