The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-12
LAWMAKING BEGUN AT LONDON
TIRE WORK SET IN MOTION ny THE
QUEENS SPk-CH.

.
The Prospect OF Settlement of the
Venezuelan Dispute Welcomed.
The Reference to the Situation In
Turkey Brief and Nom COmmIttal
in Character.
London, Feb. 1.-THE regular. session of
parliament opened to-day. The speaker,
Right Hon. William Harcourt Gully, pre-
sided over the House of Commons. At 2
o'clock the royal commission entered the
House of Lords and at that hour the
House of Commons was summoned. The
members of the House of Commons, head
ed by the speaker. at once proceeded to the
House Of Lords and after they had assem-
bled at the bar of the House the speech
from the throne was read by Lord High
! Chancellor Lord Salisbury, after which
the members of the House of Commons re-
turned to their chamber.
Following is the text of the queens
speech:
My Lords and Gentlemen:-I continue
to receive from other powers assurances
of friendly sentiments.
'An agreement has been concluded be-
| tween my government and France, the
principal object of which is to secure the
establishment of the independence of
| Siam.
THE commissioners for the delimita-
ton of the frontier which separates my
Indian empire and Afghanistan from Rus
| sia have agreed upon line, which has
been accepted by myself and the en-
| peror of Russia.
THE government of the United States
| has expressed a wish to cooperate in the
termination of differences which have
existed many years between my govern
ment and the republic of Venezuela upon
| the question of the boundary between
| that country and the colony of British
! Guiana. have expressed my sympathy
/ with the desire TO come to an equitable
| arrangement and trust that further nG-
/ gotiations Will lead to satisfactory re-
| suit
The Sultan of Turkey has sanctioned the
| principal reforms in the government of the
| Armenian provinces which, jointly with
the emperor Of Russia, and the president
/ OF the French republic, have felt it TO be
my duty to press. ] deeply regret the fam
atical outbreak ON the part OF a section of
/ the Turkish population which has result
/ ed in a series of massacres which have
caused the deepest Indignation in this
"a sudden ineursion into the South At
rican republic by an armed force from
| the territory under the control of the Brit
| ish South Africa Company resulted I'm
| deplorable collision with the burgher
/ forces. My ministers, at the earliest possi-
/ IT,,
hostile action and to warn all my subjects
/ in South Africa against taking part in it.
1.-The origin and circumstances of these
| proceedings will be made the subject OF
s'The President Of the South African re-
| public, acting in this matter with moder-
| alton and wisdom, has agreed to place the
| prisoners in the hands OF my government,
| and have undertaken to bring TO trial the
| leaders of the expedition.
| THE conduct of the president or the
| African
/ and the assurances which he has Volun-
| tarily given, lead ma to believe that ne
| recognizes the Importance of redreSslng
| the legitimate grievances Of which COM
| plant has been made by a majority OF the
| persons inhabiting the Transvaal.
"The conditions of affairs in Ashantee
| and the violation by the king, at Kumasi,
| of the provisions of the treaty OF 1874, as
regarded the suppression OF the practee
| of offering human sacrifices, the freedom
| of trade and the maintenance OF commune
| cation, have for some years engaged the
serious attention of my government. All
| endeavors to induce the king to observe
| his engagements proved fruitless, and 1t
| became necessary to send an armed ex-
petition to Kumasi to enforce the condt-
tions of the treaty. While rejoice to an
nounce that the objects of the expedition
have been achieved without bloodshed, l
have to deplore the loss, from the severi-
ties of the climate, of some valuable lives,
including that of my beloved son-in-law,
Prince Henry of Battenberg, who volun-
| teered his services. ] and my dear daugh-
| ter are greatly lOucned anu cOInIOTIGu Dy
| the widespread sympathy which has been
| shown by my subjects throughout the
| empire home and abroad.
Il trust that the establishment of ef-
| ffcient British control at Kumasi will put
a stop to the barbarous customs which
have hitherto prevailed, and have the eff
feet of preventing inter-tribal conflicts,
and also. tend to benefit the people and
| the interests of peace and commerce.
ION the northwestern frontier of India
the measures, which were taken in 1895,
control
been successful
"Gentlemen Of the House of Commons:
have directed the estimates for the SER
vice for the year to be laid before yod
They have been prepared with the ut
most regard for economy but the exig-
| encies Of the times require an increased
expenditure
my lords and gentlemen: The extern
sion and Improvement of the naval de-
fenses of the empire is the most import
ant subject to which your efforts can be
directed and viii doubtless occupy your
most earnest attention.
Il regret to say that the condition of
agriculture is disastrous beyond recent
experience. Measures will be laid before
you with the object Of mitigating the dis
tress of the classes engaged in that in
dustry. Measures will also be submitted
to you for the creation of voluntary
schools, for the regulation of alien pauper
immigration and for the construction of
light railways for the rural districts. You
will also be asked to consider the en-
ployers' limited liability BILL an Irish land
bill and a measure for the formation OF
an Irish board of agriculture.
II commend these weighty matters TO
your experienced judgment and pray that
your labors may be blessed by the guild
ance and favor Of Almighty God"
The House of Commons after listening to
the queens speech in the House Of Lords.
resumed its sitting at O'Clock, the usual
hour of assembling, except on Wednes-
days, when the House meets at noon
The Right Hon. Joseph Cham berlain, sec
retary of state for the colonies, entered
the House shortly after it had been called
to order. and was vociferously cheered.
The Right Hon. George J. Goschen, first
lord of the admiralty, announced that on
Feb 13 the government would introduce a
bill providing for the construction of
works for naval purposes. The announce
ment was received with cheers from all
sections of the House.
George J. Goschen, Jr., son of Right
Hon. Joseph Goschen first lord of the adj
miralty, and member for the East Grim
stead division of Sussex, moved the adj
dress in reply to the speech from the
throne, and the motion was seconded by
Sir Herbert F. Maxwell, member for Wig
townshire.
Sir William Harcourt, chancellor Of the
exchequer in the late ministry, and leader