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Imperial Treasury derives from these sources. In the treaty with Bavaria it was agreed that, in postal and telegraphic treaties with non-German States, representatives from the neighbouring German States should be present for the protection of the particular interests of their countries; and that each separate State should be allowed to conclude treaties of the above-mentioned character in so far as they only affected communication on the boundary (Grenzverkehr).

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The office of the Imperial Chancellor had also to deal with 5. The superintendence of the Imperial Debt; with Customs and taxes, and the Finances. The Imperial Debt consists of loans contracted for the increase of the navy, for coast defence, for the mobilisation of the army, and for the expenses incurred in the Franco-German War. The Chancellor has the superintendence of it, and it is administered by a Committee of seven members, three of whom are chosen by the Federal Council, and three by the Parliament. 6. Those matters which were within the province of the head of the former Customs Union. By the entry of the South German States into the North German Confederation, and the formation of the Empire, the Customs Union, with its Council and Parliament, was of course rendered unnecessary; and its functions were transferred to the Federal Council and the Parliament of the Empire. The Customs Union Law of July 1, 1869, the Customs Tariff of October 1, 1870, and the Customs Penal Law continued to remain in

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Military affairs.

Railways.

force. These laws were introduced into AlsaceLorraine. Bavaria, Würtemberg, and Baden, however, retained the right of taxing their home-manufactured brandy and beer. 7. The administration of Alsace-Lorraine.

The military and naval affairs of the Empire, with the exception of Bavaria, are administered by the Prussian War Office, and by the Prussian Admiralty, although these Ministries are not officially recognized as Imperial authorities. This abnormal condition. of things is somewhat modified by the Committee of the Federal Council for the Army and Fortresses, which forms a kind of Imperial War Ministry. Würtemberg had to adopt the Prussian organization, but preserved the privilege of clothing her army on her own pattern, and of retaining the laws for the religious service in her army, and her military penal code. Her contingent forms one separate army corps, but is under the command of the German Emperor. Bavaria has to contribute the same quota as the other States to the Imperial Military chest; but this quota is kept apart, and the mode of expending it is left entirely to her. Her army is under the King of Bavaria during peace time, but on the mobilization of the Imperial troops on a war footing, the Emperor takes the command. She has to assimilate the organization, arming, &c., of her army to the system of the Imperial troops.

The administration of the railways is, as formerly, in the hands of the central power, as far as regards

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purposes of land defence and general commu- CHAP. nication; in fact, if a railway is considered necessary for these purposes it can be made without the consent of the State through whose territory it passes. Bavaria maintains the administration of her railways, excepting that she must make lines which are considered necessary for strategical

purposes.

The laws which concerned the right of settlement in a State and marriage, were among those of the North German Confederation which were not introduced into Bavaria.

With the exceptions and alterations above mentioned, the Constitution of the North German Confederation was accepted by the South German States. In the present Constitution, the Emperor has been shorn of a few prerogatives, and the power of the Federal Council has been slightly increased; while Prussia has succeeded in retaining in this Council the same, if not a greater influence, than she formerly possessed. The exceptional positions which in some matters Bavaria and, in a lesser degree, Würtemberg enjoy, will probably not be long maintained.

The form of the Constitution is peculiar-an Emperor who combines some of the attributes of an absolute, with those of a constitutional sovereign, ruling over States more or less independent, and who is hemmed in and renderel powerless in many respects, while in others he has unlimited scope;

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one responsible Minister, the Chancellor, whose responsibility is not very clearly defined; a Council of Representatives from the several States, with the functions of an administrative and of a legislative body, responsible to no one, acting upon instructions from their Governments, without reference to the representative assemblies of their respective countries; a Parliament elected on as broad a basis as possible, and yet not exercising to the full the functions which ordinarily belong to a great representative body.

He would be a bold prophet who would venture to foretell the future of this Constitution,

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