The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-09
THE FOURTH SESSION

or the Fourteenth parliament OF Queen
Victoria Opened Yesterday With the
per,unctory Speech From the Th.one.
LONDON, Feb. s.--The fourth session
OF the fourteenth parliament OF Queen
Victoria aud the twents.slxth Of the
United Kingdom was opened, by com.
mission, u, o'clock this afternoon,
With the customary ceremonies. The
queens speech was as follows:
"My Lords and Gentlemen:--My re-
latlons With the other powers continue
friendly. The negotiations between the
sultan OF Turkey and the king OF
Greece have been brought 10 a conclus-
ion by the signing OF treaty OF peace
under which the territorial relations
between the two powers are practically
unchanged
"The question OF the autonomous gov
eminent OF the island OF Crete has oc-
cupled the attention OF the powers. The
difficulty OF arriving nj a unanimous
agreement on some points has unduly
prot.acted the deliberations. but l hope
these obstacles Will, before long, be sur
mounted.
Intelligence. which Is apparently
Trustworthy, was received OF the inten-
ton OF the Khalifa to advance asainst
the Egyptian army In the Soudan and
have therefore given directions that
contingent OF British troops should be
a - narhap ~. a q q q q n
Of his hishnessi the Khedive..
II have concluded n treaty OF friend
ship and commerce with his majesty.
the emperor OF Abyssinla.
THE report OF the commission ap-
no!nted In December, 1896 to inquire In
10 the condition OF certain OF my West
indian colonies has conclusivelv es,ab-
lished the existence of severe depres-
sion in those colonies, caused by the
heavy fall IN the price OF sugar which
Is mainly attributable to the reduction
In the cost OF production and the great
increase In It's extent OF recent years.
But the fall has been artiiciallyy stimu-
lated by the system OF bountIes to pro-
ducers and manufacturers OF beet roo.
sugar maintained in many European
states. There ore signs OF growing
ten Is Injurious TO the general interests
Of their population and communications
are now In progress between my gov
ernment and the government principal
ly concerned, with view to n confer
encc on the subject, which trust, may
result In the abolition OF The bounties.
In the meantime, measures will be pro-
posed to you for the relief of the .mmc-
diate necessities OF the West Indian col
onies, for encouraging other Industries
and for assisting those engaged IN su-
gar cultivation 10 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 engagements with
my government, to attack the military
posts in their vicinity and even TO in
wade the settled district OF my territory.
I was compelled to send expeditions
against the offending tribes, for the
punishment Of the outrages and TO in
sure peace In the future. A portion OF
the Afridi tribes have not yet accepted
the terms offered them. but elsewhere
the operations have been brought to
very successful close. The courage and
endurance exhibited by my troops, Brit
ish and native, have overcome almost
insuperable difficulties In the country
In which they were operating. but
have 20 deplore the loss OF many vaiu-
able lives, both amongst my own troops
and those whose services were volun-
tarily and loyalty placed at my disposal
by the native princes OF my Indian EN-
pire Her majesty then rejoices at the
fact that there. Is reason to anticipate
prosperous year. both for agriculture
and commerce, throughout India.
"Gentlemen OF the house OF commons:
The estimates which will be laid before
You have been framed with the utmost
desire 10. 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 expenditure beyond former. prece-
dent"
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 10
Great Britain's, to secure the increased
strength and efficiency of the army.
amend the present conditions OF mill
ta-y service. to enable accused people
to testify in their own defense, to facili-
tate the creation OF municipalities In
London and TO prevent recognized
abuses in connection with church pa.-
ronage.