The German Ultramontanes are voting with the Liberals against the
Socialist Bill, and the Committee of twenty-one is whittling down its provisions, until it will only enable the authorities to sup- press Socialist meetings, to shut Socialist beer-shops, and to pro- hibit colportage, whether of newspapers or books. The extension of this repression to circulating libraries and booksellers' shops was rejected, as was also the extraordinary provision enabling the police to banish Socialists from their own homes. They can only banish them when residing at a distance from home for pur- poses of agitation. The right to proplaim a district under siege is limited to cases of urgent danger, electoral meetings are allowed even if Socialist candidates defend their views, and the operation of the Bill is limited to March 31, 1881, a period of less than three years. Moreover, it is believed to be certain that an appeal will be allowed to a Judicial Committee of the Federal Council, half of which will be composed of regular Judges. It is probable that when the Bill comes before the Reichstag thus amended Prince Bismarck will contend for the original clauses, and more espe- cially for an unlimited time, and that in the consequent struggle the Bill will drop through altogether.
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