The contest raging in the German Parliament over the Government
Meat Bill is assuming larger proportions. This Bill, as we noticed last week, virtually prohibits tho importa- tion of meat, and the merchants, 12 per cent. of whose trade depends upon America, are wild with fear of reprisals. Under the Dingley Tariff Act the Govenament:can add 10 per cent. to the duties levied on goods exported from any State which boy- cotts American produce, and Washington is quite certain to use its powers. The merchants therefore bombard the Govern- ment with petitions, to which, however, they turn a deaf ear. They want to carry the Emperor's Navy Bill, and the Agrarians, whose power has recently increased until they command a majority on economic questions, threaten if the Government gives way to wreck that measure. The parties, therefore, are in a condition of excitement, all the more because they perceive, as we have pointed out elsewhere, that if the Agrarians win this battle they will speedily put forward new demands. Indeed, Count Posadowsky has already promised on behalf of the Government to " revise " all duties in Agrarian interests when the Treaties expire, and it seems really probable that the French system of taxing all imported food until the home producer has an income which satisfies him will ultimately be adopted. The Government is believed to foresee the wretobed results of the system very clearly, but for the moment it is powerless. The Emperor will have his ships.
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