Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
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LONDON, July 27.-[Copyright. 1.-The
debates Of Thursday and Friday on the
royal grants in the House of Commons were
the most Interesting OF the present session OF
Parliament, and many Americans were In
the crowded galleries, among them Chaun-
cev Depew and Minister Lincoln. Many
others would have liked to get in, who
found that all the power of the American
Consulate was unable to extend the limits
OF the seating capacity of ST. Stephens.
1t was a bad week for the royal family, in
spite of the big wedding. 1t is not pleasant
for an avaricious old lady like the Queen to
be shown so plainly that an end is almost
come to her opportunities for plunder, and
it is a sad thing for the Prince of Wales to
read the signs of the times that point to
such narrow possibilities for himself by the
time he reaches the throne.
NOT A GREAT VICTORY.
1t should be borne in mind that the vic
tory the Government is making so much of
was merely the defeat of Labouchere's
amendment, whereby he proposed that Par
Lament, in response to the Queens petition
for an allowance for her granddaughter,
should inform the old lady that she might
economize her household expenses and
dover the Princess herself
That there are 116 members of Parliament
who are willing to make this stanG is not
encouraging from Royalist point of view.
Prom a Republican point of view, to be
sure, it is less than ridiculous that Queen
with private fortune of S20, 900, 900, an in
come from crown lands and other property
of 81, SOC, 900, and salary OF almost s., ,000,-
900 more, should have the assurance to ask
the people to make an allowance tor her
granddaughter, who marries man with
private income of S400, 600 per year.
INTERESTING ANALYSIS.
An analysis of the vote on Labouchere's
amendment is of interest. The conservative
vote of 254 was solid against the amendment,
OF course. The Unionists all voted against
it, too, with the exception ofRichard Cham
berlain, brother of Joseph, to the number
OF IS. A number of Gladstonians did not
vote at all, but Sc were recorded against the
amendment as was the entire Nationalist
party, with the single exception of 7. P.
O'COnnor.
Parnelrs motive in casting his 80 votes
in favor of the royal grant is considered ex-
cellent politics, since he thus puts the
Nationalist party on record as not opposed
to the crown.
On Monday John Morley moves an
amendment very similar in its scope to the
one that has just been defeated. Morley
will move that, in the opinion of the Com
mittee on Royal Grants, no adequate ground
has been shown for a proposal which in
cresses the charge of the consolidated fund,
in order to make provision for the younger
members of the royal family, and while ad-
ding to the burden, leaves
ROOM FOR FUTURE CLAIMS
of the same character. This amendment
will also be defegted, but the debate upon
it Will be a very lively one, since the Gov
ernment, having given two days to Labou-
chere's amendment, intends to apply the
cloture next week.
The action that will, in all probability, be
taken upon the royal grant question, will
be to accept Gladstone's compromise, and
grant e36, 900 to the Prince of Wales, with
the stipulation that he shall hereafter pro-
vide for all members of his own family out
of his own purse, though Prince Albert Vic
tor, as heir apparent, will be made a sepa-
rate provision, necessarily, when his father
becomes King.
The TACT that there are 116 Radicals in
Parliament whom not even the entreaties of
Gladstone could move to vote in favor of a
royal grant, is of the utmost significance.
Ten years ago, when the Duke of Con-
naught's marriage brought up the same
question, there were very few members of
the House of Commons who voted against
the grant.
HARD TO KEEP IN LINE
1t was with great difficulty that Parnell
induced his followers to cast their vote
against Labouchere's amendment on Fri
day. Biggar's disgust was pathetic. He
was the last man to GO out, and he almost
groveled on the floor with humiliation. 1t
was the first time since Gladstone brought
in the third home rule bill that the Nation
alists and Conservatives had voted on the
same side of question.
The only amusing incident of Thursdays
and Fridays DEBATE was when the editor of
Truth took rise out of Joseph Chamber
lain. whose American wife was watching
the scene from the gallery. Enumerating
the sinecure salaries that are paid TO officers
OF the royal household, e. 900 to the Lord
Chamberlain, e2, 900 to the Master of Horse,
G., 500 to the Master of the Buckhounds
95, GIG to eight lords in waiting, 60, 685 to
eight grooms in waiting, and e., 900 to four
equerries.
CHAMBERLAIN EMBARRASSED.
Mr.. Labouchere asked why the country
should be put to the expense of paying
noblemen to perform these duties, while
there were SO many gentlemen, like the
honorable member from Birmingham, for
instance, who would be only too glad to per-
form them for nothing. Chamberlain was
startled out of his usual composure, and as
he is one of the most unpopular men in
the House of Commons, there was a shout
of laughter from all sides. He turned red
and then white again, and succeeded in
looking very foolish indeed, much to every
ones qualification, except that of his wife.