The "Wasserstraßenvorlage" (bill on waterways) and the economic and political situation in Austria 1901

Abstract

In 1901 the Austrian Reichsrat passed a draft bill to construct a number of inland waterways with a total length over 1700 kilometres. The bill was the result of the activity of a specific group of interests and the outcome of a long-lasting debate within the Austrian parliamentary representation. The author reconstructs the debate as well as the attitudes of the different factions within the context of nationalist struggles and parliamentary obstruction in the Habsburg monarchy. In the decisive vote, however, the electoral behaviour was also diverse within each faction. The bill was part of a more general economic investment programme of Koerber's government. In spite of the extensive political struggles, the waterways were never constructed.