St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-24
PULLING IN IT'S HORNS.
Salisbury's Ministry Emasculates
the Licensing Bill.

the Licensing Bill.
LONDON. June 23.-During the sitting
of the house of commons this afternoon
Rt. Hon. William Henry Smith, the
government leader, announced that the
government had decided to withdraw
the licensing clauses of the local taxa
tion bill. Mr.. Smith said that the gov
ernment had arrived at the conclusion
that it would be impossible to pass the
licenses clause OF the local taxation bill
in its entirety. The clause contained
three proposals.: First-That GER
on intoXlcants be appropriated for
the purpose of extinguishing
licenses; second. that power be con-
ferred on the county councils to
purchase and extinguSh licenses; and
third, that the issue of new licenses be
suspended. The first proposal had re-
ceived the assent of the house, both on
the second reading and in the commit
tee stage, but only as far as England
was concerned. The government would
therefore proceed with the proposal as
affecting Scotland and Ireland. With
the second proposal the government
would not proceed, but they would ask
the house to allow money for the eX-
tinctiOn of licenses to accumulate until
parliament would direct otherwise.
The third proposal was approved by all
sections of the house and would re-
main. In cOnsonance with their decis-
ion the government would ask the
house to agree to an amendment where
by moneys allotted to
Extingufshed Licenses
should be invested or accumulated until
an act be passed directing how to apply
them. The ministers trusted that a
practical result of the change would be
that the money would remain ear
marked for the purpose of eXtinguish-
ing licenses under any reform of the
licensing laws to which parliament
might assent. Mr.. Caine asked wheth-
er the government intended to intro
duce an alteration of the licensing
laws to which the amendment might
apply. Mr.. Smith said he thought Mr..
Caine ought to be satisfied to postpone
such a question until later stage in
the history of parliament. Sir Wilfred
Lawson warned the ministers that the
opposition would be steadfast to
every form of proposal to pur-
chase licenses. Mr.. Gladstone ex-
pressed partial satisfaction at Mr..
Smiths announcement, but said that
! the proposed amendment threatened
difficulty. Ii would be better for them
to consider the propriety of giving up
the ear-marking money. Its withdrawal
would in nOwise weaken the govern
simplify debate. Mr.. Smith said he ap-
preciated the spirit In which Mr.. Glad
| stone spoke, but the government could
| not disregard the fact that the principle
| of purchase had received the ap-
proval of large majority of the house.
| At all events the money accumulated
would be at the disposal of parliament.
| Timothy Healy remarked: ''It is clear
that the government means to
| leave the money for the extinction
of licenses" Mr.. Storey asked
| whether there was any precedent for
such proposal. and Mr. Smith replied:
'.The thing has been DONE" Mr.. Oar
ling: "If the ear-marked proposal be
| passed, will it in any way prevent par
| lament from dealing with the money
as it pleased?" MIR. Smith: 'Nothing
will prevent parliament from dealing
with the money in any way it may
| choose" Sir William Vernon.Har-
| session of parliament did not approve
| the application of the money to the pur-
| chase of licenses, the accumulated funds
| could not be used for any other pur-
pose without the assent of
The House of Lords.
If that was the real meaning of Mr..
Smiths proposal, the COVE rnment had
done nothing to shorten the ses-
sion. Mr.. Smith thought the gov
| ernment would be able to satisfy
| the house on this point. In the mean
time he asked the house to delay the
| discussion until the amendment was
1 reached.
Mr.. Smith moved to appointment OF
a select committee to inquire into the
subject of the continuance of bills from
session to session. This was agreed to,