Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-06
THE QUEENS SPEECH Read Before the Joint Houses of
 Parliament.
HER FOREIGN RELATIONS
Of a Satisfactory Nature-Re- gretS the War in the East.
 Needed Legislation.

LONDON, Feb. 5.-Parliament reassem- bled today with customary ceremonies. The session was opened at 2 o'clock this afternoon by reading the queen sspeech from the throne. There was fair attend ance of members of the house of commons, but few mem bers of the upper house were present. In her tp.ech from the throne the queen said:
 My LORDS AND GEETLEMEN: My reia- tions with foreign powers remain friendly and upon satisfactory footing. An agree ment has been concluded, after proiracted negotiations between my government and the French republic, for a settlement of the frontier between the colony of Sierra Leone and the neigb boring French possessions.
 1 regret 10 say that the war between Chiaa and Japan continues. l have main- tained close and cordial understanding 2 with the powers interested in those regions and shall lose no favorable opportunity of promoting the peaceful termination of the contest.
 reached my government of excesses com- miited by Turkish troops, regular and ir- regular, upon the ArmeniaDs In district of Asia Minor, 1 have thought it right, in conjunction with other powers, to make feprese D tations to the porte. The sultan
  any 0 his officers or soldiers who are found guilty of such acts, and has sent com mission to conduct the investigation on the spot. Delegations from the powers which have consuls at Eizerum accom- panied the commission.
 Gen ntlemen of the house of commons, estimates for the year will be laid before you without delay.
 My lords and gentlemen, I am happy to observe the striking fact that in Ireland offenses of all kinds against the law sunk during the past year to the lowest level which has hitherto been marke in the off : cial records. Proposals will be submitted to you for remedying the defect which ex- perience has brought to light in the work . ing Of the law governing the landlords and tenants in Ireland, and for dealing with the cases of certain evicted tenants, whose situation still constitutes peril to society. A bill will be presented dealing with church disestablishment in Wales, and bills will also be laid before you having for their object popular control of the liquor traffic, abolition of the system of plural voting and provision for the payment of charges of returning officers of election. The commission issued in 1893 10 report as to the best means for unifying the gov ernment of the metropolis has presented it's report, and bill will be laid before you founded upon it's recon mendations.
 regret that sgricuitnre continues to be in seriously depressed condition. This subject Is still under consideration of the commission appointed in the autumn of 1898.
 In the meantime the proposal will be submitted to you for facilitating the con- structon of light railways, measure which 1 trust will be be beneficial to the rural districts.
 Bills will also be presen ted to you for the promotion of means of cancellation la the irades' disputes and amending the factory acts, and you will also be asked to consider measures for the completion of the system of county government in Scotland and fur ther legislation in respect to the crofter population in that country.
 pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon you in your arduous and re- sponsible labors.