419
37. Otto von Bismarck, Speech on the Law for Workmen's
Compensation (15 March 1884)
If in the general debate I speak about the matter under discussion, it cannot
e my intention to enter into exhaustive discourse about the whole of the
subject that concerns us, and even less to anticipate in any way the special
debate over the great number of articles that the proposal contains. I do
consider it necessary, however, to say a few words concerning the position
of the allied governments
1 with respect to the genesis of the present proÂ
posal and to the intentions that they hold in regard to the bill. Indeed, I
should best address my remarks to a discussion of those objections that
were made in the previous debate against the principle of the law in general
in order to maintain a coherent focus.
I turn first to the remarks of the first speaker, Deputy von Vollmar.
2
• • •
First, Representative von Vollmar avowed a certain satisfaction, which
was not free from malicious pleasure, that the lofty socialist intentions that
may have been the basis of the first version of this proposal had disap-
From Stenographische Berichte fiber die Verhandlungen des Reichstages, 5th Legisla
turÂ
periode, 4th session, 15 March 1884, pp. 72-78, Translated for this volume by John W, Boy
er.
l. Le,, the states, including Prussia, which were united in the government of the German
Empire,-ED.
2. Georg Heinrich von Vollmar XXXXXXXXXX), German Social Democratic leader.-ED,