Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-22
A POOR PENSION SCHEME
That Is Not Being Received With a
Great Degree of Favor.
YOUNG BRITISHERS TO THE FRONT,
Two Of Them Receive Important Govern
ment Positions.
RIVALS FOR AN AMERICAN GIRLS LOVE
rBY CABLE TO THE DIsPATCH.l


Joseph Chamberlain duly addressed his con-
stituents at Birmingham Wednesday, and,
contrary to expectation in some quarters
aud apprehension in others, dealt very
gently with the rumored intention of the
Government to abandon the promised
scheme of Irish local government As a
Liberal Unionist he could not publicly ap-
prove or condone the actual breaking OF
pledges, but he gives the Tories pretty
clearly to understand that he would not 60
out of his way to censure them, whatever
might be their final decision in the matter.
Political strategIsts can already detect in
the tactics now being used in these prelim-
inary maneuvers the principles which will
constitute the general plan of the next cam
psign.
The high-souled statesmen and patriots
who now govern this country are consumed
with anxiety to extend to Ireland the bless
ing of local self-government now enjoyed
by England and Scotland, but Irish affairs
have occupied so much Of the time of this
Parliament that it will only be fair next
session to pass two or three bills dealing
with English grievances before proceeding
with the Irish local government bill
A Turn-About Game in Prospect.
If the Liberals should be so unpatriotic
bs to oppose the Government measures for
improving laborers' dwellings in town and
country, and for reforming the laws relating
to employers liability for accident to work.
men and other "non-contentious" bills,
they will prevent the Government from
passing the Irish local government bill
Mr.. jackson, the new chief secretary,
will make q nice speech early in the session,
in which the bill will be explained, and the
measure will afterward be read for the first
time. Then harmless little English bills
will be proceeded with, and upon their rate
of progress will depend the fate of the Irish
bill
Every politician acquainted with the
House Of Commons methods of doing busi-
ness knows what all this means. Two i'm
portant measures like the laDorers' dwell
ings bill and the employers liability bill,
together with the budget and supply" and
other necessary but purely formal business
of every session, will occupy The House
until far into July, and there will be abso-
lutely no time to deal with the Irish local
government bill
Hard Work at the End Of Term
It is more than probable, however, that
toward the end of the session the pretense
will be made of proceeding with the Irish
bill The Liberals will, of course, object
70 dealing with such an important measure
at the end of moribund Parliament; there
-, Al.
country to take note of the Liberal obstruc-
tion, and dissolution will Immediately fol-
low.
Mr.. Chamberlain devoted large part
his speech to the subject of old-age pen
sions for workmen. With the help of
small committee of politicians and actuaries
be has managed to draft scheme by which
every workingman possessing sufficient
thrift and self-denial for the greater part of
his life to pay certain insurance premium
per week, shall commence at the age of 65
TO enjoy opulence in the form of pension
Of $50 per annum. The scheme has not yet
been explained in detail, but enough is
already known of it to arouse grave doubts
Rs to its practicability. The friendly soci-
cites regard it with suspicion, as an insidi-
Gus attack upon their voluntariness and in
dependence, and it has not been called for
by any organized body of workers
Little announcement in the Scheme.
The average British workingman will
have nothing tc do with it. He content
ediy subscribeS sums often greatly dispro-
portionate to his means to his trade union
or his friendly society, or to both, securing
thereby at least provision for sickness and
money wherewith to bury him decently
when dead. He rarely worries himself as
to what may happen to him when old age
shall have rendered him unfit for work be-
cause of the unconscious fatalism he assumes
that the Psalmist, when arriving at the
three-score-year-and-ten limit, could not
have included the workers in his calcula-
tions.
The prospect of $50 year to commence
at the age of 65 is not dazzlingly tempting
to a man who knows that the average life of
his class is less than 60 years. The thrifty
man is content with the present facilities
offered by savings banks, trade unions, and
friendly societies, and Mr.. Chamberlain's
scheme will not affect the unthrifty, be-
cause it is not made compulsory.
Tories Hustling Election.
Alarmed by their defeat in South Motion,
the Tories are hurrying forward the East
Dorset election with unprecedented haste,
in hope that the Liberal candidate will not
have time to canvass the constituency
and convert waverers. 1t will be the
shortest county contest ever known,
the date fixed for the poll being only
three weeks from the day of the late Tory
members death, but the Liberals have not
been discouraged thereby. Victory will be
harder to win then in South Motion, be-
cause there are fewer Liberal abstainers to
bring back. In 1885, when the Liberals
won, $50 votes were polled and the majority
was 697. In 1886 Tory was elected by
majority of Cos and 1879 electors recorded
their votes.
Two very young Englishmen (as age is
considered in British politicts) have re-
ceived important Government appointments
this week. George Curzon, who has been
made Under Secretary of State for India,
and who is 30 years old, and Viscount Chel-
sea, Balfour's new private secretary, who is
but %.
An Ideal Promising Young Man.
Curzon is the ideal promising young man.
He is grave, learned, travelled, and looks
upon life seriously. 1t is even to be feared
that be is prig, reputation he earned at
lwT ord r