The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-08
CLOSURE THREATENED
TO BRING THE DEBATE ON THE
ADDRESS TO An END.
Mr.. Gladstone Tired OF Dilatory Motions.
Excitement Over supposed Loss OF
the Home Rule Bill.

LONDON, Feb I'm the House OF
Commons to-day Mr.. Gladstone said that
he voiced the feeling of all parties in
rising to propose that the debate on the
address should have precedence Of all
notices, motions and orders Of the day
until concluded
Timothy Healy rose and charged the
opposition with systematic obstruction.
0ronical cheers from the opposition).
Healy charged the member from East
Manchester CBalfour) in particular with
blocking Government measures by the
wholesale Never, said Healy, had the
leader of a party been guilty of meaner
forms of obstruction. That was usually
left TO the irregulars perhaps some irish
members. he would not say whom.
(Laughter).
Mr.. Gladstone asked the house TO assist
him in closing the debate on the address.
II it should not be finished tomorrow he
might propose to apply the closure. AZ
this there were loud cries Of "oh, oh!
from the opposition Col J. T. Nolan,
Parnellite. protested against the sugges-
tion Of a closure He said it would
crowd out the amnesty amendment which
the Parnellites proposed TO submit
w. L.. Mccartney Conservative. SAID
that a section Of the Irish members were
opposed 10 closure. as prohibiting the hs-
cussion Of questions affecting the Irish
executive Mr.. Gladstone's motion 10 give
precedence to the debate on the address
was then approved.
The amendment offered on Monday
evening by John w. Harlon expressing
regret that the Government had taken no
measures 10 relieve the agricultural dc
preston, was rejected by a vote Of G2
to 232.
Excitement was caused in the course
Of the day by the disappearance of the
Home Rule bill. Mr.. Gladstone had il in
his portfolio with other State papers
and had forgotten where he had deposited
il. After several hours search the port
folio was discovered in what had boon
assumed to be an empty dispatch box, put
| aside and disused in Mr.. Gladstone s
private room. There is still mystery
how the portfolio got there. The docd-
| ments seemed untouched.
Keir Hardie. Labor member for South
! Westham, moved an amendment tonight
| expressing regret that the address had not
mentioned the widespread misery among
| the workingnen Of Great Britain. The
| Government should take steps 70 alleviate
| the immediate distress by ordering thai
throughout their workshops the mini
mum wages be six pence an hour for a
week OF forty-eight hours, and that al
| Government contracts be given out II
| England.
The time was ripe also. for the regula
ton by law OF the hours Of railway EN-
pioyes. The Government, moreover
should establish home colonies on unused
| lands, where the unemployed could ilnC
! an opportunity TO earn their bread.
The House listened sympathetcally e
the speeches and showed interest onl,
when Heir Hardie warned the member
who might vote against the amendmen
that he would retaliate.
Howard Vincent. Conservative and fair
trader for Central Sheffield, supported tn
| amendment. He quoted statistics showing
/ the decline of British commerce, and de
| duced from them the necessity tor pro
tective tariff and reciprocity treaties.
Mr. Mundella, president Of the Boar
of Trade. taunted the opposition with tn
suddenness of their solicitude for tn
workingmen. When i'm power. he said
the Conservatives found no time 10 con
slider social problems. As to the RENE
dies for existing social evils. the gentle
men who had spoken on the amendmen
were far from an agreement
Keir Hardie had spoken strongl
against protection. while Howard YIN
cents speech was an eulogium Of Nc
Kinleyism.
After enumeratng the bills for working
men which the Government would intro
duce Mr. Mundella announced that IN
ministers would regard the vote on IN
amendment as a vote Of confidence. IN
amendment was lost by a vote OF go [
l09 The House then adjourned.
The result of the debate in the hous
this evening has been that ministers hav
decided to apply the closure on trlda
in case the address be still under dis
cussion at that time. Their purpose is I
clear the way for the introduction o
the Home Rule bill on next Monday