Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-27

For fun details OF Mr. Ritchie's local government
bill introduced last Monday evening In the British
house OF commons one must await the arrival OF
tne slow-moving transatlantic mails the cable
having given US only brief hint OF It's proyi-
sions IL appears to be a measure, as It's
title would Indicate, for the transfer TO
local officers, chosen directly by the peo-
Die OF their respective counties, OF many gov
ernmental functions hitherto exercised by the
crown through It's executive and judicial ap-
pointees. of course this sweeps away the practi-
cally despotic power OF the petty magistrates and
will be vigorously opposed by them and by their
friends That Is what makes the Introduction OF
The bill by conservative so astonishing 1t Is sur
missed that salisbury, In view OF the growing
strength OF the Gladstonian party, has resolved
upon putting them into trying position. They
must either give a tory proposition vote
OF approval by supporting this bill, or they
must risk their standing with their own
constituents by opposing II. Most OF the English
liberals probably, Will feel forced to vote in the
Affirmative, In spite OF Its offensive source, while
The scotch Glalstonians and the Irish hone-rulers
Will nope for lis extension at some future day to
their respective parts OF the kingdom II they can
,yet ft through parliament now. At the same time,
It Is suspected that salisbury has no real desire
Tor its passage, and believes that enough votes
Will be got together by the tory squire element to
defeat II. He will thus have all the credit OF per-
Uniting its introduction and the political adyan-
tage Of causing a split In the opposition and
Of winning back some OF the unionlsts who
had begun to stray from his support.
TO meet the possibility that the tories cannot
stomach the proposed reforms the Salisbury gov
eminent has already announced that IL will not
consider an adverse vote upon the measure as a
declaration OF lack OF confidence In the govern
ment. Americans will feel a special interest In
the fate OF this bill. which makes long stride in
the direction OF initiating our own institutions.
With change In the local governmental system
would be likely TO come also a change In the
methods Of local politics. and the primary and the
caucus and the nominating convention, and all
the little wheels within the big ones would be
brought into play there as here.
The wide scope OF the topics Of discussion at the
women's conference, gives unusual interest TO the
proceedings. The improvement OF their political
condition Is only one OF the matters to be consid-
cred and the attention given to their notable adj
vsnces In other lines OF development draws to the
city certain representative women, and adds to
the audiences number OF hearers who would not
be attracted II the crusade had but single end in
view. Nothing that pertains TO woman is foreign
to the conference, and this comprehensiveness OF
plan, involving a review OF what has been accom-
plished In all lines OF development, gives TO the
gathering a cheerful and congratulatory tone,
which might be wanting II political conditions
Wctc dlUEc uiSCuSStu NUuldH TlgulS III luc mat
ter OF education have brought to the city speakers
from India, Denmark and Norway, and from
widely-separated sections OF the United States
so the subject OF phllanthropies, including prison
reform, hospital work. and work among the In
dians the great temperance question, the consid-
GRAFTON Of women In the professions and indus
tries and such topics as social purity and womans
legal condition have been the magnets to draw 10
Washington the workers In the fields suggested |
and TO give certain representative character to
this congress OF women The organizations to be |
perfected as the result OF the conference promise
TO be OF historical interest and Importance. The
great impeachment to many movements for the |
beneft OF the gentler sex has been the apparent |
Indifference OF the benenciaries OF the alleged i'm
provement The reformer's WORK of proselyting Is |
more necessary among the women than among
the men, Outside OF the few requests by women |
for recognition OF alleged rights to which valid
objection supported by sound argument can be |
urged,-and these are few indeed-there Is prob
ably no benefit which women, acting IN organiza-
fion and speaking with substantially one voice
can ask which the men viii not be quick to be-
stow.