The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-06
PROBLEMS IN ENGLAND.
Herbert Ross-BHrinE Discusses the
Political Situation.


NEW YORK. Nov. 6-Hcrbert Ross
Barring. a former private secretary 20 cN-
Premier Lori Rosebery. passed through
the city yesterday from Canada ON his
way 10 Mexico. Mr.. Barring has been vis-
itinS the Governor General of Canada.
Lord Mimic. and after his visit I'm Mexico
viii return 20 Canada. and may reside
there permanently. having in view an ap-
rointment under the Government. Mr..
Barring IN an interview said.
ID American newspapers which circu-
late abroad one frequently sees rather
severe Criticisms OF the British Govern
mrht as To its Incompetence and dilatory
methods in dealing with important mat
JeTs- w hile il cannot BE- denied that these
criticisms are just I'm many instances. II
must be remembered that the Govern
nent has on hand at present many diff
cult and delicate problems TO decide
which are the result of increasing irnue-
rial responsibility. This. too. is the re-
suit Of the Irish difficulty and Of the
weakening Of the party system under the
collapse Of the opposition as an alt,rua-
tive government, coupled with a tendency
10 bureaucracy.
The nation is too practical not to IN
sist on effectiveness in government. Il
.' 80 II sunni ia0Ns ana VII get al. once
II Is thoroughly aroused. What has hap
pened is that Parliament has ceased To be
able to keep the administrative machinery
Of the State in working order. The empire
has outgrOwn its clothes. Effectiveness
Will be restored in one Of two ways-either
through a free. effective parliamentary
system. or through some dictatorship or
oligarchy- At present we have no effec-
tive supervising authority Of any kind
Lord salisbury has enormous power il he
cared 20 use Il. but he is not Of the stuff
out OF which dictators are made SIR
Chamberlain IS. but he is not the kind
OF dictator anyone would choose. We
have been governed by a kind OF OIL
garchy but one which has been chiefly re-
markable for its destructive influences
upon educat ton and its want OF influence
upon anything else while Parliament has
stood by pCwerIess either for good or
evil"
How. then. can Parliament be made
more cneCtlVe2' was asked
Its work must be distributed All ideas
OF nationality must be cast aside so as
NOT 20 comDlCatc the subject The only
OBVIOUS way Of saving time Is 10 refer the
committee stages of bills affecting one
division Of the United Kingdom only TO
me members of that division acting I'm
grand committee This is not done at
present. il you compare the German or
american system 10 ours Won will find
thdt each II those States Is better equip
ped Tor empire than Great Britain is
through the development Of grand com
mittccS the British Parliament could come
% local national councils II an CNrpu-
sion, too, Of local self-gOveruueut should
be accorded 20 Ireland with a reduction
OF the Irish delegation to the ImuarfaI
Parliament 10 would BE- followed by the
EXTENSION OF local liberties in Great Brit
am with corresponding reduction also
or the British delegations. House Of
commons Of $40. with a less dihused
sphere ~ action, would be far more ef-
ltctiNc IMAM one Of go. as az present The
result would be that Parliament would not
De- So continuously occupied in The House
with odds and ends
The Government thinks that the bust
ness Of the House of Commons would be
on sound footing were Ireland once rep
resented there IN proportion 70 her p0DII-
ltuDl-thOUgh Britain was not very SEN
sltlN@ on that point fifty years ago In
any case there would still be over fifty
Nationalist left-amply sufficient for
however. lies in extending the powers Of
sef-government ia ireland and simuIta-
ncOusly reducing the Irish delegation 20
the imperial Government proporJionate-
j. 20 the powers given"
III Lord RuSeDcry were to become
Prime Minister again how far DO YOU
think be- would 90 in giving powers Of To-
cal self government to lreldud2'' Mr.. Bar
ing was asked.
Just as far as public opinion I'm Great
Britain permits We tried 10 settle the
Irish trouble once by going in advance
OF that opinion with the result that ev-
cry country knows J have no doubt that
II Lord RCSeb'rN gets back into power he
viii be found ready 10 support some sub
Stantlal Irish policy Leading Liberals
have expressed their determination, how
ever. not 20 accept responsibility aXrrDt
with q clear working British majority.