Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-26
A SIX WEEKS REST Is What the House of Parliament
 Will Enjoy. THE QUEENS ADDRESS, In Which She Thanks tfe Two Houses for Their
 Able Work.
IE QUEENS ADDRESS,

rogued parliament today. In her speech closing the session, her majesty said:
 "NIY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN: It af- lords me sensible qualification to be able to dismiss you at the end of session which has been little less than prolonga- tion of the previous one, and it gives me pleasure to reflect that your labors, if they have been exhausting, have also been fruitful. am confident that you share in the joy with which 1 and my people have welcomed tbe birth of an heir in the third generation to my throne-an event not merely propitous, but unprecedented In the history of this country.
 ''My relations with foreign powers con- tinue to be peaceful and friendly. It is, however, matter of regre. that variety of questions relating to Africa between my government and that Of the French republic still remain unsettled. l. is my wish that these be arranged without unnecessary de- jay, and am engaged in friendly negotla- tions looking thereto.
 'sIn concert with the president of the United States have taken the steps neces- sary to put into effect the award of the tribunal of arbitration on the question of the seal fisheries in Behring sea, and have assented to an act of parliament for this purpose, similar to the act which has been passed by the congress of the United States.
 ''The governments ot the two countries are also in communication with the princi- pal foreign powers with view to obtain ing their adhesion to the regulations pre- scFibed by the award.
 'tI regret to state that war has broken out between the empires of China and Ja- pan. After endeavoring, in concert with Russia and other powers, to prevent the outbreak of hostilities, have taken steps to preserve strict neutrality between the contepding parties. l have concluded 8 treaty with the Emperor of Japan in the regulation of commercial intercourse be- tween that country and the United King dom.
 'tA con ference was held at Ottawa in June, at which represent tatives of the im- pefial government of the Dominion and of the Cape and Australasian colonies met to consider questions relating to inter colo nial tariffs and communications. have learned with satisfaction that the proceed ings of the conference were Of character calculated to strea gthen the union of colo nies concerned among themselves and with the mother country.
 z HGentiemen of the house of commons, 1 thank you for the liberal supplies wh sch you have provided for the require fnerlts of the public service, though I lament the necessity for increasing the burden of taxation. It had become in- dispensable for the security of my empire. l trust that the alteration which you have maQe 1n the .nScal. system ol IuP couubfy and which the greatest part of this session has been necessarily devoted to will have the effect of materially alleviatlng all that portion of the burden which falls upon the less wealthy classes of the population and may rebound to the contentment and prosperity of the nation at large.
 My lords and gentlemen, while the general tranquility of Ireland has been maintained in a remarkable degree, certain socia and administrative difficulties still exist. which continue to engage the earnest attention of my government.
 ''I have given my ready assent to the bills, which, despite the shortness of the session, you have been able to consider an d mature"
 Her majesty also said she trusted that the final settlement of the Anglo French ques- tion in Siam would not be long delayed. T She Tecounts the passage of the local government bill for Scotland and the euualized rates in London bills and of a n am Der of minor measures, and prays that blessings of Providence may rest upon the labors of parliament. At 2:4O o'clock the house of commons was summoned to the house of lords. Lord Herschell, the lord chancellor, read the queen's speech, after which parliament was formerly prorogued for six weeks.