Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-11
Upon Sec. Chamberlain Easily
Swept Away.
The Secretary Heartily Cheered A.
ter Making His Explanation.
Charges Of Probing by Government Contracts
Shown 10 Be- False.

JDs,tDil dllbU. Jtddltdl,
withdrew his amendment offered. Fri
day last, to the address Uhat more adj
e1uate measures should be taken to
safeguard the interests Of China, that
no demand should be made on the Chi
nese government for the punishment
Of Chinese officials which could not be
equally imposed in the case Of n E,u-
ropean power, and that reparatiOn
should be sought in trade facilities
rather than money indemnity. and G..
G. r. BARLEY. Conservative, moved an
amendment to the address asking the
House to express regret at the fact
that Lord Salisbury had recommended
so many of his own family to Offices
under the government.
One-fi of the cabinet members,
Mr.. BARLEY said, are Of the same fam
lily, sons would obey their fathers and
sons-in-law and nephews would yield
to the same influence. Such conditions
precluded an Independent inquiry into
the army failures in South Africa and
We're calculated to impair gravely the
efficiency of the public service and di-
minish the chances of reform in the
system of national defense. The same
canker worm Of nepotism had entered
the army and navy. and it was the
general opinion that many Of the dig
asters in South Africa were traceable
to officers who had obtained their com
missions by family influence.
When the premier's nephew. Mr.. A.
j. Balfour arose TO reply, the House
was filed with expectation. He said
the unhappy accident Of birth ought
not to be d bar to public service. There
was one member OF Lord Salisbury's
ia miiy in the present government who
was not in the last. Mr.. BARLEY, he
added. had not shown that the appoint
ees complained Of were incapable. while
the country at the recent election had
shown confidence that the premier
would carry out with ability and in
tegrity his thankless, he2rt5reaking
task.
The amendment was lost, by q vote
# go to rs.
d. LIoyd-George. Radical member for
Carnovan district, brought together
series Of accusations against Mr..
Chamberlain that had been figuring In
the newspapers, and moved that no
member or the government ought To
havc a direct or indirect interest IL
concerns competing for government
contracts. He pointed out that the sec
rotary Of state for the colonies held
5e00 shares and ether members Of his
family 5000 shares in the Birming-
ham Trust. which in turn was a share
owner IN the Tubes Limited. making
e10.oG9 a year out Of government con
- 1I
bcrlain and his relatives held sna res
worth G231 000 to GZa1.eGo IN EiIiott's
Metal so. contractors 10 the admiral
ty. and shares valued at G25DGo ~
Kynoch's Dynamite Go. contractors to
the war Office. After enumerating other
companies in which the Chamberlain
family. nc asserted. had interests. Nr.
George decl. red that he WAS not at
tscking the private character Of the
minister but had raised the matter
because this case might be used as
precedent later to Justify corruption"
After various speeches for and
against the resolution. Mr.. Chamber
lain replied: 1T is my personal honor
that lis involved in this question" he
said. and ! think il hard. after y
years Of life in the fun light 81 Par
lament 10 have to stand W and ex-
plain that ] am not a ScandalOus thief.
These attacks are monstrous and alb
surd. ] took no notice OF the charges
during the election. although there had
been conspiracy Of insinuation. J
had been charged with fattening on the
profits Of a war ! had provoked.
"Of all the companies mentioned ]
hold shares in two. Ny relations in
tend TO take legal proceedings and the
public will see how these abOmnab,e
charges will be dealt with by the
courts. Ny rela tons are all business
men and have had TO make their own
fortunes. ! come Of a family which
boasts nothing OF distinguished birth
or inherited wealth. but has an I'M
broken record for nearly two centuries
Of unstained commercial integrity.
Never during the whole course Of my
political career have ! been asked to
use my influence to secure pecuniary
gain for myself or my relations
Proceeding TO explain his connection
with the two companies Mr.. Cham
berlain said he had joined the Colorado
90. % years ago. Its shares had never
been quoted on the Stock Exchange.
The contract TO build huts for Boer
prisoners in ceylon was given to the
Colorado Go. on the responsibility o.
the local government without any com
municatiOn with himself
50 far as the Birmingham Trust
was concerned. he said. he knew moth
ing whatever Of its investments, al
though he had recently ascertained
that there was triffing investment in
tie Tubes Limited. since his brother
managed the business Of that orraniza-
lion. and the coEnpang's ALREADY small
business with the admiralty had
largely decreased. After having made
further explanations Of similar kind
NJ Chamberlain exclaimed amid min
ISL eTial cheers
"It ~ not hard to have to deal witr
such rubbish as this2 When an is
Teckoaed W perhaps nay indirect in
terest in government contracts Is d feN
pounds or even shillings. and YET the
House NJ Commons IL called upon tx
Continued On page 81