The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-19
IN SPITE OF THE LARGE CONSER-
VATIyE MAJORITY 1T is UN-
CERTAIN.
GOVERNMENT MAY TUMBLE.
A STORMY SESSION PREDICTED FOR
THE PARLIAMENT WHICH
MEETS TODAY.
Earl of Kimberly Chosen by the
Liberal Peers as the Leader of
the Party.

LONDON, Jan. 18.-The third session
of the fourteenth parliament of the
Victorian era opens tomorrow by royal
commission, with the usual formalities.
The proposer of the address in reply to
the speech from the throne in the house
of commons will be Viscount Folk
stone, and the seconder will be Hon.
Alfred Lyttelton. In the house of lords
the Marquis of Bath will move and
Lord Kenyon will second the address.
A stormy session is expected, in which
the fortunes of the government are in
doubt, in spite of the 140 Conservative
majority, upon two questions, at any
naturalization and the recently dem
onstrated financial injustice to Ireland
In the votes to be taken upon these
questions the followers of the govern
ment of the day are split and divided
in every direction-so much so that the
governments whips are anticipating
their hardest session of recent years.
The Irish question has not yet been
raised in the commons in the present
shape; on the education act the gov
eminent is under specific pledges OF
these and other questions that will be
holly contested the Associated Press
has obtained some forecasts from those
who will bear part in the debates.
Sir Charles Dixie writes as follows:
There never was a session when we
had been so fully told in advance what
was likely to be the programme. I'M
mediately after the address debates
suppose we shall see the education bill,
probably very short and simple, which
the government is pledged to pass in
the present financial year (before
March 81, and which will be something
like the money clauses of the Long bill
of last year. Probably the money for
the voluntary schools and the poor
board school districts will be given to
the education department to disburse,
having regard to certain considerations
1t will doubtless be met by Sir William
Harcourt by an amendment objecting
to the payment Of increased taxes to
voluntary schools without popular con-
troll, but that amendment will no doubt
be negatived by a majority Of over $50,
virtually the same majority which car
ried the second reading Of last years
bill .-'-'---
The military works loans bill has
also to be passed before March 81, if
the government pledges are to be kept,
and the military maneuvers bill must
be passed early in the session. Before
March 81 there will also be the first
vote on the navy, which will give rise
this year to important debates; and the
first vote on the army, which must lead
to a
PROLONGED DEBATE
if the government makes the proposals
Which Lord Lansdowne has foreshad-
owed. Later in the session we shall
doubtless see a workmen's insurance
bill. A secondary education bill may
be introduced, but fear that the bill,
for the amendment followed by the
consolidation Of the factory acts. NAV
unfortunately be postponed until 1898"
Sir Frank Lockwood, Q. c., member
Of parliament for York, is in mucn
closer touch with Sir William IIar>
court than is Sir Charles Dixie. Sir
Frank, in conversation with a repre-
sentative, said: Il expect the session
to be a stirring one. SO far as the
relative numbers of political parties
are concerned the situation is practic.
ally unaltered from last session I hope
that the government will, at the very
outset, give a frank and full states
ment as to the precise position Of the
country in relation to the various for
eign complications which have oc-
CURED particularly with regard to the
United States. This we shall doubt
less have, in spite Of the amusing
declaration of Mr.. CurZon, who ap-
parently thinks that, whether England
is isolated or not, he and his office
are entitled to a position Of stately
isolation, and that he must not be
questioned"
good deal Of time will be the injustice
to Ireland, made evident by the recent
inquiry into the financial relatio of
Great Britain and Ireland. The matter
is serious. At meeting at Cork the
other day, a Unionist peer Gord Cas-
tletown), upon the platform, said: ''The
obstinacy of a statesman and a cruel
uniform taxation cost England one Of
her greatest colonies - the United
States-and hope the same thing may
not happen In connection with Ire
land. If the government takes UP this
question and that Of local self-govern-
nent for Ireland in a broad and gen.
erous spirit, they have the opportunity
OF accomplishing much. l do not look
for any question Of registration or tenn
| perance reform to come up during the
session.
Among Liberal Unionists there is a.
scarcity of information as to the ex-
| act nature of the ministry's plans. Evil
| IDENTIFY the rank and file are only TO
| know at the same time as the oppo-
| sition. The Marquis of Lorne writes
| to the Associated Press: Government
| bills are government secrets. I think
| there would be little profit, therefore.
| in making useless prophecies
Lord Ashbourne, lord chancellor of
Ireland, and therefore a member of the
| government, is naturally informed and
| partly willing to tell. Lord Ashbourne
| states: 81 have
NO SECRETS TO TELL,
| but a shorter and simpler education
! bill than that of last year will be in
| troduced which will be directed large
| ly to helping voluntary schools. There
! will be an employers liability bill and
! an agricultural bill for Ireland. With
respect to Irish taxation talk 1t had
| better be adjourned until parliament
| meets, when the subject will receive
discussion worthy of its Importance
after education, Ireland will hold
the first place. And considerable prog
ress in her favor may be expected,
based on the question of unjust taxa
ton. The various sections Of the Irish
| members will come to Westminster
united-a unanimity of purpose that
has not obtained for anything since the
| death of Parnell Not all of the Irish
members, however. are sanguine of
success. There can, however, be no
! doubt of the serious way in which this
matter is to be taken up. The various
| Irish parties in the house are all pre-
pairing for the debate. The wing I'M
der the able and aggressive Mr.. Healy
which returns to Westminster more
|