The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-26
BRITISH LAND TAXATION
THE AGRfCULTURfL RATES BILL
CAUSES A SERIOUS DETECTION.
Venezuelan Negotiations Delayed by Lord
salisbury's Health and Great
Pressure of Work.

| LONDON. April 25.-The Government
finds that the first serious detection in
| the ranks OF It's followers arises from
| the agricultural rates bill introduced q
| few days ago in the House Of Commons.
| which measure provides for radical
| change in the taxation on land. Besides
a number OF Liberal Uni0nists who have
| announced that they will not support tte
| bill, several Conservative members, who
! represent urban constituencies, are likely
TO vote with the opposition The Minis
terialists say that the secessions will not
exceed a dozen, but the Liberals expect
that on this bill the nominal Government
/ majority will be reduced by fully nifty
votes. The Irish Nationalist viii vote
soldly against the measure. All this,
| however, viii not prevent the Govern
ment from securing a majority when the
4 bill comes up on its second reading Mon
| day, Dut the opposition to the proposals
| viii compel the Government TO accept
amendments when the bill reaches the
! committee. This viii prove disappoint-
| ing TO the Tories who hoped TO have the
| bill pushed through In the form In whlch
| IL was originally introduced.
Sir Henry Hartley Fowler, Liberal, for
some time president OF the Local Gov
eminent Board, and also Secretary for
| India. will lead the opposition by offering
|
| an amendment which viii be tantamount
/ 70 the rejection Of the bill
Mr.. Whitley, a Conservative. gives no
! tice Of an amendment that he Will offer 10
the land bill. Mr.. Whitely's amendment
will declare that It is desirable, before
! giving permanent relief to one class OF
! property. 10 refer the whole question OF
rating to a royal commission.
Tho Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, presi-
dent of the Local Government Board,
| who introduced the measure, VIII try TO
| couuteract this amendment by the trans
parently insincere promise that the ques-
! ton of urban rating might be considered
in the future.
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Advces from Cape Colony are TO the
| effect that IL is the intention OF Mr.. Hof
meyer. the Afrikander leader, to make
a motion in the Legislature of Cape Col
ony approving an offensive and defensive
alliance between the Orange Free State
| and the TransvaaI. lie Will further de-
| mand the withdrawal of the charter OF the
British South Africa Company. The
prospects OF the British regime in South
| Africa are not Of the brightest.
Though Mr.. George y. Curzon, Par
liamontary Secretary OF the Foreign
Office. declared in the House OF Commons
Thursday that the negotiations concern
fact that a delay has occurred. The ca
BILE dispatches % the Times alleging that
they had been stopped altogether went
too far The Foreign Office denies that
il proposed q cessation Of the negotia-
tons. and attributes the delay 10 I'M
avoidable causes. which inquiries indicate
20 be Lord Salisbury's weakening health.
combined with a great pressure OF work.
The secession of the HealyiteS from
the anti-Parnellites has now become def
nitlvc. the party having Informed Mt
Healv and his friends that they can no
longer attend the meetings Of the fol-
lowers of Mr. Dillon, and that they are
at liberty TO take Independent action In
every way. There will now be three
Irish factions. each Of which viii move
separate amendments 20 MI Irish ques-
lions. There will be no reliable co-opera-
ton among Themselves or with their I'D
eral allies The discOrd Will assist the
Government I'm placing the Irish land
bill among the last OF the important
measures of the session, the result OF
which will be the postponement OF con-
sidoration OF the bin until 1891.
Another important matter has Suddenly
come TO the front. The proposal 10
abolish the Irish vice-royalty In Ireland
finds the Irish at locgerheads on the
question. The movement IS approves by
n number Of the English members OF the
House Of Commons. Associated with the
abolition Of the vice-royalty IS pro-
po.al 20 grant enough money 10 estab-
lieh and appoint a royal residence some
where IN Ireland. The estimated cost
will be $4,000 yearly. This will not be
considered by Parliament unless there Is
good assurance that the change VIII be
popular.
Sir Graham John Bower the Imperial
secretary at Cane Town. will sail to-day
on his return 10 South Africa. He takes
with him peaceful assurances from Mr..
Chamberlain 10 the local government
The agitation for the dismissal Of Sir
Hercules Robinson. the governor of Cape
Colony and British high commissioner 10
South Africa. has not the support Of Mr..
Chamberlain. on the contrary, ne con-
ours I'm Governor RObinson's efforts to
keep the Bocr government pached. At
the same time Sir Graham Bower IS in
structed 10 announce that the Imperial
government intends 10 Increase the de-
fences and add 10 the garrison at Cape
Town. Ma1or-General Sir Frederick Car
rington. who was recently appointed 10
tho command Of the campaign against the
eXMatabeles accompanied Sir Graham
Bower on the voyage to the Cape.
4 sHREwD GAME.
IL Is understood that the plea OF guilty
entered Thursda, by the leaders Of the
Johannesburg reform committee who
were indicated at Pretoria for high trea-
son and Lese Majestic, resulted from an
arrangement by which light sentences will
Doe imposed upon them. President
Kruger obtains n double advantage from
the admission that has been made BIZ
Colonel Rhodes, one Of the prisoners.
Who duplicates his brother Cecil Rrodes
IN the conspiracy, and by his opportune
display Of clemency. II IS reported here
that the Beers are certain 90 reap money
advantage through the plea Of the pris-
oners
Lord Cromer the British Diplomatfc
Agent In Egypt has been summoned N
London, In order % confer with LORD
SALISBURY the Secretary OF War Tho
'ormatfcr-in-Chief Of the British army
ana General Sir Butler. who Will COM
inand the operations in the SOudan. I'm
III the conferences determine the exact
pIoporuoaS OF The military operations in
inc autumn neither the Foreign oeico |
Aor the war Office viii take any further |
measures Tor an advance in the Soudap /
me crisis IN France gives the Rritisb |
'IelEh once pause I'm the strugplo |
win rench and Russian diplomacv Tbo /
eApediuon remains stationary ar Alrasl,oh |
u ne pant for the construction OF a 81
way from. Abu Fatmeh. ll2 miles so,,tb
""'" TO Akasheh, forty miles from Dopo |
b"'o WIZ DE sent out from London. Tbsra |
~ g, 'aih 10 be some fighting before tbe
me Is laid The Dorvishes M Ahu r.
men nave been reinforced and ora -,