The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19
Troops Ire Being Prepared for Duty in
the TraDSVaal and The SOudan.
INVESTIGATING THE IRISH LAND BILL,
The Egyptian Capitalists Oppose the ac-
tion of the French Syndicate OF Their
Bondholders, and Are Not Favor
able to Payment of Expenses.

president OF the Local CofetNihe"e H"-'N'
providing for a reduction OF the rates
on agricultural land. Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, Chancellor Of the Exchequer il
his budget speech Thursday evening"
avoided making a statement as to the
full extent Of the landlord class legis-
| lation that the Government Will support
II was proposed. Sir Michael said, 10
| devote the estimated budget surplus OF
!. .7Os. 900 pounds TO the reduction Of the
maximum rate on land from four shiii-
| ings in the pound 10 one shilling. Large
as is this sum, Mr.. Chaplin's measure Will
move a far greater AMOUNT The bill
proposes TO reduce tho whole rating one
half. making the yearly total contributed
by the general Taxpayer for the relief
of the landlords about $500 pounds
Al analysis Of the Chancellor OF the
Exchequer's proposals dscloses some
curious features.
Under the scheme Of land relief the
English farmer, or landlord, viii get
about double the remission in taxes on a
farm Of the same value as the irish
farmer Landlords who have redeemed
their land fax under the belief that the
tax would he perpetual are not considered.
As most Of the railway companies have
members OF the House OF Commons who
represent the railways Will be certain
10 raise an outcry against the present
proposals.
No session that has been held prior TO
the passage OF the reform bill In lS32 has
been 50 perfectly gratifying 10 the crav-
ings of the Tories for class tobbers, Sec
tartan education. and war eHcitements.
TROOPS FOR THE TRANsVAAL.
The statement made yesterday in the
House by the Right Hon. Joseph Chant
berlain, Secretary OF State for the Coo
nies. that the Government had detsded
to Immediately replace the troops who
were going into the interior OF Africa
from Cape Town, by a battalion or ~
fantry and a body Of mounted men, only
slIirted the truth. a much greater
movement OF troops has been decided
upon than was Indicated in the State
ment Of the Colonial Secretary. At a
conference held Thursday between the
Marquis Of Lansdown, Secretary of State
for War: Mr. Chamberlain, Commander
of Chief Lord Wolseley, and General
Sir Redvers Butler, It was arranged 10
gradually pour English troops into Cape
Colony and Natal.
This measure is taken in direct oppo-
sition 10 Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor
Of Cape Colony, and British High Com
mission in South Africa. who has ad-
vised the Government that the reinforce
ment Of the British troops now in South
Africa will excite the Beers and hinder
the prospect OF peace with the Transvaal.
Governor Robinson states that PRESIDENT
Kruger has sent a communication 10
him declaring that the negotiations be-
tween the Transvaal and Great Britain
will be hopeless If the troops are sent TO
Cape Colony.
The Globe and other Unlonist papers
and also many Liberal organs, protest
that the Government ought not 10 show
timidity before the Beers and submit
while the Transvaal IS arming itself TO
he teeth, TO keep Great Britain FORCES
on a mere police level. The Globe sug-
gests the dismissal OF Governor Robin
son for being too subsorvient TO the
Government OF the Transvaal. and i'm this
il certainly voices conservative feeling.
President Kruger has sent JOnkshcrr
Won Berschorten, a State official, 10 Eng
land on a mission connected with the
charges that the Transvaal has violated
a provision Of the convention Of 1854, for
bidding the Transvaal 10 grant prcferen-
tial rates To any power against the British
imports.
President Kruger, as was pointed out In
this correspondence some time ago,
lodges this provision by allowing large
rebate in the duties collected on goods
imported from Germany by lowering tAe
railway rates on shipments for the Trans
vaal by way OF DelagOa Bay. which Is the
route followed by German goods and 10y
other methods, all of which result in bene-
tit 10 imports from Germany ana az
fects Br ish trade with the Transvaal.
The United Press is in a position TO
state on the authority Of high Official
that relations between Russia and Great
Britain concerning Corea are satisiac-
tory. Lord Salisbury has received as
surances that Russia does not aim 10 in
terfere in that country.
THE IRISH LAND BILL.
Experts in Irish land legislation are ex-
ploring the mazes OF the text Of the Irish
land BILL which was issued to the men,
bers OF the House OF Commons yester-
day. They find it difficult to agree on
conclusions as TO how the measure Will
operate. The Chief Secretary for Ire
land, Mr.. Gerald Balfour, in introducing
the bin last Monday. left the House in a
state Of puzzling perplexity.
His style OF exposition did not assist
in eucidating the intricate subject. Ex-
perienced gallery reporters concur in the
opinion that Mr.. Balfour's speech was
the most complicated and technical one
ever delivered in Parliament. He hurried
unintelligibly through d mass OF details,
rapidly reading parts of the speech that
had obviously been prepared for him,
which he did not understand himself.
Mr.. John Dillon, the leader Of the anti
Parnellites, who understands the Irish
land question probably better than any
other member said IN the lobby that he
had listened TO the most intricate and
difficult OF all the speeches he had ever
heard in connection with land affairs.
The text of the bill shows that the
measure is divided into six parts and
forty-four clauses, Of which the matter
of purchase occupies seventeen clauses.
covering eleven pages. Until the hin is
fully scrutinized nothing definite can be
said as to the attitude towards il Of the
Irish leaders. In the meantime they are
inclined TO approve the proposals affect
ing tenants under the law when tenants
buy land: the State advanced the money,
the tenants paying 1 per cent. interest
thereon through a period OF forty nine
years.
Under the new bill they will pay per
cent. on the fun floO Tor the arst ten
years, FOR the next ten years the same
rate on fs6. for the next ten years On
ia. the sum on which interest Is TO be
paid lessening with each decade until the
fun amount OF principal advanced is paid
off.
The anti-Parnel.ites are convinced that
the Government does not intend 10 pass
the bill at this session, and they will
therefore not obstruct its second reading.