Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-28
MlchaeJjs Beset By Reform
Demands; Committee Wall
Discuss Peace Pldm TAesdGy
Majority in ReichStag, En-
Couraged by Success, De-
mandS More Changes Ger
man Papers 0utSpoken

BERLIN, Sunday, Aug. z6 (via Lon
don, Aug. 2D.-If frank discussion and
unblushing criticism are capable OF
bringing on parliamentary reforms, ii
may be said that Saturdays proceed
ings in the reichstag main committee
have given increased momentum to the
movement To this must be added the
volume of plain-spoken editorial com
ment by the liberal press, which states
frankly that it will not be SATISFIED
with half measures or substitute make
shifts.
The discussion of national politics
was continued by the committee yes
terday. Chancellor Michaelis twice
took the floor to explain his newly Gre
ated council, made up of seven reichs-
tag deputies and seven members of the
bundesrat, over which he is to preside
The new council will hold it's first meet
ings Tuesday to discuss the govern
ment's reply to the papal peace note
The social democrats. centrists, national
liberals and progressives have agreed 10
cooperate with the government on this
issue. The various factions, however
have informed the chancellor they have
accepted the newly organized body as "a
provisionary device, and consider it the
harbinger of more substantial and per-
manent measures which will secure tc
the, reichstag constitutional preroga-
tives and greater responsibilities.
Among other demands, the coalition
will urge notification of paragraph nine
of the imperial constitution, which pr
hibits reichstag deputies from becom-
ing members of the federal council
Elimination of this restriction would ca.
cilitate appointment of members of par
lament to secretaryships which carry
with them membership in the bundles
rat.
CHANCELLOR LISTENS.
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 chan
cellor was an attentive auditor and
showed no inclination to oppose some OF
the more emphatic demands. In =
statement supplementing his speech in
the forenoon. he said he would consen;
to consider the seven reichstag depu.
ties in the new council as representa-
tives Of their political factions. The
session afforded the party representa-
tives ample opportunity to bring up
their grievances. Among them was the
statement of Matthias Erzberger, leader
of the centrists, that his party has not
received proper recognition in the dis
tribution of government honors
The session gave the impression that
advocates of parliamentary reforms are
inclined to support the chancellor in his
opinion that reorganization cannot be
undertaken hastily. 1t is plain at this
date however. that the coalition which
has been augmented UNNECESSARILY by
the adhesion of the national liberals
now constitutes an invincible reichstag
majority with which the chancellor must
reckon which will enter the new session
next month with definitely outlined
program.
That the majority parties are not in
clined to give the newly created council
permanent Importance is indicated by
press comment. The following deputies