Evening star., 1901-05-13
MINISTRY IN DANGER
Salisbury Government Would Go
Down Before Strong Opposition.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach Will
Soon Quit Office.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, May /, 1901.
The reports of the probability of gov
ernment breakup, to which l recently re-
1erred, increase rather than diminish A
crisis of some sort is looked for, and if the
liberals were strong they might do some
| thing to help dissolution along. But they
are not, and so doubtless reconstruction
of the present government will be the re-
| suit. Lord Salisbury is not well and would
welcome retirement if it could be accom-
panied safely.
L have heard serious talk during the past
week that there is possibility of Lord
Sai1sburys retirement, and of his being
succeeded by Mr.. Balfour with a seat in
the house of lords. This would at once
place the leadership in the commons in the
strong hands of Mr.. Chamberlain, who has
SHOWN in the occasional absences of Mr..
5altour that he can WELD it perfectly.
Hereupon. however arises the question,
How about the Duke of Devonshire?"
Whom liberal unionistS and many conserva-
tFes nave hitherto looked upon as the
natural successor of Lord Salisbury.
DouotleSS this question would be "a disturb
ing one especially the duke, though a
coiorless sort of individual, is favorite of
the King But some arrangement will be
arrived at, and that very soon, as matters
are not comfortable now in government cir
cles. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, whose bud
get Is SO attacked, will probably drop out
OF office, as he only held over to see the
ministry over the present budget
Coal Owners Make Fight
ihe coal owners are still up in arms
against the coal tax, and most people are
dlsgusted with them. The fury of the at
tack comes from Northumberland and Dur
ham, but most of their agitation is pure
bluff, in the hope of getting the govern
ment to back down.
Ihey have done extremely well in the
last two years, as every one knows and I
am told of fabulous profits being made by
some or the very men who have been be-
SiegihS the chancellor of the eXcheuuer
IN TACT, the general opinion is that they
couid very well afford to pay not only a
smiling ton, but even a tax of half
crown. The position Of the South Wales
mines, however. is undeniably different
from those of Northumberland and Dur
nam As the miners deputation told Sir
Michael Hicks Beach. the South Wales
coflierieS constitute one-sixth of the whole
body of collers in the country. and they
produce one-half Of the coal export ed
Whether out of bluff" or even possibly
| Tor political reasons. some of the Welsh
coii1erles are now being stopped and work.
men thrown out of employment
One of the delegates from South Wales
told me that in the event of Sir Michael
S'lIiNS liSIt arrangements VIII made
Tor great demonstration of cOlliers in
London. Thousands of men will be sent I'D
to parade the streets, with bands and ban
ners.
Lord Durham who is one of the biggest
colliery owners III the country. and who is
most violent In his denunciation of the
government, comes in for good deal of
criticism. II is brother Capt Lamlyton
the naval hero of Lady ysmith was in South
Africa as fighter, but Lord Durham did
not risk ms precious person at the front
/ nor IS he Inclined 10 -Lelp, pay for the war
lie has made u humping fortune out of
coal, and can now be trusted 10 shift the
burden Of the military tax on to the shout
ders of his workmen, he threatens to do
Motor Engines for Fire Department,
The London fire department is about to
adopt American motor engines. The COM
mittee which has been considering the sub
ject has come to the conclusion that in
the near future it Will be found eXpedient
to adopt some more rapid method of trac-
tion than is now applied to horse power"
Captains Wells, the chief officer of the fire
brigade, has expressed the opinion that the
best system of motor power for the appli-
ances. including steam fire engines will
be steam and liquid fuel, and he suggests
that experiment Il motor car worked
OIL this principle should be purchased His
object i'll recommending the purchase of
such a car is to obtain vehicle which not
only could be usef"ily employed by the
third officer and the officers of the inspec-
ticn branch but which would also afford
an opportunity of teaching a good many
fremen the mode of manipulating and
driving motors
pressed with the type Of car manufactured
by the Loco Mobile Company of America
1t has been inspected by several members
of the committee. who have reported fav-
Orabfy upon it. The net cost is $3.50 but
as the committee recommend the purchase
of extra boiler and two extra tires the
cost will be increased to t2S6. So we will
soon see another American Improvement in
London streets.
Tunnel tO the Isle of WIGHT
The project of tunnel from the main
land to the Isle of Wight has been sane
toned by parliament. Work will be begun
at once on tunnel under the Solent from
Milford near Lymngton, on the Dorset
coast. to Freshwatcr The tunnel Is of
immerse strategic Importance and it has
been approved by the military authorities
1t will allow troops and munitions of war
to be conveyed to the island forts under
cover and without transshipment, and in
time of possible war. transport for mill
tary centers to the island would be eff
fccted in hours instead of days and with
perfect safety. The talk of the foreign
military authorities is that IL they were
to invade England the Isle of Wight would
be their first objective, inasmuch as if
tiie! totio oi.N i''ia 'iteir neaHy guns
there they could safely lombard Ports
mouth and Southampton. and possibly Sc
cure landing on the mainland
Beyond its strategic importance the tun-
nel will be of great commercial value It
will shorten the journey from London to
the Isle of Wight by hour. and will es-
tablish direct communication with the mid
lands and the north in all weathers. Last
year over eighty passages between the
| mainland and the island over the Lymine
ton route alone had to be suspended in
consequence. of fog. and storm The tun-
mel will allow a few trains and carriages.
pecialiy invalids Will find it a great hoon
There will further be enormously Increased
facilities for the exchange of commodities
Free Art Exhihftv