The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-11
MINISTERS ACCUSED
England'S Hay and Hanna Tn
der Fire.

London, Dec. 10.-In the house of
commons today D. Lloyd George, rad
zeal member for Carnavon district.
brought together a series of aCcusa-
tiOns against Mr.. Chamberlain that
had been figuring in the newspapers,
and moved that no member of the gov
eminent ought to have a direct or in
direct interest in concerns competing
for government contracts. He pointed
out that the secretary of state fer the
colonies held $500 shares, and other
members of his family 5000 shares. in
the Birmingham trust, which, in turn,
was a share owner in the Tubes, linn
tied, making SIC, 600 a year out of gov
eminent contracts. He asserted also
that Mr.. Chamberlain and his relatives
held shares worth $780, 900 to $3.50, 1000
in the Elliott Metal company, cOntrac-
tors to the admiralty, and shares val
UeC at &250,000 in KinlOCh's Dynamite
company, contractors to the war office.
After enumerating other companies in
which the Chamberlain family, he as
serted. had interests, Mr.. George de-
claTed that he was not attacking the
private character of the minister, but
had raised the matter because this
case might be used as a precedent later
to justify occupation
Chamberlain Makes Denial.
After various speeches for and
against the resolution, Mr.. Chamber
lain replied.
1T IS my personal honor that is in
volved in this question: he said, and
I think il hard. after twenty-five years
Of life in the fun light of parliament,
TO have TO stand up and explain that
I am not a scandalous thief. These at
tacks are monstrous and absurd I
took no notice Of the charges during
the election. although there had been
a conspiracy Of fnsinuatiOn. [ had
been charged with fattening on the
profits of a war 1 had provoked.
"Of all the companies mentioned, [
hold shares in two. My relations in
tend to take legal proceedings and the
public viii see how these abOminable
charges viii be dealt with by the
courts. My relations are all business
men, and have had to make their own
fortunes, I come of a family which
boasts nothing of distinguished birth
or inherited wealth, but has an UnbrO-
ken record for nearly two centuries Of
unstained commercial. integrity. Never
during the whole course of my pOlit-
zeal career have I been asked to use
my influence to secure pecuniaTy gain
for myself or my own relations
Explains How Contracts Were Let.
Proceeding to explain his connection
with the two companies, Mr.. Chamber
lain said he had Joined the Colombo
company twenty-three years ago. It's
shares had never been quoted on the
stock exchange The contracts to
build huts for Boer prisoners in Cey-
Ion was given to the Colombo company
on the responsibility of the local gov
eminent, without anw Communication
with himself. AS far as the Birming-
ham trust was concerned, he said he
knew nothing whatever Of its invest
mentS, although he had recently ascer-
tanned that there was a trifing invest
ment in the Tubes, limited, since his
brother managed the business Of that
organizatio but the company's small
business with the admiralty had de-
creased.
r. B. Haldane. radical member for
HaddingtOnshire, and others spoke, af-
ter which Mr. Lloyd Georges motion.
which was offered as an amendment to
the address, was rejected by a vote of
269 to 127.
Mr.. BalfOur, the government leader.
then moved the closure. which was car
ried by 25S votes against IS and the
address to the throne was adopted by
265 votes against %.
Salisbury Under Fire.
Joseph Walton, radical member for
the Barnsley division of West Riding
L