New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO BE DEALT WITH
IN PARLIAMENT
THE PARNELL COMMISSION REPoRT-A PRETTY
BILL OF CoSTs-LABoR TRoUBLEs-EMPERoR
WILLIAM AS A REFoRMER - BROWN
ING's @sTRAFFoRD" on THE
STAGE-NEw NOVELS.
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
copwtont. 1890, Bv The Ne'o- York Tribune.


Copyrtoht: 1890 Bv The Neto- York Tribune.
London Feb 15-The result of the farneil
Commission has been pretty much as expected
The graver charges have not been accepted as
nroven. but those of boycotting and intimidation
sre declared TO have been daily established. Both
s;des claim to he satisfied, though the accuscrs in
. lass degree than the defendants. The details of
,be report are much more damaging TO the de
fendants than the bald summary of results The
effects of this remarkable document Will he felt
for MANY day to come in the incidents OF party
warfare The Government have been already
asked what they intend to do about 1t. What
can they do? The report does not whitewash
Mr.. Parneu and his friends; on the other hand,
II does not blacken them sufficiently to demand
an immediate motion for their exclusion from Par
lament. Herein is the real difficulty for the Gov
ernment In one part of the body of the report
forty-four members are named as guilty of crimi-
nal conspiracy, encouragement of boycotting and
intimidation. which led TO outrage. This offence
NAV not be equal to a conviction of actual felony.
But if the Government allow men to sit at West
minister who are guilty of criminal conspiracy,
they must forego their contention that the Par
pellite members are unworthy TO sit at Dublin
and conduct the government of Ireland. Minis
ters would prefer to let the matter alone, but 1t
is not improbable that the exclusion of these forty
four members will be demanded if the Irish party
90 10 extremes in their elation and table resolu-
tions dragging the Government through the mlre.
1t is hardly yet known what the provinces
think upon this subject. The newspapers, both
in London and in the country, keep strict party
lines, except The London Daily Chronicle,
which is temporarily in the hands Of Gladstoman
editor The Daily News" The Pail Mall Ga
zette" and The Frcemans journal seem highly
delighted and, notwithstanding the past abuses
hesped on the judges by the National press, ana
Mr. Gladstones hostile tone toward them, they
are now hailed as 50 many Daniels come to jude-
ment. The intense spirit of judicial fairness
breathing in every line of the report is one OF
its most striking characteristics.
Government intend asking a large vote in pay
ment of the Parnen Commission. II required
good deal of outside pressure to induce Mr..
Smith to make this demand. He and other mem
bers of the Cabinet shrunk from the opposition
which was sure TO be aroused. These gentlemen
failed TO see that the Commission was court
of law and that the country should pay for its
inquiries and administration II had to be pointed
put that The Times did not ask for the Com
mission its appointment sprung from the NoV-
srnment's desire TO get rid of the subject IN
Parliament THE Times" did not stand in the
position of plaintiff in a civil suit. Ii required
Lord Salisbury's great influence to convert his
colleagues 70 the view that the country ought TO
pay the expenses, both of the accusers and OF the
defenders. Apart from counsel fees, The Times
has expended nearly 100000 for witnesses and
incjdentals. The defendants costs do not exceed
$50, 600, apart from fees. The Irish party would
willingly forego their outlay, which has been
covered by public subscription, rather than have
public money devoted TO Tecoup The Times
So, whenever this vote comes on, we may expect
pretty scene in the Commons The efforts Of
the Irish members to get up an excitement IN
Parliament so far has not been very successful.
The privilege debate which aimed TO bring Mr..
John Walter to the Bar Of the House, was really
little better than izzle. Neither Sir W. Har-
court nor those who supported him made out
even a tolerabe case and Mr.. Parnelps motion last
night was discussed very languidly.
The most remarkable feature Of the weeks
debates has been Mr.. Glsdstones attitude toward
the foreign and colonial policy of the Govern
ment Not only did he, but did also Mr.. Bryce
who has Presbyterian element in his constlt
uency, support Lord SalisburyS policy on the
Portuguese question. Mr.. Gladstone eloquent
on the importance of maintaining British inter
ests in South Africa far in excess Of his own
appreciation of the necessities of that quarter of
the world when he was in office.
It is a great relief to the supporters of the
Government that nothing is TO be done about
assisted or free education. This deadly obstacle
was deftly avoided by Lord Salisburys declara-
ton that il involved questions Of finance rather
than Of policy, and, OF course, IL follows that
Mr.. Goschen will make it financially impossible
The sugar bounties convention is another extinct
volcano, and it is also doubtful whether Min
listers will seriously undertake Irish local gov
eminent. Perhaps they are pausing TIL the re-
turn of Lord Harrington and Mr Chamberlain, or
waiting till the Parnell Commission clouds have
all rolled by The Government not without
anxiety as 10 the line TO he taken by Lord Ran
doph Churchill. His Licensing bill evidently
delights the hearts of teetotalers, and the retarns
which ne has obtained respecting the liquor traffic
are disturbing TO the liquor interest Lord
Randolph Is also credited with moving for sweep
ing REFORMS and retrenchment in the Civil Ser
wee. lie evidently means 70 play toward the
Government his favorite role of a candid friend
During the past few days the trades-union in
terest has met with several reverses The dock
laborers at Dundee have scored an increase Of
wages, but elsewhere the struggle between cap
itsl and labor has gone distinctly on the side Of
the masters. The combination of wharfowners
and dock companies has killed the effort Of the
workmen's union TO exclude ali non-societv men
from employment. The fact is there is such
large surplus of " blackleg' labor in London that
unions composed of unskiled workmen cannot
cope with it. Many of the men who lost their
berths at the gas works under the orders of tie
union among the competitors for employ
ment at the wharfs where last weeks struggle
occurred These workers not only have learned
from bitter experience TO distrust the union but
virtually assisted the employers to defeat it. The
fl,o ctr 10
are becoming sobered and the edict has gone
forth that the labors OF the Port OF London ere