The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-01
PARLIAMENT OPENED.
THE QUEENS SPEECH READ IN THE
HOUSE or LORDS.
She Hopes the Prevalence of Agricultural
Distress VIII he Inquired Into.
Other Questions.

upper house. where Baron Herschell
| Speaker of the House Of Lords and Lord
High Chancellor. read the speech. There
was brilliant throng OF ladies to wit
ness the opening ceremonies in the House
of Lords. Both houses adjourned until
4 o'clock this afternoon.
The following is the Queens speech
! My Lords and Gentlemen.-My friendly
and harmonious relations with all the
powers continue. Their declarations from
every quarter are favorable to the main
| tenance Of European peace.
In connection with approaching evacua-
tion Of Uganda by the British East
| Africa Company. / have deemed Il eX-
| pedient to authorize q commissioner of
experience and ability to examine on the
spot, with adequate provisions for his
| safety, into the best means OF dealing
with the country and to report to the
| Government.
| In view Of recent occurrences In Egypt
I have determined upon making a slight
augmentation In the number of British
| troops stationed I'm that country. This
measure does not indicate a change of
! policy or a modification OF the assur-
ances my Government has given from
time to time respecting the British oc-
cupation of Egypt. The Khedlve has de-
y
intention to follow henceforward the
established practice of previous consul
tation with my Government In political
affairs and his desire TO act in cordial
cooperation with IT,
In relation with both Egypt and Uganda
papers in continuation OF those hereto
fore presented will at once be laid before
you.
Gentlemen of the House cf Commons
the public service during the coming fis-
cal year have been framed, and will be
laid before you at an early day.
My Lords and Gentlemen,--I have OBJ
served with concern the wide prevalence
of agricultural distress IN many parts of
the country. 1t Is TO be Hoped that among
the causes of the present depression
some are of a temporary nature, but,
without doubt. you Will take this grave
matter into your consideration and make
1t the subject of careful inquiry. The
proclamations recently inforced, which
placed Ireland under exceptional provs-
ions of law, have been revoked, and |
have satisfaction in informing you that
the condition Of that country with re-
spect to agrarian crime continues to inn
prove.
A bill will be submitted 10 you on the
earliest available occasion 10 amend the
provisions for the government Of Ireland
This bill has been prepared with the de-
sire to afford contentment to the Irish
people, TO afford important relief TO Par
lament, and to furnish additional Sc
curlties for the strength and union Of the
empire.
Bills will be promptly laid before you
for the amendment Of the system Of reg
istration in Great Britain, for shorten
ing the duration Of Parliament and for
establishing equality in the franchise by
the limitation of elector 10 a single
vote
There will also be proposed to you va
rious bills bearing on the condition OF
labor. among which there will be meas
ures i'm relation to the liability of en-
ployers. the hours Of labor of railway
servants. and a bill to amend the law
of conspiracy. Your attention will like
wise be invited to measures for the
further Improvement Of local government,
including bills for the creation OF parish
councils, for an enlargement OF the pow
ers OF the London county council, for
the prevention OF the growth of new
vested interests in ecclesiastical estab-
lishments I'm Scotland and Wales, and to
establish direct local control Of the liquor
traffic with other measures Of public
utility.
/ humby commend your labors on these
and other subjects to the guidance Of the
Almighty.
When the House reassembled Mr. Glad
stone upon entering was vociferousiy
cheered. He took the oath as Minister,
and was followed by his colleagues. \.
T. Balfour, the Conservative leader. was
likewise cheered loudly by the Conserya-
tives and Liberal Unionists.
William Coddington Conservative
raised an objection to the action Of the
Government in having granted the Chill
tern Hundreds 10 JabeZ Spencer Balfour,
Liberal M. +. for Burnley, VINO is ac-
cused of frauds in connection with Lib
eral or building societies and other in
stitutions Mr. Coddington said that Bal
four had committed enough frauds, and |
should not have had such favor ex-
tended TO him.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, Chan |
cellor OF the Exchequer, replied that the |
office Of Stewardship OF the Chiltern |
Hundreds was a mere fiction, and the |
Government had neither the right nor the |
means to inquire into cases OF suspicion |
before granting IL.
writ was issued for an election In /
Burnley OF successor 10 j. s. BalfOur.
In the House OF Lords. Lord Brassey |
moved the adoption Of the address,. His /
motion was seconded by lord Thring |
Both mover and seconder spoke I'm gen. /
eral terms in support Of the G0vernm INT |
Lord Salisbury appeared in opposition. |
Touching upon the question OF Home Rule /
for Ireland, Lord Salisbury said that the |
one object OF the Government during the /
past six months had been to get the sup
port OF a class OF men who hitherto no
politician in England had beer able 10 |
conciliate, The keynote of the irish
policy Of the Government was TO get the
support OF the criminal class. The pro-
visions necessary 10 maintain the law had /
been repealed. Though agrarian crime
was not prevalent generally, yet I'm dis
tricts where II did prevail the hands OF /
the law were paralyzied. conservative
cheers) The prerogative Of the Crown
had been used to shield murderers and re-
lease dynamiters. All the acts Of the
Government caused the impression that
they were much more In sympathy with
criminals than desirous Of yindlcating the
law Cries OF Hear. hear') The refer
ence In the Queens speech 10 Home Rule
was the most peculiar sentence he had
ever seen In public document. IL seemed
TO indicate that the Governments opinion
OF the whole Irish question with which
Parliament had 10 deal, was that II was
right for one portion OF the Irish popula-
tion 10 place their heel on the neck OF
the Protestant population.
With regard TO the other measure in
dicated In the Queens speech Lord SAL
isbury declared that nobody believed that
they would be undertaken. They were
simply a repetition OF the programme
adopted by the Liberal conference at
New Castle.
When the Earl Of Kimberley, Lord
Draeitant Of fba rnnucH and 1