The evening times., 1896-12-19
PEACE ALL AROUND.

knows definitely what their program Is
to be.
PEACE ALL AROUND
The queen's speech at the opening Of the
session viii contain no surprises as regards
internal legislation, and unless the foreign
situation alters, will announce peace all
around with foreign powers.
First among the government bills are
those relating to education
Nr. Balfour, the government leader,
has taken out OF Sir John Gorst's hands
the main education bill dealing with the
relief OF voluntary schools
Mr.. John Gurst sulks and threatens to
resign, but the probability is that he win
remain in office and act as Mr.. BalfOur's s
second. There is no doubt about the ia
vorable reception OF the newly drafted
bill by the Catholics.
Cardinal Vaughan, prior to his illness,
and while the cabinet de bates on the meas
ure were proceeding, had three confer
ences with Mr.. Balfour The cardinal was
accompanied by the greatest OF Catholic
laymen-the Duke of Norfolk, who has
since declared his confidence in the gov
ernment proposals
The Duke OF Devonshire Will promote a
support of the government Though not
noninally government measure, its in
PRODUCTION justifies the use of the plural
in speaking OF government bills relating
to education.
Next in the speech from the throne VIII
be mentioned a measure dealing with pri-
vate-bil legislation. This may not look
to be much The title indicates little,
-,
designed to effect will be by stride to-
ward home rule all around
At present all private bills are settled
through party Committees sitting in the
house. They pass through several stages -
standing orders committees, Locus standi
committees and House OF Commons and
House of Lords committees The Par
Hamentary solicitor and the Parliamentary
bar reap fortunes, and the public interests
are correspondingiy fieeced.
MAKE BIG MONEY.
Some of the leaders of the Parliamentary
bar, the late Hope Scott. for instance, are
known to have CLEANED during the few
months that cases were before the com
mittees annually, over ego 900. Not in
frequently bills that cost poor burgh
community, asking, say, for water supply,
would be wrecked within sight OF passing,
and the burg h loaded with lasting burden
OF debt.
Although no specific charge of corrup-
ton can be levied against the ciiques SUBJ
sisting off that system, it was, and is, in
| itself a corruption.
Time and custom so halIows things in
England that what in America would be
| held to be a disgraceful instance OF the
radical weakhess of democratic insti-
| turions, is here acquiesccd in and becomes
| something too sacred to be touched.
The potent spell Of vested interests debars
| inquiry For long years Ireland and Scot
| land at all events the least prejudiced
| opinion in both countries. and in England
also, have demanded that local tribunals
| shall settle local bills
Mr.. Balfour has advised his colleagues
| in the abinet to introduce this measure
which is now under preparation by the
local government board. and will be a pre-
liminary to the greatest OF all measures
the present government can undertake,
the Irish local-government bill, inquiring
about the prospects of which. it is learned
that nothing will be heard oft for another
| session.
THE EDUCATION BILL.
The remaining measures agreed upon are:
A masters and workmeB's Cancellation bill,
| the employers limited liability .bill and
| amended habitual drunkards act, making
| confinement in certain cases compulsory,
| and some amendments in criminal proced-
| ures.
The government will pass their educa-
| ton bill this time, and the session, So far
as can be foreseen, will present nothing Of
| crisis.
The present tremendous outburst of spec
| ulation colncident with the splendid pros
| perity of England is shown in the fact that
never within a generation has SO many pri-
| vate bills been promoted.
| Mr. John Dillon, one of the Irish leaders,
\ will move an amendment to the address in
reply to the speech of the throne, calling
| attention to the report Of the financial
relations commission, showing that Ire
| land is oyerta xed annual y to the extent Of
42 800 900.
| Nothing will be dong with the matter
until the local government of Ireland bill
deals with the whole question, including a
redistribution of seats. 1t can safely be
predicted tedthereonthatthe governmentmeas.
|
members of Parliament.
The appointment of the colonial sugar
commission, universally recognized as al
attempt to shelve an awkward matter
naturally does not satisfy the West Indie,
committee.
Mr.. Neville Lubbock and the other mem
bers of the committee will enable the com
mission to get proof OF the destruction ol
the West Indies sugar industry, but MIR
Lubbock has small hope OF any good aris
ing to the Anglo Indian sugar industr,
through the commission.
The coming debate in Parliament vii
attack the bounty system under the au
thority of two great names. In 1885
when the bounty system was acute, Mr.
Gladstone said in Parliament:
| My desire is that the British consumer
should have sugar at the lowest price a
which it can be produced without arbitrar,