New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
THE NEWS FROM LONDON.
a ROYAL COMMISSION TO STUDY LABOR
QUESTIONS.
THE PRINCE OF WALES MENTIONED FOR THE
CHAIRMANsHIP-IRIsH DISPUTES-WELSH
pIsEsTABLI MISUNDERSTANDING Pc
CUIIARITIEs OF IBsENIsM.
rBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE,
copyright; 1891 BIZ The Tribune ASSOCIATION.

CULIARITIES OF IBsENIsM.
yBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE,
cspYrioht; 1891 BIZ The Tribune Association.
London, Feb 2s-ln announcing an intention tC
sppoint Royal Commission to deal with labor
questions, the Government have made an excellent
electioneering move. They have realized that the
country is getting weary of Irish questions, and
that the split in the Irish ranks will paralyzC
home Rule and kindred demands for some time
10 come. Ever since the Eccles and Ilartlepoo
plections where the Gladstonians succeeded less
by Home Rule pledges than by the lavish prom.
ises of their candidates TO the workingmen on mat
ters of labor. it has become evident TO the wire
pullers of the Tory party that no time is TO DC
lost in seeking to control the labor programme foi
election purposes at the General Election expected
fifteen months hence. The Government WILL
therefore, possibly try to secure, if not a COM
pcte report from the Commission before that date
ut least reports of recommendations on some OF
the more prominent subjects. If the Government
had not decided last Saturday in the Callnet 10
organize the great Commission, they would mos.
probably have been anticipated by the leaders oil
the Opposition, and thus would have been de-
prived of the credit of this undertaking.
Both political parties fully realize that the
workngman has found his power IN the iran
chise and means to use it, To what extent lhe
party wirepullers will control the worknsmahs
schemes and aspirations remains to be seen, Dut
the whole tendency of party politics In these
latter DAYS has been for each side TO outbld, II
possible, the terms of its opponent This princi-
pie has been illustrated in Irish politics, as well
as in questions connected with labor Labor
topics. however, are less academic than practical
and concessions made to the workingmen by
politicians for party purposes are too often ruinous
10 commercial interests, and in many cases open
the English market to foreign competition. The
whole field of labor bristles with difficulties We
have questions relating TO strikes, lockouts rates
of wages, the migration of agricultural laborers 10
cities, the increasing food of cheap foreign labor
the eight-hour question, picketing. courts
of arbitration and, in fact, long list of social
and economic questions which the extended fran
chise and the recent developments of new union
ism are forcing into prominence. The issues in
volved in some of these subjects might soon bring
about great political and economic catacysm.
In seeking TO establish basis of legislation, the
Government may not only avoid an impending
disaster of tho sort indicated but between now
and the general election may possibly have an
opportunity of framing labor platform for the
constituencies
Up to the present moment the Commission has
not been constituted. Much interest prevails as 10
who will be selected 1t is doubtful whether
the Prince of Wales will undertake the chairman
ship, for the work will be heavy and the Com
mission will be required TO make every possible
speed 10 complete its labors 1t may even be
necessary 10 appoint sub-commssions TO deal with
particular branches of some of the questions under
review Two names mentioned probable Com
missioners already meet severe criticism. One Is
that of Mr.. John Burns, whose fasco in the Scotch
railway strikes has increased his unpopuarity. cX-
cept among tie few who do not regard him as a
mere claptrap demagogue. The other is Cardinal
Manning, whose interference in the last dock
strike made him much distrusted by capitalists,
and whose more recent publications have shown
him willing 10 swallow any Socialistic propaganda
for the sake of securing prominence for his Church.
Workingmen like MIR. benjamin Iillet and Mr..
Thomas Mann will he more acceptable than Mr.
Burns and. as to ecclesiastcs the general feeling
is that they would better adhere TO their proper
sphere. The work of the cllairmanship of this
Commission will most probably be intrus'ed to
Lord Derby The other likely members are Lord
Randolph Churchill. Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. Joha
Morley, Sir William Harcourt Mr. Burt and sew
eral bankers and employers of labor
Lord Randolph CHURCHILL and Mr.. Chamberlain,
-
Commission before they delivered their speeches
last Saturday Lord Randolph anticipated the
Ministerial project by suggesting the establish
ment of State Boards of Arbitration. This Will
possibly be one of the subjects which the Com
mission will discuss The appointment OF this
Commission has not interlered with the labors
of the Parliamentary Committee just nominated
TO inquire into the hours Of labor of railway SER
wants.
The hostile sections of the Irish party have
now fairly joined issue. This week witnessed
struggles of the true Irish type at Carric, where
the backthorns of the Parnellites secured We
tory over the Healyites. Mr. IIealy now COM
plains that his friends were not sufficiently pro-
tected by the police. At Roscommon Mr. Parnell
declared his readiness to head his countrymcn in
any venture which might be necessary outside of
the constitution. He repudiated all interference
by England with the Irish Parliament dshclicved
the English settlement of the land question, and
demanded that the police should at once be
civilianized. His speech TO the Gaelic Association
is interpreted as an encouragement TO the Parnell
ties in English constituencies to support the Tory
candidates in preference 10 the Gadsonians. At
Galway: and Newry the Bishops have launched
their ecclesiastical thunder against him, and Arch
bishop Croke has once more denied that the Irish
hierarchy boycotted Mr.. Parnel in order TO please
Mr.. Gladstone
The Anti-Parnel.itcs contented themselves by
a formal and emphatic denial of the current story
that they have received any financial assistance
from Radical members. They are awaiting the
appearance of their new daily newspaper. and are
demanding in vain an explanation of Mr.. Parnell's
expenditure of the $4,000 lately allocated to him
out of the French deposit account. The squabblcs
Of the two factions respecting the Irish funds
are seid to have caused 50 much annoyance To
the house of Munro, il is currently reported. that
the bankers will throw the whole account into the
English Court of Chancery, and let the rival
claimants fight out the dispute before the British
judges.
The Anti-Parnellites found some dinicu,tv in
nhfainin.r cI.i. ..bl dolo