New-York tribune., 1901-05-06
THE COAL TAX CERTAIN.
PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION IN THE
COMMONS TONIGHT EXPECTED
MR. BRODRICKS SCHEME OF ARMY RE-
FORM-ROYALTY TO BE ABSENT FROM
ASCOT ON DERBY DAY.

ASCOT ON DERBY DAY.
Copyright; 1901: BY The New-York Tribune)
lBy CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
7ordon Nav g. 1 a. NIT is almost certain
.ba. the resolution on the coal duty will be
,essed by the House of Commons tonight The
osition Of the government has been greatly
strengthened by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's dis
ensures with regard TO the profits of the coal
owners and a three figure majority is not i'm
,rohable The miners delegates will meet again
to-rnorrow TO decide upon their course Of action.
There appears TO be general disposition among
+ba miners of the North of England and Scot
land to strike against the proposed tax In
other colliery districts. however. the men. while
vehenently hostile 10 the tax, are by no means
unanimous as TO the wisdom of declaring a
strike. in the circumstances. it is hardly likely
the delegates viii sanction the resolutions in
favor of a stopDage of work passed by heated
mass meetings in the provinces. The volume of
coal exports especially at Cardiff, has, it is un-
serstood already been sensibly affected by the
r,nancellor's scheme, but the disorganizatiop no
doubt is only temporary. When the delegates
,nAat Tomorrow the tax will assuredly have
been passed. and no attempt TO rescind it VIII
he POSSIBLE for at least twelve months
r-na o,nosirion 10 MI Brodrick's scheme of
orrnv reform is meanwhile growing steadily
eir Henry Campbell -Bannerman, who was Sec
-etarv for War in the last Liberal administra-
ZION. viii lead the opposition to the government
on this question. He denounces the scheme as
tending to add TO the burden Of the nation
while promising no really adequate army for
the purpose of defence and foreign operations
This is also the view of most military critics
But the government viii make the scheme a
party question, and it viii be driven through the
Commons by the ministerial whips Lord Roo-
erts's opinion Will be quoted in support Of the
measure and all the weight Of his influence and
popularity will be utilized TO prevent Tory mem
bers voting against it.
One outlook as regards society functions In
which royalty usually plays prominent parf is
distinctly dull Not only will there be no draw
ing rooms or levees this year, but it is runored
that the royal stand at Ascot is to remain
empty and will be draped in mourning on the
occasion Of the fashionable race meeting there
next month and unless present arrangements
are altered the King and Queen will not grace
EPSON with their presence when the Famous
race for the Derby Stakes is decided on June D.
! report that a force Of 1900 or 5000 Beers
&c concentrating under Delarey at Hartebeeste-
fon+ein Is REGARDED with a feeling Of satisfac-
,ton 1.-THE Standard" expects a a result TO
hear of another surrender on a scale Of Prins-
loos General Darlington has been strongly re-
ipforced by Lord AIethuen and General Rawlin-
son. and his force should far outnumber that
opposed to him. AS the Beers must by this time
have lost practically ali their guns Delarey can
not have any artillery with him. and this fact
alone should place him at a great disadvantage.
To-day the Duke and Duchess Of Cornwall viii
make their state entry into Melbourne prepara-
tory 10 opening the first session Of the Parlia-
rneut Of the Australian Commonwealth. The
occasion marks an important step in the de-
velopment Of the British Empire The mother
country and the colonies are certainly closer to-
gether to-day than they have ever been since
the colonizing exodus began from the shores of
England three centuries ago.
Private advices state that the Empress Fred
erick has had less suffering for the last ten days
and has been able to enjoy the visits OF her
numerous relatives. The doctors are hopeful
that her life may be spared for some time
l. N. r.