New-York tribune., 1902-02-09


LBy CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
landau Feb. S-Pariiament continues to re-
feet the general opinion that party strife is i'll
s5an+ed 10 the holiday mood of coronation
year and controversial questions are avoided as
pad form The Opposition front bench has re
~r,ieed the overtures Of the extreme Radicals 10
raise debate on Lord Lansdowne's reply TO
the Dutch note Closure was sprung upon the
harmless debating exercise of talking out the
marriage Of a deceased wife's sister bill a
far start has been made in discussing the new
r-,,es Of procedure, and, while the opposition
ts stronger than expected, Mr.. Balfour has made
fl plain that the government desires to minister
IN the comfort and convenience of the House
and will make any changes which the members
desire While the debate may be prolonged
4o-+nfgr+ ar A month there can be little bitter
mass when the ministers seem barely half in
earnest and decline to take a resolute stand
where details are concerned. The postpone
rnent Of the question hour and the earlier hour
of the meeting Of the House may not be re
taired and even longer interval for dinner
with fxity impaired to the hour may be re-
tected as an attempt TO convert Westminster
into a boys school
Veterans Of the Commons whimsically declare
that the only group capable of amending the
rules in an effective way for the prevention of
ness are the Nationalists They understand
every wheel and cog in the mechanism Of legis-
lation and procedure, for they have made it
their business year after year 10 interfere with
the normal action and block all work They
could frame rules which would tie their own
hands and deliver the Commons from their own
conspiracy for making themselves so disagree
able that Home Rule might finally be adopted.
They only laugh behind their sleeves when pro-
cedure is taken in hand. for they understand the
facility with which a fresh set of rules can be
broken through. There has been no finer irony
than Mr.. Redmonds sympathetic expressions Of
respect for the English feeling OF reverence for
the traditions of the Commons at the time when
creeping paralysis had overtaken it
The only question which excites acrid discus
sion in these stagnant times is the purchase Of
horses for the army. Mr. Brodrick has tried to
stsve off further debate by dispensing with the
services at Aldershot of the officer charged with
receiving a commission the purchase of Hun
garian horses, and promising an inquiry respect
ing the conduct of another officer implicated in
the doubtful proceedings. Some of the most
stalwart Unionists assert that he is playing
with the subject and ought to institute a search
ing investigation into all transactions respect
tagsthe purchase of remounts The Education bill,
which is expected when the procedure of debate
ends, may bring strenuous party struggle.
II is not known whether this bill, in handing
over the control OF the schools to local authori-
ties will make 1t discretionary compulsory
for them 10 grant aid TO voluntary schools.
That is a question which may divide the
manageable government majority into irrecon-
oilable factions The Irish land measure of
small calibre promised by Mr.. Wyndham may
also be a source of trouble that the UlSer
Unonists are menaced with a formidable seces-
cfor bxyT
isrers with these two dangerous centres Of dis
jurbance ahead, are content TO have the proceed
IRE Of debate drag In q leisurely way at the
risk Of being exposed 10 Captain Bowles's cut
ting sarcasms.
The stock market has shown a reduction Of
the volume of business during the week. and is
closing sluggishly, yet firmly. The reduction
Df the bank rate was the logical sequence Of
the extremely free applications for various
issues. There are abundant resources of capital
for 3 per cent investment, provided industrial
risks are not TOO serious. The mining market
remains active, but Spectators are too eager
to engineer the South African boom. While the
Kaflr ring is schemng for a general advance of
stocks based on pacifcation in the Rand. many
lines Of mercantile business already slug
gish in consequence Of the prospect Of the early
close Of hostile operations. The woollen trade.
well as the war industries, like arms and ammu-
milton, viii have a stagnant period when the re-
ducuon Of the army is ordered. Bradford is al
ready working with a smaller wool margin. and
shrinkage rather than expansion Of foreign trade
is expected On the other hand many branches
Of home trade already improving in conse-
quence Of the social revelry Of the coronation
season. Two transepts Of the Abbey will be
filed with peers and peeresses with costly cos
tunes, which must be made in the next three
months. and the nave and every gallery of the
west end will be crowded with a brilliantly
riers and jewellers are expecting great rush of
work and high prices when the full revision Of
the earl marshals original order regulating the
coronation costume is effected. The Queen is
the real arbiter OF the coronation clothes and is
gradually relaxing the court requirement. so
as 70 reduce the weight and rigidity OF the cos
tune and produce greater elegance of effect
Since the robe mantle must be Of crimson
velvet. furred with miniver and ermine with a
train three feet the ground white or delicate
pink is almost the only color available for the
underdress scheme. The color of the corona
uon scene will be crimson and white. with
touches Of black This will be a combination
which will warm the cookies Of Edwin Abbeys
heart when he paints the historic picture. In
dividual taste is allowed full license in gold
embroideries, lace ruffies and the trimming of
the underdress. and jewels can be conspicuously
worn in coronets. Tiaras will require dex-
ferrous adjustment, and the Queen is expected to
favor further relaxation OF the regulations re-
specting coiffures, in order to admit new modes
OF dressing the hair. Two tendencies are al
Feady apparent in the court; one is the en-
couragement Of the use Of homemade materials
and work. and the other is disposition 10 pro-
mote lavish expenditures in the interest of the