The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-05
CONDEMNS MOVE
TO KEEP EX-KAISER'S
FORTUNE INTACT
Berlin Newspaper Declares the Move
Emphasizes His Right to Property
and Says Nothing of His
Guilt.

Berlin, Tuesday, Feb. 3,--Efforts to
keep intact the fortune of former EN-
peror William are condemned in long
editorial printed by the Vorwaerts this
afternoon. The newspaper says this
movement is in behalf Of "a man who
ruined Germany"
"The bill now before the Prussian
Diet represents masterpiece OF old
Prussian efficiency says the editorial,
'sfor the financial status of Count Ho-
henzollern is placed on the basis OF his
right to property, while nothing is said
as to his guilt or the political situation.
1t is perhaps well to remember that
the national constitution gives the gov
eminent the right to seize private for
tunes"
Details of the measure are given by
the newspaper, which says paragraph
four of the bill declares the royal house
will give lin the interest OF the general
welfare certain possessions such a.
real estate, works OF arr and valuable
articles, but provides the former emper
or must be paid l00,000,000 marks IN
compensation.
This sum has an eccentricity," the
editorial continues. in that it not only
win be paid to the erstwhile kaiser's
fortune. but will be devoted to paying
taxes on that fortune. This, translat-
ed into simple German, means the Ho-
henzollerns are freed from emergency
loans and that this expense will be tax
en- over by Prussia
ESPECIALLY bitter is the newspapers
comment as it recounts the castles and
real estate the royal house does not
give to the state. 1t says the Hohen-
zollerns will retain SO villas and real
estate plots, houses in Berlin Potsdam,
Kiel and Ploen, and castles and forests
throughout the country Added to
these estates, the royal fortune com
prises properties in trust and strong
box funds. This list. the newspaper
asserts. totals l75,000.000 marks, and
includes good industrial mortgages and
obligations. land very few war bonds.
Grown insignia, which are not valn-
able it is declared, are given to the
state. but the jewels viii remain the
property of Count Hohenzollern
Paragraph two OF the bill gives the
state certain private royal estates but,
saws the article, they consist OF hall
dozen ruins, one having two rooms and
kitchen and another mere rundown
shooting lodge These have been ex-
changed proftably for the srangerie at
Potsdam, which are granted by the bill
TO the royal house during the lives OF
the former emperor and empress. aud
those of-ihe former crown prince and
princess. In addition, the Hohenzol-
Terms will Keep Castle Park AT Ham
burg. the new garden. marble palace
and mausoleum at Potsdam, and the
Hohenzolern museum at Monbijou cas-
tie
Paragraph seven says the royal
theatres in Berlin, Hanover Cassel and
Wiesbaden will 20 60 the state, includ
ing all that belongs TO them. Since the
crown cannot get rid of the theatres
the former emperor supported he gives
them to the state, which has the priv
ilege Of laying out a million marks for
their upkeep.
"The next paragraph makes provision
for the retention. for the sake OF the
general public, Of buildings containing
works of art, but throws all old court
employees, pensioners, widows and or
phans, numbering 10000, on the state,
which is thus called upon for further
huge sums.
"Court ladies slated for incomes OF
from 10000 ia $4,000 marks per year
arc on this list, as well as eoschmen
and lackeys who, however, complain
they haven't had an increase of salary
in years.
eThis is but the first excerpt from
the bill which appears nmanageable,
nay. impossible. Opposed TO such cum
ming loyalty of service stand, suffering
horribly. millions and millions Of peo-
pie. II there is such thing as earthly
Justice then the Hohenzollern private
interests are but feather weight
against the hundredweight Of guilt.