The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27
Working People Receive the
Usual Christmas Tips and
Free L quor.
Financial Relations Between Ireland
and England to B, Reviewed
in Parliament.

voted TO the giving of christmas boxes, "
or "tips"-is being observed to-day with
the usual eclat. The letter carriers of the
metropolis and the provincial cities re-
turned from their morning trips loaded
down with presents and with their finan-
ctal resources increased in proportion to
the wealth of the district embraced in
their rounds; and the baker boys, grocers'
assistants, mllk-carriers, newspaper deliv-
ererS and servants of all degrees and sta
lions received their Christmas gratuities
with becoming thankfulness.
The sldeboards of the public houses or
saloons were adorned with the usual round
OF corned beef and platters of red picked
cabbage-the Boxing day fare of the ale
drinker for centuries-and patrons toasted
Ihe landlords in foaming taakards, sup
Piled without money and without price.
The day being bank holiday there was a
general suspension of business and the
streets of the city were thronged with
merry holiday keepers. To- night the
opening OF the Christmas pantomlmes will
attract a multitude to the various theaters
:The shows are fully as elaborate and in
some cases more so than of yore; but the
old fables nave not vet given way to new
tangled ideas. and just as was the case two
or three decades ago, .'Puss in Boots"
Aladdin," "Bluebeard," and Gin
derelia" furnish the groundwork of the
@Reeuliarly English pantomime entertain
lnent.
reference was made in this cable CORE
:spondence last week to the fact that ohm
billion would move an amendment 10 the
address in reply to the Queens speech at
loo Of D.
lament regarding the question of the
financial relations between Great Britain
and. Ireland. 1t was then stated, on high
otflcial authority, that nothing would be
attempted by the Government to remedy
that most substantial of Irish grievances
until the Irish local government bill was
intro duced.
Official opinion in this respect still re-
mains the same, but official opinion is not
always final, and, though the Cabinet
councils have completed their legislative
programme for the session, excluding any
important Irish measure, there are a bun
dant indicai ions that, despite the Govern
ment's arrangements, Ire and will again
take up the Larger portion of Parllaments
attention.
The coalition of Unionists, landlords,
ti-Parnellltes and Parnelliues against
report of the financial commission has
most undoubtedly surprised the Govern
ment, foreWarned, it was, of the land
lords uiscontent over the land act, and
their desire for lesseEed taxation from
some source. The landlords now see in
the finding OF the financial commission
q firm basis for an Immediate revision o f
taxation, and are going to seek to obtain
it. There is the keenest contest among all
sections to bring the question before Par
lament.
Besides Dillon, John Redmond will
move an amendment 10 the address, ask
ing the earliest redress of the dispropor-
ton contrl Outed by ireland to the impe-
rial excheQuer. A similar amendment
will be moved in the House of Lords from
the Union side. Great interest is mani
tested in parliamentary circles as to how
the Government will meet this demand
backed it Will be by Nationalists and
Unionists com bned.
A representative of the United Asso-
ciaied Presses learned from a ministerial
source that Right Hon. Joseph Balfour
Government leader in the House of Com
mons and First Lord of the treasury, and
the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach
Chancellor of the Exchequer, are DESTROYS
of reTylng the conclusions OF the tinan-
cial commission and Will ask the House
TO appoint a special com mittee to take
further evidence.
Beach rely upon proving the correctness
of the report OF Sir David Barbour, which
questioned the conclusions OF the m jority
Of the commission. They seem also 10 in
tend impugning the evidence of financial
experts ike Sir Robert Hamilton, Sir
Robert Giffen and Sir Alfred Miner
English Tory organs say that there was
no Just representation OF UnIonists on the
commission, and thar therefore the report
of he majority was biased. There were,
however, three noted Unlonists on the
commission, and among those who signed
The supplementary report were Lord
Welby and Mr.. Currie, who practically
confirmed the commission S findings
The rains that threatened to make
Christmas day dreary festival so far as
outdoor enjoyment went passed away
Yesterday morning and the day was fine
and mild. Everybody appeared 10 be
thankful for the change in the weather,
particularly the theatrical and music hall
managers for they were certain of good
Christmas crowds at their places of amuse-
ment. Nearly every body who had a
chance to leave the city did so, going to
various country seats, where they formed
part OF the family parties gathered to Gel.
citrate the yule tide.
Most of the leading men in political
life put all thought of affairs of state be-
hind them and HE'D them away, either to
their own country residences or to houses
where they had been invited to spend
Christmas
Prime Minister Salisbury spent the day
at Hatfield House, his home in Hartford
shire where there was only small fam
jly party, owing to the fact that the Mar
chioness of Salisbury is still ailing. Lord
Salisbury and his wife Will start for the
Riviera on January Z where his lOrdship
viii remain until the opening of Parlia-
ment.
The Duke of Devonshire, president of
the Council, entertained a number of
guests at Chatworth House in Derby
shire.
: The Right Hon. A. ]. Baifour, First
Lord of the Treasury and Government
leader in the House OF Commons, is spend
ing few DAYS at Wttenham, Scotland,
and the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain,
Secretary Of State for the Colonies. ives at
his home, Higbury, Moore Green, BirmIrg-
ham.
During the Christmas holidays the
Prince and Princess of Wales are enter
tanning at Sandringham only the Duke
and Duchess of Fife princess Louise OF
Wales) and others Immediately within