New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
ENGLISH POLITICS.
A PARTY WITH A GREAT MAJORITY AND
WITH A JOB LOT OF SMALL POLIcIEA

Victoria Tower Of Westminster is the outward
sign that the United Kingdom Is again under
the direct control OF the historic Houses OF Par
lament. The traditional search for Guy Fawkes
has been made I'm the cellars: the members OF the
Commons have filed in front Of the Speaker to
salute him with Misunderstanding or stately bow;
Black Rod in scarlet coat has led the way into
the House of Lords. where the Queens Speech
is read by the Lord Chancellor and the opening
debates on the Address In reply to the Throne
have followed the usual medieval mummery
and ceremonial. The third session Of the present
Parliament has begun with the customary for.
malism and decorous exchanges Of compliments
between the opposite rows Of benches, and such
fencing as there has been between the leadern
has been poor sport for the galleries. Govern.
ment, with majority Of 146, may be safe and
restful but it is also dull and unexciting II
Black Rod be the page Of Medaevalism on the
opening day, Apathy. with nerveIess hand and
listless face remains the power behind the
throne in this the glorious Queens Year.
That large majority implies small measures
and legislative inaction Is the main moral OF the
Queens Speech. The foreign summaries show
that American questions have been amcably ad-
justed, and that the momentous issues OF the
near East cannot be settled, but must be allowed
to drag along Unfortunately. Diplomacy has left
the field clear for debate and legislative industry
on domestic questions; but when the programme
of the session Is revealed small scope IS offered
for the energies Of the great majority which
arms the Government OF the day with nearly alb
solute power. This year, as last there Is a large
surplus Of revenues, for 1t has been prosperous
period with a vast consumption Of spirits and
tobacco, and a convenient mortality rate OF rich
men, upon whose estates death duties are levied:
90 t-xz
taxation. The fat years may be destined to pre-
cede the lean years. for the pendulum never
ceases to move between good and bad times; but
the defence Of the Empire must always be pro-
vided for, whether the German Emperor gives
the signal for the mobilization of a flying squad.
ron by an ndscreet dispatch to President
Krtiger or the whole world be In a state OF pa
ciic lethargy. listening TO the Lydan measures
Of transatlantic arbitration. Whatever happens
abroad there is no escape from taxation at home.
TWO POCKETS TO THE SPEECH.
II the Government, with its great majority In
the Commons, cannot be depended upon to take
a penny from the income tax, neither can it be
expected to undertake any legislative work OF
the first Importance. The Queens Speech may
be described as having an inside and an outside
pocket In the inside pocket are eight or nine
legislative projects which filed away for
consideration at future sessions. In the outside
pocket are five measures which will be intro
duced during the present session. and at least
three OF these will probably be enacted. The bill
for the establishment Ct a Board Of Agriculture
in Ireland aims to supply something which Is not
wanted in the island, and it Is not likely to be
seriously pressed Some measure for the i'm.
provement of the water supply OF London IS
needed but there is little reason 10 expect that
the proposed bill will be more satisfactory than
the one introduced a year ago, which did not
satisfy anybody outside the water corporations.
These two measures are OF slight Importance.
third for increasing the military defences OF
the Empire will be passed because there is a
large surplus of revenues available for carrying
out the policies of the naval and military au-
thorites The Education and Employers LA
bilty bills remair as the real measures Of the
sesslon One has been greatly s!mpllfed and
relieved from the controversial principles OF rate
aid for voluntary schools and the other is prob
ably a compromise bill regulating compensa-
ton for workmens accidents. with many arti-
fetal safeguards for limiting the liabilities OF
employers. These two projects. with the Mill
tary Defences bill. offer a measre opportunity
for legislative industry during session when
opens at an unusually early date
The Government has. indeed, confessed us
inability to order large creative policies anu
to fill the session with profitable and useful
employment The questions raised by a royal
commission respecting the inequity OF conditions
OF taxation under the Act of Union have peeA
thrust aside on the ground that the invesuga-
ton conducted ir partisan spirit, ana
must be enlarged by subsequent inquiry An
Irish Agricultural Rating bill would have been
the natural sequence to the measures adopted
during the last session for the relief or Eng
land and Scotland; but there Is no mint OF
legislation under this head. Ireland is put OH
with n promise Of a Board OF Agriculture anu
another Royal Commission on Taxation WHICH
will reverse the decisions OF the previous COM
mission. Scotland is invited to Barn'eeid'
feast The agricultural classes in England nave
nothing to expect from the present Session"
London. where there was a serious water fam'
Inc in the East End last year has the ilusory
hope of a legislative makeshift. which VIII De
of no practical utility. The patrons OF the VOL
untary or denominati0nal schools VIII ha'e
financial aid doled out to them from the Treas
ury: but the Education bill is COMPROMISE
which will fail TO satisfy them, and VIII iea''
the school question unsettled. There is noihihs
in this programme to excite enthusiasm ai''o"e
the Governments supporters
SOCIAL PROPOSALS DROPPED.
1t is interesting moreover. to observe no"
completely the social proposals which Wef'
brought forward during the last election W
Mr. Chamberlain and also sanctioned py ','
Arthur Balfour have disappeared roi" Wv
domain of practical politics. Nothing Is ~.
heard of the project for providing pensions 49,.
old age. That a subject when FL
interested Mr. Chamberlain two years
Once in a while he writes brief lnae'
letter about it. but it has ceased to be que''
on which either he or any other political "" TO-.
is thinking deeply There was also a p'''
for enabling workmen TO buy their OWN 80
tages with financial assistance from the pun
treasury Mr.. Chamberlain aud Mr. baioS