The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-08-02
IN THE QUEENS DOM|N|ONS
Parliament Session Drawing IN
Close
MUCH BUSINESS ON HAND
Some OF Which Will Not Be Dis.
posed of
proposed Jubilee Upon the Completion .
Sixty Years Of victoria's Reign.
Politics and Gossip
Annotated Press Special Wira.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, Aug. 1.-(Copyright, 1857
The first Saturday sitting Of the house
OF commons heralds the close of the ses-
sion, and it is expected that parliament
will be prorogued on Saturday, August
5th. The amount Of work which Hon.
A. j. Balfour, the government leader in
the house, proposes to dispose Of during
the coming fortnight is immense, and it
Is very doubtful whether the catalogue
of bills can be pushed through.
The commons did brisk work during
the past week. but there are some meas
ures still pending which are looked upon
as certain to meet with considerable
opposition.
A measure dealing with the automotor
cars passed its committee stage on
Thursday and is expected to become a
law during the present session. It per-
mits automotors to run on English high
ways at speed not exceeding fourteen
miles an hour.
The house of lords burned midnight oil
last evening before the Irish land bill
passed its second reading by that body.
The marquis of Londonderry, the earl
Of Winchelsea and the duke of Abercorn
were the leading spokesmen for land
lordism, and their structures promise
amendments in committee which are |
likely to cause some trouble when tho
measure Is returned to the house of
commons.
The Chronicle says: Unless the gov
ernment has given categorical. pledges
fo Tric6 i,, fo,
what is to save them from a great be-
trayal? If the landlord majority in the
cabinet refuses to allow Mr.. Balfour to
destroy the lords landlord amendments
the Irish will be caught in cleft stick.
and will be too late to defeat the bill.
A single night must finish the debate
and the government forces will joyfully
unite to give the landlords their tri-
umph.'
A big assembly Of noble DANES lis
tened to yesterdays debate in the house
of lords, including the marchioness Of
Salisbury and the duchesses of Cadogan-
Mayo. Londonderry and Ribb1esdale.
The Marquis Of Salisbury displayed his
personal interest in the Irish measure
! by slumbering heavily. while Lord
x.
Once the premier's head inclined to rest
| on the duke of Devonshire's shoulder,
and the latter hastily rose and strolled
| to the bar of the house until the mar
quis woke.
Though Lord Bray's suggestion to
make September 23d a bank holiday, in
order to celebrate the fact that Queen
Victorias reign will then have lasted
longer than that Of any other English
sovereign. has been declared by the Mar
quis of Salisbury to be inconvenient and
impracticable this year, it Is generally
understood that the accomplishment of
the sixty years. reign next year will be
the occasion Of a national celebration
similar to the jubilee.
The government has decided that the
parliamentary committee which will
inquire into the administration Of the
British South Africa company and the
circumstances attending the raid into
the Transvaal is to be composed ofeight
Unionists, four Liberals, and an Irish
Nationalist; and it is alleged. in spite
| of denials. that the secretary Of state for
the colonies. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
will eventually consent to preside over
government, after vain resistance, has
| consented that Henry Labouchere shall
sit in the committee. His presence In
sures the fullest light being thrown upon
the origin of the raid. Sir William Yer
non Harcourt, the Liberal leader in the
| house of commons will also be men,
| ber. No decision has as yet been an
| nounced regarding the action to be
taken against Mr.. Cecil Rhodes. If he
| is tried he will be the first privy coun-
cillor who has been criminally prose-
| cuted since 1906, when Lord Melville was
| tried on the charge Of malversation Of
| public funds.
The news from Rhodesia is far from
rosy. Sir Frederick Carrington's forces
| seem capable Of little more than holding
| their own. In fact, some Of the recent
| fights look very much like reverses. The
insurgent natives have profited by the
| defeats inflicted upon them, and they
| now decline to rush into the open ana
| provide food for the Maxim rapid FIR.
ing guns, which during recent encoun-
| ters have been almost useless.
An official dispatch received s-cstc-l lcy
from Rhodesia stated that Capt White,
with 250 men, a FOUNDER and two
Maxims, had gone to the relief of Hartley
laager, and the latest news from the
column was that Capt. White had taken
up position on the top of Kopje, which
he was defending, and asked for food
and ammunition. Thus it appears that
this strong force Is only able to hold its
own, owing to the altered tactics Of the
enemy. Capt. Frederick Darlington ad-
mits that he needs more troops. but 10
unable to feed or transport them, owing
to the prevalence of the rinderpest. The
latest kilograms from Rhodesia report
increasing numbers Of cases of treachery
among the friendlies, who are supplying
the insurgents with cartridges and food.
The authorities have abandoned the
idea Of driving the insurgents out of Ma
toppo hills, and have decided, instead. to
build chain Of forts around them and
| starve the enemy. Twenty forts have
| already been commenced. These will
| be maintained after the revolt Is quelled.
] as a refuge for settlers In the event q