Evening star., 1901-03-22
British Manufacturers Views of the
Big Combination.
SLOW 10 GRASP The IDEA
Scheme to Aid "the Children OF
the Ghetto"
PROPER "FoRM" OF TOASTS

Carnegie steel trust has at last reached
some of the manufacturers In this country
and their comments and opinions, at least
those that they put forward for home
consumption. are amusing In the extreme
For long time British ironmasters
took no stock in the idea of a mighty
trust in America which would be able to
dominate the whole Of the American mar
kets, and as for such a combination af-
fecttng British markets, the idea was ridic-
ulous.
The British manufacturer Is something of
an ostrich. and hides his eyes from what
he does not want to see. Thousands Of
columns have been printed in hts own news
papers about the better methods of his
German and American rivals and contrast
ing them with his own shortcomings and in
dependent and careless ways Of doing busi-
ness British consuls have written reams
of reports pointing out how trade is be-
ing taken away from him by these rivals,
and he merely smiles in knowing Way
and says: Don't worry; that's all right"
L have as much work as l can attend to
now"
1t is a part of his complaint that the
British comrpercial man does not see that
though he Is busy now and his orders are
not less perhaps than they were some years
ago, his rivals are doing far better and
getting business in the very markets that
nave always DeSn Ills, SO tQaIs Dy ana Dy
he will have little or none. He. does not
move with the times and get improved ma
chimes and new styles, but goes on in his
old way and is happy and bIlndly content
because he Is doing no worse than former
ly. 1t is the same old story with this new
steel combination, and John Bulf' IS
shocked that such gigantic things can be
done "oyer in America but that it can
and will affect him he cannot see. Some
men, to be sure, are genuinely alarmed,
but the majority apparently find reasons
for comfort. An optimistic note Is struck
by the director Of one of the leading firms,
who remarks that when the American Oil
Trust were able to refine oil at 1 cent
per gallon the Scotch refiners, thanks
largely to the Improvement in their meth
DDS, were after time able to lower their
prices to the same figure and withstand
competition. Why. he asks, should not the
same course be followed In the steel trade?
Some years ago, adds this gentleman, when
continental manufacturers began to export
iron TO this country at lower rates than
prevailed at home. Scotch makers at once
reduced their prices and successfully re-
sisted the invasion. itWhat is wanted" he
said, sis cheaper transportation" The rate
to London from Scotland Is 1925: in the
United States the rate for the same dis
tance Is about a dollar.
A Manufacturer's Comment.
Another leading personality in the steel
trade of Scotland said it was not at all
improbable that the new combination would
result in reducing American competition
in Great Britain and elsewhere by remov
ing competition which has hitherto existed
In America among it's own firms; but If the
combination aims at crushing the trade of
the world it could only do that for a time.
for IT could not go on always selling with
out profit: that was game the wealth.
lest trust would soon get tired Of. This Is
the style of comment that prevails among
trcnmasters. Manifest destiny means
nothing TO them. e-. !
Everybody is both surprised and graft
fed at Mr.. Balfours statement In COM
mons that Edward VII has no debts. and
that the nation will not have to make q
bad start with him In settling old accounts
1t Is quite possible that a story / heard
from Berlin some time ago is correct. This
was to the effect that the Empress Fred
erick had loaned or given her brother
large sums to pay his bills Yith. The en-
press has lived a very quiet life for
number of years. and had no great ex-
penses Of a large. court. and on the allow
with the 5000 a year given her by this
country, she must have been able to save
great deal. Then. too. the late queen
must have left the king a considerable
At all events. he makes his appearance
before his parliament with a clean slate,
and therein he is wise. as he will probably
be given the more for this piece Of kingly
wisdom.
The committee appointed to consider the
question Of the civil list will, / under
stand. lose no time in setting about it's
labors The secret Of the governments s
proposals. which will be submitted to it,
Is being well kept, but the belief Is general
that the civil list for the new monarch will
reach higher figure than was accorded
to Queen Victoria 1t goes without saying,
of course. that the expenses Of King Ed
wards court will be heavier than those Of
his mother. The sum mentioned is half
million sterling, but to conciliate opposi-
ion ha -r,fit
geStion is that an allowance of 1880. 900
should be made to the king and 100000 to
his consort., Besides this probably f1OO,OC0
a year will be asked for the children of
the king.
How to Resign From Parliament.
1t is very old custom that if a member
OF parliament wishes 10 resign he must be
appointed Steward of the Chiltern Hun
dreds." He cannot resign outright and may
be obliged to wait for some time for this
appointed steward of the Chiltern Hun
under the crown. it compels his resignation
from commons This is tedious and slow
procedure, and so a new bill is being
brought in this session tc simplify the pro-
cess by which a member may yacate his
seat. Leave to resign by the present meth
od is rarely refused, though there have
been such cases.
In 1775 one of the opponents Of the gov
ernment I'm the house, Mr.. Bayly, wished
to resign his seat In order to stand at. a
Dy-electlon Tor Abingdon, In opposition to
the ministerial candidate. Lord North re-
fused to appoint him to the Chiitern Hun
dreds, and gave a very outspoken reason
for his action. Il have made 1t my cons
stant rule" he said, Ito resist every
application of that Kind when any Gentle
man entitled to my friendship would .haPa
been prejudiced by my compliance. Tia
minister whose business it Is to decide
whether the officer of the Chiltern HGne1
dreds shall be granted to one applicant
Is the chancellor of the exchequer. Mf..
Goulburn, when holding that position In Sir
Robert Peefs ministry In 1S42, refused the
stewardship under remarkable circum-
stances. The applicant was Lord Chelsea.
member for Reading, and Mr.. GouIburn
had learned that a petition against his re-
turn had been compromised by an under
taxing that under penalty of f2.OOO Lord
chelsea would vacate his seat by Ger
tam Date There was a debate in the
mouse OF commons. in which Lord
faimerston expressed a very decided opin-
ION that the application ought to have
Seen granted, but Mr.. Goulburn remained
nrm' and the house supported him.
inere is a nominal salary Of some twenty
sniii9lss year attached to the Chiltern
hundreds OF Stoke, Desborough and Rain
nam, TO give the post its full titles. and
there is nothing to do for the salary III
two members wish to retire at one time