The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
War ON THE BRITISHPEERS
Liberals Crying For the Abolition Of
The House Of Lords.

The Opposition of the Upper House to
the Measures of the Gladstonians
Apt to Precipitate the Long Threat
ened oampaign-aladstone Alone
Opposed to the Reform-India's Sill
yer Panic Government Machinery
Plans Stolen.
Copyright, 1894, by the United Press)
London, Feb. 10-There are many signs
that the country is on the eve of grave
legislative crisis. The question of abol-
ishing the House of Lords has become
acute, and it now depends upon the ac-
tion of the cabinet meeting to be hold on
Tuesday, whether or not the continuance
of the upper house shall be discussed in
the first plank Of the national liberal fed
eration's platform. Premier Gladstone
is unwilling to lead campaign against
the peers, yet he may be forced to it by
cabinet action of the ministers insisting
on the necessity of the issue. There is no
doubt that in the cabinet many favor
heroic methods Of dealing with the lords.
FIERY SPEECHES.
Campbell secretary OF
state for war said in a speech last even
ing at New Castle, that the question was
whether a free self-governing community,
or body of irresponsible hereditary
peers, ought to prevail
Prof, Bryce, chancellor of the Dutchy
of Lancaster, said to a liberal meeting in
Liverpool, "If the House of Lords will
force the conflict, we must clear away
the bar on which so many vessels
freighted with useful legislation have
been wrecked" "
Sir Charles Russell, attorney general,
declared in addressing the liberals of
Wisbeach, The question now is whether
the lords, sitting by accident of birth,
can be allowed to mangle an act passed
by the chosen representatives Of the
people"
TO BECOME THE LEADING ISSUE.
These extracts from the speeches Of
most conspicuous liberals show which
way the wind blows. Instead of home
rule, the abolition of the House of Lords
is taking first place among the questions
OF the day. The peers themselves, Judging
from their unusually industrious attend
ance of parliamentary sittings, seem to
have the consciousness that their situa-
tion is precarious. On all votes
they now turn out 200 strong
against the government. A programme
that finds much favor among the radicals
refuse to accept the amendments of the
peers to the Parish councils and employ
ers liability bills, and introduce bill to
reform the upper house by abolishing the
system OF hereditary legislators
GLADSTONE A DIssERTER.
On the strength of this action, the rad
icals say, the cabinet should then appeal
to the country. One obstacle to this
course is Mr.. Gladstone's invincible at
tachment to the hereditary upper house /;
another is the premier's strong desire to
see the home rule issue kept in the fore
ground Of liberal organization. Despite
his influence, however, the time is ripen-
ing for the abolition of the upper house
in its present form. II the wire-pullers
of the national liberal legislation have q
free hand the agitation against the peers
will become the leading question of the
hour.
The House of Commons will resume
work on Monday and the cabinet will
meet on Tuesday. About Feb % parlia-
ment will be prorogued, but will reassem-
BILE within a week to hear-in the queen s
speech-hOw the government is to settle
with the lords
The Hyde park demonstration against
the lords bids fair to be the largest polit-
ical gathering ever seen in London. All
the trades councils in the country will
send delegates. IL is estimated that more
than 500, 900 persons will march from the
Thames embankment to the houses of
parliament and through the park TO hear
the speeches.
IEDIA'S SILVER CRISIS.
The silver crisis in India is the princi-
pal topic in the city. The fall of the
metal to fraction below 30 pence per
ounce means that silver is now 80 per
cent. under its currency value in the col
onial empire. Thus a crown piece re-
quires only half a crowns worth of metal
in its coinage, The India government are
at their wits ends to devise a way of
meeting the crisis. The Anglo-Indian
banks dread the developments OF the
immediate future. The Statist says: "In-
dian importing houses are in difficulties.
THE fail of the rupee paper compels
very large sales. Although for q gener-
alton India has enjoyed immunity from
the panlcs which gold countries have suf-
fered from time to time, there now comes
rumors of a collapse. The Indian council
ought to announce immediat tely that bills
will not be pressed upon the market as
well as reverse the whole policy OF stop
ping the mintage of silver"
MACHINERY PLANS STOLEN.
The admiralty lords have been thrown
IN 10 STATE OF CONSERVATION Dy JDG tleIL
Of the machinery plans of the new tor
pedo destroyers Of the havock type. The
government ordered O feet of forty-two
havocks and sent the plans to a private
firm on the Clyde. The papers were
stolen en- route. Two postal officials,
who must have handled them, have dis
appeared.
THE yALKYRIE NOT COMING OVER.
This weeks Field says American
yachtsmen will be disappointed to hear
that the Valkyrie will not race in Ameri-
can waters next season. 1t was expected
that the Vigilant and Colonia would be
fitted out 10 meet the Valkyrie, but it has
been definitely decided that neither will
race with her. 1t would be very interest
ing to see the Americas cup races over
again, the Valkyrie having more canvas,
but Lord Dunraven is right in not
wishing TO sail his yacht against inferior
craft"
Summons were sent TO the cabinet min
isters to-day at Mr.. Gladstone's direction
for a council on Monday, at which bust
ness Of an important nature is 10 be con-
idered.