The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-11
Says He Was Never Asked to Use His
Influence tn Secure Pecuniarv
Gain for Relatives.
CALLS ALL CHARGES RUBBISH
AND ANNOUNCES AN APPEAL WILL
BE MADE TO THE COURTS.
Defamers of Members of His Family
to He Prosecuted-Lord Sal
isbury Also Assailed.

LONDON, Dec. 10.-In the House of COM
mons, tonight Joseph Walton, Radical,
withdrew his amendment, offered Friday
last, to the address from the throne, and
G.. c. 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 gov
erRment. One-fifth of the Cabinet men,
bers, Mr.. BARLEY said, are of the same
family. Sons would obey their father
and sons-in-law and nephews would yield
to the same influence. Such conditions
precluded independent inquiry into the
army failures in South Africa, and were
calculated to impair gravely the efficiency
of the public service and diminish the
chances Of reform In the system of ma
tional defense. The same canker worm of
nepotism had entered the army and navy
and it was the general opinion that many
of the disasters in South Africa were trace
able to officers who had obtained their
commissions by family influence.
When the premiers nephew rose to reply
the House was filled with expectation. Mr.
Balfour said the unhappy incident of birth
ought not to be a bar to public service.
There was only one member of Lord Sal
isbury's family in the present govern
ment who was not in the list. Mr.. Bart
ley, he added, had not shown that the
appontees complained of were incapable
while the country. at the recent election,
had shown confidence that the premier
would carry out with ability and integrity
his thankless. heartbreaking task. The
amendment was lost by vote of 230 to
12s
Replying to Mr.. Healy. Nationalist. who
asked whether the Irish-American and
Irish prisoners captured I'm the fights with
the Beers could not be permitted to return
to their homes, j. Powell Williams. finan-
cial secretary to the War Office in the
late administration, but now member of
the House of Commons, representing South
Birmingham. said prisoners of Irish ma
from others.
ID. Lloyd-George, Radical, brought to-
gether a series of accusations against Mr..
Chamberlain that had been figuring in the
newspapers and moved that no member of
the government ought to have direct or
indirect interest in concerns competing for
government contracts. He pointed out that
the secretary of state for the colonies held
5000 shares and other members of his fam
lily $1,000 shares in the Birmingham trust.
which. in turn, was share owner in the
Tubes, limited making e10,000 year out of
government contracts. He asserted, also
that Mr.. Chamberlain and his relations
held shares worth from 100000 to e25O. 900
in Elliott's Metal Company, contractors to
the Admiralty, and shares valued at ESQ.,
900 in Kynoch's Dynamite Company. con-
tractors TO the War Office. After enumerat-
ing other companies in which the Cham
berlain family. he asserted. had interests
Mr.. George declared that he was not at
tacking the private character of the min
lister, 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.. Chamberlain replied:
1T is my personal honor that is involved
in this question, and / think IL hard, after
twenty-five years of life in the full light of
Parliament. TO have TO stand UP and explain
that am not a scandalous thief. These at
tacks are scandalous and absurd. took
no notice OF the charges during the election.
although there had been a conspiracy of in
sinuation had been charged with fatten-
ing on the profits Of war 1 had provoked.
OF ali the companies mentioned. hold
shares in two. My relations intend to take
legal proceedings. and the public will see
how these abominable charges will be dealt
with by the courts. My relations are all
business men and have had TO make their
own fortunes. come OF family which
boasts nothing OF distinguished birth or in
herited wealth. but has unbroken record
for nearly two centuries. of unstained COM
mercial integrity. Never. during the whole
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