The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-21
MOTION WAS ADOPTED
10 DIsCHAEGE CONsTDERiTfON or
1HE AMENDMLNTs
To Empioyers' Liability Bil'-br. Sia"-
stone Says That oikipgn"n are Al
most Sol ~ Interested.

LONDON, Feb. 2O.-ShortIy after the
formal opening OF the House Of Commons
to-day MIR. Gladstone arose and moved
the discharge OF the order Of the day,
which was the consideration OF the ameAu-
ments that had been passed by the House
Of Lords 10 the employers liability biii.
MIR Giadstones motion was greeted with
loud cheers by the supporters Of the Gov
eminent
Mr. Gladstone said he deeply regretted
70 have 10 make such a motion, and that
the Government had been obliged 20 make
50 many similar motions, since tney
showed that there was a iamentabic de-
gree of divergence between the two
branches OF the legislature. The Govern
ment. however. must confront the facts
before them. acting in conformity with
what they believed 70 be the best Interests
Of the people and the dignity OF th posi-
ton of the House OF Commons. 0up-
stantially. the difference between fhe Two
houses on the employers liability bill was
the question OF contracting out of inc
provision Of the act There was a sooA
maxim that "haif a loaf WAS better thah
no bread" If they We're dealing with
bin in parts which were completely sepa-
rated. and there was a question Whether
they could accept a limited bill, oueflhs
whole Of our Iabors absolutely wrecked
the position might be different.
Bup this is not case OF that descrlp-
tion. In our view the chief amendment
made by the House of Lords cannot De
considered apart from the general work
ing OF the whole frame OF the bill.
Mr. Gladstone added: Using a strong
phrase 20 make my meaning clear, II
tends to poison the working or the pll
and 10 seriously compromise the position
OF working people in the face OF their
employers. Therefore. | hope this amend
ment will be rejected by a decisive
majority" At this point Mr. Gladstone
was interrupted by cheers from the
members on the Government benches.
Directly for the workingmen.
Continuing, he said: "The workingmen
| are directly, almost exclusively interest
| ed I'm the bill What are their sentiments
concerning the amendment? The oppo-
stion says that the workingmen are
divided on the subject.
"The existing relations between some
workmen and the trades insurance funds
| have been used as an argument by
| which the contracting out principle should
be allowed TO vitate the whole bill.
| These workmen have been told, for in
| stance. that the great railway companies
! will stop subscribing 10 the insurance
| fund If contracting out should be prohibit
| ed"
The Government has received assur-
ances from the official representatives OF
every workingmans organization that
they did not dread such a result Their
dominant fear rather was that the bill
would be nullihed by allowing contract
ing out Mr.. Gladstone went over the
oft-repeated arguments on the necessity
Of retaining the bin in its integrity. and
| concluded by asking the House OF Conn
| mons not 10 waste time on prolonged re-
dcbatins on the subject.
Mr. Bnlfour's Argument.
AIr. A. j. Balfour. the Conservative
leader I'm the House, held that the bill
| contained many valuable reforms, quite
| independent Of the contracting out clause.
| II the Government believed i'm these, why,
h asked did IL desire TO throw them
overheard altogether.
n the Government was going to commit
infanticide with the bill, he did not mean
in any way 10 resist it. Cheers from
the Conservatiyes) But he added. do
not let the Government go afterward 10
the country, saying what a beautiful
bill the opposition destroyed DO not let
the Government praise the virtues Of its
|
Mr.. Gladstone had spoken about the
poisonous tant Of the bill. 1t was th'
faint Of the liberty. II it were poison
would take the poison OF free demand
The fact was the Government could mo-
think the bill spoiled but the Libera
party wanted a bone Of contention witt
the House Of Lords more than they wish
ed to see the position OF the workingmer
ameliorated. That was the choice befor'
the Liberals. They had chosen. IL would
rest now, not with the House Of Com
mons, but with the country 10 determine
prolonged cheering and counter cheering
whether on their own grounds they ha'
chosen wisely (Cheer)
Mr. Joseph Chamberlaine, the Unionis
leader. said that If the House of Com
mons was decided not to receive an,
amendments at all from the House o
Lords there would be always an oppor
tunity for collision If the Government 81
desired. The policy Of the Governmen
in the present instance was decidedly un
sound Mr.. Chamberlain declared tina
he was perfectly certain that the peopl
were not going TO rise In wrath agains
the upper house because IL reserved libef
" Of action TO l per cent Of the work
ngmen.
Mr. Gladstone's motion was adopted b
a vote Of 225 10 ..
tf-ct of the Debate.
The debate developed no surprises no
disappointments for any except thos
who rad given undue regard 20 the stat,
ment I'm the Daily Chronicle this morning
II that statement. which emanated frol
the Radical group Of the National Libef'
Club. had been verified. IT could safel
have been predicted that the Cabinet ha
resolved upon immediate dissolution
the House OF Commons. Mr.. Gladstone
known strong constitutional bias, how
ever. ought TO have kept him from III
suspicion OF springing upon the HoLs
a motion which implied the right Of III
! Commons 10 ignore the amendments
the House Of Lords.
Mr.. Gladstone followed fhc usual Dri
cedure i'm simply moving that the bill
| discharged.
Every part OF the House was Dacke'
and the spaces outside were crowde'
Although experienced members eXpecte
no departure from the regular procedui
OF business. Liberal interest was siiini
lated bv the hone Of an OratOrical deliver
ance from Mr.. Gladstone against ~
House OF Lords. The effect Of his shor
restrained speech, therefore, was falh'
chilling.
Mr.. Balfour on the contrary, lvened d
the House, especially when ia tcHchii
the real core Of the question ne accuse
the Government OF using this as "eap-
Of attack upon the peers.
gr,zilian io.urr~n's
Sir Ellis Ashmsad Bartlett asked u
Government whether. IN view Of the fa
tbat the Brazilian insurgents ha1 no
. n,afntained for five months "A succ' ssi
, ,tt.,s. - Rio JanelrO and had Occ