New-York tribune., 1902-04-28
BLAMING MR.. BALFOUR.
IMPORTANT BILLS MAY NOT PASS AT
PARLIAMENT'S SESSION
TALK OF NEW TOBACCO TRUsT-sToCKs GO
UP IN THE HOPE OF PEACE.

TALK OF NEW TOBACCO TRUST-STOChS ~
UP IN THE HOPE OF PEACE.
Copyright 1902: BY The Tribune AsSociation)
Especial to The Tribune by French Cable.l
London April 2S, 1 g. m.-The government
business In Parliament is in bad way Sew
eral measures Of the first Importance are COM
prised In the legislative programme, but Mr..
Balfour has been so intent devising scheme
to get his bills through without trouble that
he has almost sacrificed the end to the means.
All night sittings and a vigorous application OF
the closure rule foreshadowed for this week
in order that progress may be made with the
new rules of procedure
The members Of the House of Commons blame
Mr.. Balfour for the present state OF affairs, and
the rank and file OF the Unionst party are begin
ming TO feel that a leader who with enormous
majority cannot do without fresh rules which
are TO obliterate private members. and who is
Obliged to resort to such drastic measures as an
autumn session. Is not we'll fitted for his post.
The present session Of Parliament has certainly
damaged the reputation Of Mr- Balfour, although
the party obeys the cali of the whips when the
division bell rings. The Unionist members fire.
quently give vent to their dissatisfaction after
ward in the lobby.
Lord Cecil Clement in the Cabinet has not
proved to be a source of strength to the govern
would be gladly welcomed by the supporters of
the party.
Bristol is taking prompt measures with a
view to securing visit from the colonial
premiers who will be in England for the corona
ton. Arrangements for the entertainment Of
the colonial guests have yet to be prepared. but
It is practically settled that advantage VIII be
taken of the opportunity of bringing the ship
mir OF under notice.
There is talk of a third tobacco combination.
Several English manufacturers who have not
attached themselves to either the Imperial To-
bacco Company to the American Tobacco Com
pany have laid in huge stocks of .he ma
terial in order to be able to preserve their inde-
pendence. Meanwhile there is much speculation
in the tobacco trade with regard to the inten-
tions of the two existing trusts. The British
concern has only secured the adhesion Of per
cent of the trade and If the bonus scheme Is
persevered in 10000 will have to be divided
among comparatively speaking, a handful OF
people. Rumor says however that the bonus
Will be dropped
Further details are to hand of the unsettle
ment which exists in many parts Of European
Russia, where the peasant risings have assumed
grave dimensions. At the present moment over
eighteen thousand peasants and workingmen in
the Poltava and Kharkoff districts are in arms.
They have been induced to revolt partly by
hunger and partly by representations made TO
them by tinerant agitators. Large military
reinforcements proceeding from all quarters
for the purpose Of quelling the disturbances.
The Hamburg correspondent of THE Daily
Mali sends fuller particulars of agreements be-
tween the German shipping companies and the
Atlantic Trust. A friendly cooperation Of the
two groups is assured. and this mutual assist
ance is to find expression in mutual support
in crushing opposition. The duration of the
agreement is limited to twenty years The
manner in which the negotiations have been
conducted is looked upon In Hamburg as
great success for the German companies.
Hopeful views as to the outcome OF the peace
negotiate in South Africa have caused a
fairly general appreciation in the leading stocks
on the London market. The total advance in
values since the Klerksdorp conference
nounced to amount to about f14OOOOOO.
I. N. F.