New-York tribune., 1903-01-12
BRITISH RAILWAYS.
4GIT4 TTON FOR REFORMS
Opportunity IN Hish Land War-
Saued by the Ame,9can Market
Especial to TIE Tribune by French cable)
Copyright: 1oes: BY The Tribune Association

SGUeG on me AWeT?CuN 4uWho1'
Especial to TIE Tribune by French cable)
Copyright: 1909: BY Tribune Associationo
London, Jan IL 1 a, nl.-The agitation IN
favor of railway reform in this country re-
ceived great impetus from notap'e Speech
made by Mr. Hanbury, president or the hoaru
of Agriculture and member or the pi''i'"
Cabinet. Speaking at conference OF iarheia
at Leicester, he said il was matter Ior fesfe.
that the British railway companies were "
composed more of men Of business and less OF
ornamental directors, so that the railways hiient
be managed In a more businessike way Mr.
Hanbury may not express the views OF all OF
his colleagues in the Cabinet, but ne is
cautious statesman, and not disposed 20 'aih
about matters he does not thoroughly uhoei-
stand. British railway dividends for the iia'i
year ended December 81 are expected TO sho"
up well in comparison with the previous dis
tribution, but, taking a wider view OF @'io
finance of the railways of this country. every
year for the last decade has seen capltai m
crease and dividends decrease. The proportion
of working expenses to total gross recelp1s mas
Systematically increased in the same PERIOD
while on the other hand the proportion of net
receipts to capital decreased. Passenger tra1hc
is steadily becoming less profitable ana the
companies may have to face an enormous capl-
tai expenditure i'm the near future, as the re-
forms which must accompany any reorganiza-
ton of the goods traffic will involve heaVy.
outlay.
The most notable event that has occurred IN
ireland for several generations has been the
agreement the land question by representa-
tves of landlords and tenants. Extreme land
owners. like Lord Londonderry, the Duke OF
Abercorn, Lord Barrymore and Lord Clonbrock'
who at the outset did the utmost to make the
<,Iff fIo
ridiculous, have since expressed approval OF
Lord Dunraven's report They now gee that the
representatives of the tenants are more than
willing to go half way in an endeavor TO bring
about permanent peace In agrarian ireland
The rental to be dealt with is just over toooD-
600, and the amount the imperial government
would have to pay for a solution of great
problem would be about 100000 year Chief
Secretary Wyndham is anxious to make the
most of the opportunity. and 1t is beiieveo' IN
deed. that Premier Bafour and the majority OF
the Cabinet agree with the King that great
effort should now be made to settle the whole
question What is fear red is that the Treasury
may face the situation in the haggltng spirit
which it seems always to apply to Ireland. T3e
tenants are now full of expectation, ana are
looking forward to obtaining holdings on the
terms laid down in the report, but it the Treas
,1ry fails to give the necessary financial assist
ance the whole scheme VIII most asSufeuiS eoi-
lapse
All the German papers which entertain reia- |
tions with the government declare that the
Venezuelan outlook has improved, thanks to
the satisfactory answer given by Presloent
Castro TO England and Germany. AS a matter
of fact the answer is welcomed in official circles
as paving the way for peaceful issue and
promising settlement of the dispute without
recourse to The Hague Court of Arbitration
The allied powers in order to accelerate such |
a solution are ready to drop their demand for !
an immediate cash payment if Castro furnishes
necessary sureties In that case. the forth |
coming Washington conference will, it is |
thought, be able to deal with the matter rap !
idly. The opinion expressed by the leading Of |
fcials Is that the blockade has evidently op- |
pressed Castro and that he has given up all |
hope OF American Intervention.
full account which has been received here |
of the attack the royal procession in Madrid |
on Saturday shows that the madnan Feito did |
not aim so high as the King. He was content |
with the Grand Chamberlain, against whom he |
had conceived imaginary grievance. He |
seems to have belonged to that very large class |
of Iunatics who think they special objects |
of persecution In his possession were found |
pawn tickets and postoffce receipts for reg |
istered letters sent TO several kings and presi- |
dents of republics and quite a collection Of law |
books and other works. showing that he had |
some education.
British workmen, less than their employ !
ers have benefited by the shortage in the supply |
of iron and coal in america. Just as the de- |
mand from the United States for English coal |
has operated to stiffen prices and save the |
northumberland miners from reduction. SO the
large shipments of pig iron across the Atlantic
have served to bring a slight increase in wages |
to the Cleveland blast furnace men,
L N F.
0TYTprNAT AMI VATICAN