The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-12
The Attack on Mr.. Joseph Cham-
bcrlain

There is no doubt that Mr.. JosEpI CHAM
BKRI.AIS i the most active and aggressive.
n not the most inl %iential. member of the
present Cnionl,t Government. Ii the Lib
era Opposition, enfeeblel AMI discorIant
rs il is. could manage to di-Credit him. It
would achieve a notable success. 4 vigor-
Gus effort in that direction wa, made on
Monday in the House OF Commons by
Mr.. DAVID LLoYp-Guo1GF. who moved
an amendment to the address, in reply
TO the speech from the throne. The
amendment wa7 TO the effect that Ministers
ought not o. have any direct or Indirect in
tcreet in companies competing for Crown
contract. The question thus raised is of
interest, not only II ~" persons immedi-
atciy concerned. blt g all who. for ex-
emp!ary purpose. InIrr - soc the highest
standard Of Official integrity maintained
among British statesmen.
Let us first review The charges brought
against Mr., CuAMBEGIAIv. an then mark
his dcfcrc'. The charges were summed
up in a recent number of tho ~wcll-known
London newspaper Truth. The editor of
tina journal. Mr.. LABoUCHERE. asserted
thu, Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN is connected through
his family with a serie, Of companies which
do an extensive business with the Govern
ment of which he is a member. The al
legged proofs Of this assertion wore mar
shalled in the following order: First. n
kYNoCH. Limited. Mr.. C~HAMpERLAIN's
brothers. sons. nephews and other rela
tives hold shares II the ainount Of so, 2eO.
Mr.. CHAMBrRIAIN's brother. Mr.. ARTHrH
CHAMBERLAIN. il the chairman. Mr.. La
povCHERE says that it was proved before
q Parliamentary Committee that KYSoCH,
Limited, has been unfairly favored in tho
allotment or contracts for corlita nv tho
Admiralty and the War Oficn. secondly,
another Of Mr.. CHhMBEELAIS's brothers, Mr..
HERBEPT CHAMBERLAIN. is IN" chairman
of the BIRMINGHAM SINAI! Arms Company.
and other members of the family are share
holders; the company has large contracts
witt the Government. Thirdly. Mr.. CHAM
TFELAlN's son, Mr.. AUSTEN On AMBFGIATN.
was Civil Lord Of the Admiralty from 1895
until the recent reconstruct on Of the Min
istry. when he became Financial Secretary
Of the Treasury. IloSKINs 4 son. Limited.
describe themselves as MANUFACTURERS Of
max, SllpI anu S'l'l racks ana similar
fittings for her Maics'y's Navy" This
company was not formed until 1897. and.
with insignificant exceptions, tn" whole Of
the shares are held by Mrs. JosRrH CHAM
BERLAIN and Mr.. C~HAMRERIhlS's sons and
daughters. one of the sons being Austen
CHAMDERiAIN. Tn" latter would have
been liable TO penalties under an act of
GEORGE Ill. on account of his coinuany's
contracts with the admiralty, If the COM
pan had consisted of less than ten part
ners. To cvadc This Law several clerks and
cashiers were brought into the company
with on" share each. .pur'hlv. in FL
LOFTS Metal Compaur. Limited, the
Chamberlain family holdings amount 10
Gi2c 500. hlr. MALI C~HAM8EKIAI>.
another brother Of the Colonial Secretary.
is the chairman. and the company sup
plies large quantities of material 10 the
Admiralty. Filthy. in the company called
Tubes, Limited. the CHAMBgRLAISs possess
shares Of the nominal value OF COS. 275.