GERMANY: Prussia Settles

Rowdyism unprecedented gibbered in the Prussian Landtag (Parliament), last week, as Prussian Finance Minister Herr Doktor Höpker-Aschoff presented for ratification his proposal (TIME, Oct. 18) to grant the House of Hohenzollern 15,000,000 gold marks ($3,570,000) in final settlement of its claims against the State of Prussia.*

When President Ernest Bartels of the Landtag announced the first reading of the bill, the Communists rose, en masse, shouting: “Traitor! Tool of tyrants! Bootlicker of the Hohenzollerns! . . .” Amid pandemonium the Communists sought to introduce a motion of lack of confidence against Prussian Premier Otto Braun (Socialist). When this motion was defeated and the Hohenzollern bill passed its second reading 210 to 38 the Communists forced a five minute suspension of the Landtag by their shouts of rage and dispersed to plan a filibuster by violence.

Just before the vote Communist Kasper called for a glass of water, and when an attendant brought it hurled the heavy tumbler toward the Democratic Centre, just grazing Finance Minister Höpker-Aschoff and striking a Democratic Deputy’s nose with sufficient force to draw blood. Communist Kellerman then slung a brief case at Democrat Riedel. As Vice President Hugo Garnich of the Landtag rang for order, rulers, inkstands and books hurtled. Finally some 25 Communists charged the President’s stand, wrested his bell away, doused Vice President Hugo Garnich with ink. The police being summoned, the Hohenzollern bill passed its second reading.

Vexed, President Bartels ordered his bell chained to his desk. Landtag attendants were instructed to stand by such glasses of water as they might be ordered to bring, and retrieve the glasses by force if necessary. Inkwells were removed ad interim.

When the Landtag again assembled to debate the bill, a phalanx of police guards protected the President and the Ministerial Bench. Vociferous but impotent the Communists introduced one obstructionist resolution after another. The Hohenzollern bill, finally debated amid groans and hisses, passed 258 to 37 with 65 abstentions.

The Bill: 1) Takes no account of the sums already realized by the Hohenzollerns through their sale of what might well be considered public art treasures from their palaces; 2) Grants to Wilhelm II and his consort for life the castle of Homburg “should they eventually return to Germany”; 3) Does not stipulate, as was at first proposed, that the money granted to the Hohenzollerns be granted on condition that it should never be used for political purposes.

*Embracing Berlin and 38 million of the 62 million German population.