The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-09
PARLIAMENT HIS NET.
Queens Speech Touches
Foreign Questions Lightly
1T Is PAX BRITANNIA
As to China, But Khartoum Is
Another Matter.

London, Feb s.-The fourth session Of
the fourteenth parliament of Queen Vic
toria and the twenty-sixth of the United
Kingdom was opened by commission at
o'clock this afternoon with the custom
arye ceremonies.
The queens speech was as follows:
Lords and Gentlemen-My relations
with the other powers continue friendly.
The negotiations between the Sultan of
Turkey and the King of Greece have been
brought to a conclusion by the signing Of
a treaty of peace, under which the terri
torial relations between the two powers
are practically unchanged.
| 1.-The question of the autonomous gov
| eminent of the island of Crete has occu-
pied the attention of the powers. The diff
fculty of arriving at a unanimous agree
ment on some points has unduly protract-
ed the deliberations, but 1 hope these OBJ
stacles will before long be surmounted.
Intelligence, which is apparently trust
worthy, was received of the intention of
the Khalifa to advance against the Egyp-
tan army in the Soudan, and 1 have
| therefore given directions that a conting
ent of British troops should be dispatched
to Berber to the assistance of his high
ness. the khedive.
II have concluded 4 treaty Of friend
! ship and commerce with his majesty, the
emperor of Abyssnia-
1.-The report of the commission 1 ap-
| pointed in December. 1896, to inquire into
| the condition of certain of my West India
colonies has eonclusively established the
| existence of severe depression in those
| colonies, caused by the heavy fall in the
/ price of sugar, which is mainly attribut
able to the reduction in the cost of pro-
duction and the great increase in its ex-
tent of recent years. But the fall has
| been artificially stimulated by the system
of bounties to producers and manufactur-
| ers of beet root sugar maintained in
many European states. There are signs
of growing opinion in these states that
| the system is injurious to the general in
terest of their population and communi-
cations are now in progress between my
| government ad the government principal
! " concerned, with a view to a conference
on this subject, which, trust. may result
| in the abolition of the bounties. In the
mean time measures will be proposed to
you for the relief of the immediate neces-
! stiles of the West India colonies. for en-
couraging other industries and for assist
| ing those engaged in sugar cultivation to
tide over the present crisis.
ION the northwestern borders Of my
| Indian empire an organized outbreak OF
fanaticism, which spread in the summer
along the frontier, induced many of the
tribes to break their engag ements with
my government, to attack the military
posts in their vicinity and even to invade
the settled district of my territory. ! was
compelled to send expeditions against the
offending tribes, for the punishment or
the outrages and TO insure peace in the
future A portion of the Afridls tribes
have not yet accepted the terms offered
them. but elsewhere the operations have
ben brought to very successful close.
The courage and endurance exhibited by
nv troops, British and native, have over
come almost insuperable difficulties in the
country in which they were operating,
but I have to deplore the loss Of many
valuable lives. both among my own troops
and those whose services were volunteer
ed and loyalty placed at my disposal by
the native princes Of my Indian empire
Her majesty then rejoices at the fact
that there is reason to anticipate pros
porous year. both for agriculture and for
commerce. throughout India.
TO THE COMMONS.
Gentlemen of the house of Commons
The estimates which will be laid before
YOU have been framed with the utmost
desire for economy; but in view Of the
enormous ornaments now maintained by
other nations the duty Of providing for
the defense of the empire involves an ex-
penditure beyond former precedent"
Dealing with the proposed legislation.
the speech from the throne says that
measures will be introduced for the or
ganization Of a system of local govern
ment in Ireland. substantially similar to
Great Rritain's: 10 secure the increased
strength and efficiency Of the army and
amend the present conditions Of military
service: 10 enable accused people TO tes-
tify in their own defense: 10 facilitate the
creation Of municipalities in London. and
To prevent recognized abuses in connec-
ton with church patronage.
SAFE FROM GUY FAwKEs.
Previous TO the resssembling OF parlia-
ment the usual party of beef eaters, ac-
COMMANDED by number of officials and
headed by Chief Inspector OF Police Hors-
ley. made the customary search for imi-
tators of Guy Fawkes. formally ascertain
ing that the vaults Of the houses OF par
lament did not contain anything inimical
to the safety OF the members.
THE IRISH PARTY.
The Irish parliamentary party met IN |
committee room No. Is. Timothy Healy /
and his supporters who abstained from
attending the party meeting previous to |
the last session of parliament. were pres
ent. John Dillon was reelected chair /
man and the whips and secretaries were .
also reelected.
Mt. Healy proposed Edmund Vesey l
Knox. member for the city OF London |
derry. as chairman. and Michael Davitt |
proposed John Dillon. who was elected By I
a vote Of ;. 70 Il.
THE COMMONS IN SESSION.
On the resumption of business in ths /,
house OF commons this afternoon the new
members took their seats.
on a seasonal motion that peers and /.
lord Eeuteaauts should not interfere n \
elections. Right Honorable James Low I
Their. Conservative member Of ths Isle OF 4
Thanet. division OF Kent. moved 10 amend +
By emitting the word peers" Sir VII
fred Lawson. Bart. Radical member for i
the Cockermouth division q Cumberland. 4
seconded the motion
Mr. Balsou- admitted that 3. was trus