The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11

which now seems scarcely likely to come
so soon. l have much doubt as 10 the gem
eral election occurring until next autumn,
or possibly the spring of 1901. An sddi-
ticnal reason for this IS 10 be found in the
enormous Improvement in trade which Is
likely TO run through many months yet.
The government VIII stop in Office 10 reap
the full henefit Of this in putting their
finances I'm order. This last years budget
did them no good. and next springs bud
get must be unsatisfactory
"A positive pledge has been given 70 In
troduce a bill to amend the agricultural
holdings act, but at the same time Walter
Long has intimated that his bill VIII not
please advanced reformers. and that It
can be passed only II they hold their
tongues and do not ask for more. quail
ified pledge has been given TO amend the
workmens compensation for accidents
act. This act was initiated by Chamber
lain as better method than the employ
ers' liability act, and his main argument
was that compensation would be got au-
tomatically without litigation. This has
not turned out TO be the case. No act
has ever been drawn worse. or has led
70 such incessant and repeated litigation
on the Interpretation of a vast number
OF the details OF its provisions. The COM
pensation has been lost in hundreds OF
cases by flaws In the act. Besides this.
half the workmen OF the country. includ-
ing the agricultural laborers and the sail
ors, have been excluded by the act A
sort OF promise has been given TO clear up
this legislative mess and complete the
job next session. Old age pensions may
be played with, but will not. in my opin-
ion, be attempted seriously"
Issues Raised by the war.
have had pointed talk with one
member OF parliament. whose name
wish | might give, for no member OF
parliament IS better known 20 American
readers. (which would YOU rather have. :"
he asked. the use Of my name with
some dry commonpiaces, or an anony-
nous interview in which can talk free
~ and give you some facts that really
might be worth having2' So chose the
facts and let the name GO
In the first place" he said $50 900 600
was asked to carry on the war. Now.
have Just heard from inside sources that
the sum, actually spent. so far. Is mo-
0oo.000. The ~ar might easily cost double
that. and may run up 10 as much as
half a billion dollars. When these facts
are divulged to the taxpayer he IL going
20 be heard from. The withdrawal OF all
these reservists and volunteers for scrv-
ice in South Africa is beginning TO in
terfere with business Again, the long
lists OF dead and wounded have touched
others beside the family of poor Tommy
Atkins. All OF these things are going
TO have greater effect than some OF
the members OF the government seem TO
think.
yet the government Is 10 some extent
alive TO its peril. I hear that II was the
original programme to GO TO the country
in April in the full tide of triumph. That
was Chamberlhin's plan. Chamberlain is
much more an electioneer than he is
statesman. But the tide of triumph is
not running noticeabty strong Just at
ularly strong even In April The war may
be long and stubborn yet, and in conse-