The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-14
Lord Ro,ebery's Programme.

The Intentions OF the Cabinet presided
over by Lord RosEBERY may now be
gathered from the Queens speech, from
the address made by the Prime Minister to
his colleagues at the Foreign Office. and
from the speeches subsequently delivered
In the Houses OF Parliament. 1t Is evident
that no pains will be spared to please
the English. Welsh. and Scotch con-
stituents Of the Liberal party; but. while an
attempt will be made In certain directions
to satisfy the Irish Sationalists. Lord ROSE
BERY's reference to home rule Is open To
construction which may Justly excite alarm.
The Queens speech apparently commits
the new Government to much larger appro-
priations for the navy than were originally
designed by Mr.. GLADSTONE before an agi-
tation on the subject was started by Lord
GEORGE HAMILTON. The construction OF
satisfactory budget seemed a task hard
enough four months ago. but the difficulty
will DO enhanced by the necessity OF pro-
viding for a considerable outlay on new
war ships. and Sir WILLIAM HARCoURT
cannot now avoid imposing burdens I'M
welcome to the taxpayer. Two other
measures, OF which Ministers have already
given notice. are likely to excite some dis
sension In the Liberal ranks. although they
will scarcely lead to any fatal rupture. We
refer to the bill to disestablish the Angli-
can Church in Wales and the bill granting
local control over the liquor traflic. Both
OF these held a conspicuous place In the
Newcastle programme, and to have de-
ferred them longer would have been to risk
the alienation Of the Welshmen and the
Prohibitlonists. Yet. among the Liberals,
there arc unquestionably men who disap-
prove OF the subsection OF the liquor traffic
to local option. and who shrink from Mt
lacking the Anglican Church in Wales. be-
lievinR IL to be an organic part rather than
a detachable outwork OF the Established
Church OF England. 1t is TO be presumed,
however. that votes have been counted,
and that the Ministers feel confident OF car
rying these two measures. although with
less than an average majority. A bill TO
dissstabllsh the Kirk OF Scotland was also
promised In the Queens speech. but no no.
tice OF 1t was given on Monday. and there
will scarcely be time for dealing with IL
during the present session.
The bill to equalize London poor rates, OF
which Mr.. SHAW; LEFEvRE gave notice. will
greatly strengthen the hold Of the Liberal
party upon the mass OF voters in the metro
politan district The existing arrange
ments for the care OF the poor in the me-
tropolis are egregiously unfair. Every
parish attends to its own poor. and the re-
suit Is that. in the parishes OF East London.
where the poor are concentrated heavy
burden is imposed upon the ratepayers.
who. being themselves men OF very mOder-
ate means. are i'll able 10 support il. On
the other hand. In the parishes OF Mayfair
and Belgravia there is a minimum Of pau
perism. and only triiing charge on that
account Is laid upon the ratepayers. al
though these are exceptionally opulent.
The reform embodied in the bill contem-
plates making all the poor In the metropol-
itan district a general charge upon all the
Tatepayers. Whether the bill providing
for the arbitration OF labor disputes. Of
which Mr.. MUSDELLA gave notice. will meet
with the approval OF the trade unions can
not be determined until the text OF the prof.
ect Is published. The trade unions will
insist upon employees having an equal rep
resentatiOn with employers on every board
OF arbitration. and even then il is doubtful
whether they will agree that submission TO
the awards shalLbe compulsory. The one
measure which. in principle. is certain 70 be
Zeslously supported by every member OF
the Liberal party is the Registration bill
introduced by Sir WILLIAM HARCoURT, al
though there may b some difference Of