Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-19
BALF0UR A FAILURE.
Lack of Tact and Method Make Him
4 Poor Parliamentary Leader.
LIBERALS In A TOLERANT MOOD.
No Apprehensions in England Now Over the
Bering Sea Matter.
NEWS FROM THE FOREIGN CAPITALS


attempt in the House of Commons yester
day to extort from Nh. Balfour some infor
nation as to the period of the dissolution O.
Parliament, fzzled out, owing to lack o!
support, even his own set holding aloof
Mr.. Gladstone, before starting for Hawar.
den, had a conference with Sir William
Hareourt, Sir George Trevelyan and others
and brought them into accord with hi!
policy of not interfering with the progress
of Government business, on the ground that
it is tumbling to pieces with sufficient
rapidity, making the period of dissolution
matter of indifference
The warmest friends of Mr.. Balfour admit
that his leadership is disappointment. Nc
concerted form of obstruction has thwarted
business, yet the Government bills and
Votes for supply are in an unprecedented
position of muddle and delay Mr.. Balfour's
want of tact frequently irritates members
not under the full control of the Liberals
whips, and drives them into the opposition,
thus retarding progress
Ealfour's Strange Lack of Method.
An instance of this want of tact occurred
tonight Instead of allowing the House to
finish considering Scotch matter of minor
importance, and not likely to absorb time,
Mr.. Baliour moved that the estimates have
precedence The Irish and the Scotch
m embers coalesced in opposing the motion,
ard Sir William Harcourt seized the ad-
vantage 10 taunt Mr.. Balfour with throwing
the work of Parliament into confusion
chiefly through a want CT method in pre-
Senting the accounts
On three successive amendments copious
ualaver" occurred. and the Government
Stained maiorities of sc, 95 and IS re-
ectN ely; bur the night was wasted before
House got into Committee on Supply,
= which again there occurred division upon
Evis:on. During the debate Colonel
Solan scored in charging Mr.. Balfour with
pressing through the Irish vote last evening
ecaUse most Of the Irish members were alb
-, attending ST. Patrick's Day celebra-
ms, aad declining to proceed with Scotch
siness this evening because Scotch MEM
srs were present Mr.. Hunter de-
: red that the Government was giving the
1tcH and Irish a useful lesson in home
lie; that after promising special day for
cotch business. the Government simply
ped out the matter as Of no account.
Gladstone on the small Holdings Bill.
Mr. Gladstone will reappear in the House
Commons on the second reading of the
nall holdings bill. which is expected on
landav l. is regarded as proof of the
ouest desire Of the opposition not to im-
Isede the Government, that Liberal leaders
VIII nor divide the second reading of the
iii They will leave amendments until
q committee stage is reached, when they
viii try to get clauses inserted creating
uarish councils BY popular election and
c0nferriug Uron the councils compulsory
powers 10 acquire and sell land for small
holdings.
As affairs now go on, the disposal of the
Irish local government bill is not in sight.
The Cabinets final electoral stroke, the
labor bill, las been referred to ministerial
committee composed of Messrs. Balfour,
Matthews, Ritchie and Gorst. The Minis
tiers differed in regard to the introduction of
tie labor proposals before labor commission
reports. Electoral necessities compelled
decision TO promote the bill as the leading
plank of the party platform; but the Gov
ernment has no intention 10 try to pass the
bill
The State of the Sealing Question.
The question of renewal of the modus
vivendi in the Bering Sea matter has reached
al advanced stage during the week, Sir
Julian Pamcetote being charge to state the
character Of Lord Salisbury's reply to the
United States note on Wednesday. In
ministerial circles it is believed that Lord
Salisbury continues to contend that a re-
newal OF the mcduS vivendi under existing
conditions is unreasonable. Liberals are of
the opinion thai Lord Salisbury wants to
leave the Beriag Sea question in a state
that Wiz embarrass the coming Gladstone
Government The matter does not excite
much public interest, as nobody admits the
possibility OF the difficulty rlpenlng into
dangerous quarrel
4 certain section of the Radical press
ta-es curiouslv '.iingoish" view of the
matter. While assailing Lord Salisbury
iar mIsmanagement of the dispute, these
Papers denounce the claims of the United
States rs ''preposterous, impudent pre-
tensions, violating the elementary princi-
PIES OF international law" etc.
Ti-MctI.n m Growing in England.
The success OF the bi-netallist propaganda
las so encouraged the committee of the BIZ
Metallic League that the committee has
GeciGeG to raise the question of an interna-
tlonal conference by 4 debate in Parlia-
meut. Tie MANY adhesionS Of members of
the House Of Commons seem to justify the
movement.
The Irish Unionists have arranged to con-
test so seats in ireland. The chances of
their winning majority of these are remote,
but they aim to embarrass the Nationalists
The election fund of the latter is such that
1t cannot possibly stand the drain unless
assisted externally. The Liberal war chest
can be drawn upon, but the main reliance is
placed in sh-Americans. The National
lists are reluctant to take penny from the
Liberals, 2s their acceptance would place
them under obligations. 1t is estimated
that they will require $50, 600 to fight with
success.
Miners Lose by Their Vacation.
The leaders among the striking miners
privately admit that the strike is a failure.
The men have already lost in wages since
taey quit work g, 500, 600, and a further
loss is accruing to the Durham strikers,
whom their employers will lock out unless
they give their consent to a reduction of7%
per cent in wages. If the additional cost
to consumers by the increase in the price of
coal is added to the loss sustained by the
miners, it will be seen that gigantic sum
Of money, indeed, has been wasted 6nce the
struggle began.
The sole persons profiting by the contest
are the middlemen and owners. who have
Geen unloading their stocks of coal during
.hp manic which was concerted for the pur-
nose cf causing rise in the prices of the
,annodity The employers in Durham are
willing 10 refer the matters in dispute to
arbitration. The men are still turbulent
however, and are more disposed to root
than to arbitrate.
Won Caprivi's intention to resign is be-
coming more decided. He represented to
the Emperor that he must identify himself
with Count Won Zedlitz, whose views he
personaIlv shared. In the event of the
chancellor resigning, 1T will be difficult 10
.,iticiuatc his successor or a possible COM