New-York tribune., 1903-03-18
BRITISH LIQUOR TRADE.
PUBLIC HOUSE CRUSADE.
Greater Latitude for DeGIers-Od
PLay ReTfUed.
Especial to Ths Ncw-xork Tribune by French Cebls.'
.e.--.-... .ooa. ,,.. IT, rr-.n.,-. AssnnatinnN

Especial 70 The NcW-York Tribune by French Ceole]
Copyright: 1908 BY The Tribune Association)
London, March 49, a. m-The Lord Chan
cellor has delivered 8 statement from his place
in the House Of Lords which may seriously
interfere with the crusade for general reduc-
ton of public houses all over the United King
dom, He says that the licensing magistrates are
bound to consider each individual case on Its
own merits, and not to act in accordance WIN
any preconceived general policy OF REFORM
The Standard says It Is believed that as a
consequence of this statement case VIII De
raised in the law courts with view to obtain
ing a final decision on the question. There are
in the United Kingdom over one hundred and
fifty thousand licenses for the sale OF intoxi-
cants, and there is no approach to consistency IN
the number of public houses IN various towns
Leeds has one public house for 614 inha bitants
Manchester for 214. Birmingham and Liver
pool have about the same proportlon-ra'ner
less than one in three hundred-whlle DuoieS'
Southampton and Chester have one each Tor less
than two hundred. There are more than fouF-
teen thousand licensed houses IN London ana
the average is one to every 446 innaoltaHtS'
The retable value Of these houses is nearly Six
times that of all schools In the same area anu
one-twentieth Of the whole valuation OF the
British metropolis.
The Attorney General declines to take notice
OF the statement sent by cable here from New
York that he told Whitaker Wright that he had
"a clean bill of health" and was not culpapIe IN
any way 1t Is not believed here that Sir Robert
FinIay has ever discussed the London and
Globe case with Wright, that he has COM
municated with him in any way regarding the
matter A large proportion OF the papers max
ing out prma facie case against Wrlght nave
been forwarded to proper government quarters
for transmission to America. They INCLUDE war
rants and official copies Of the depositions. Tne
remaining papers are being prepared with the
utmost dispatch.
For the first time on record st. Patrck's Day
was observed yesterday as a general holiday IN
Ireland. All the business houses were closed at
Dublin and many even public houses. remained
shut in London The big events Of the day were
the dinner at the Hotel Cecil, over when Jonn
Redmond presided and the Gaelic League con-
cert at Queens Hail. but Irish concerts and irish
dances could be reckoned by the score all over
the town.
In selecting Garrick's famous play, THE Can
destine Marriage" for revival at the Haymarket
Theatre last night Cyril Maude made very
happy choice, for he has all the requisite ar
tistic qualifications for the famous character CT
the decrepit but vain and amorous, LORD
Oeleby. Mr Maude ovecame an early tendency
to exaggeration, and gave an exceedingly droll
and we'll conceived study of grotesque form Oh
senilitv Beatrice Ferrar as the jealous, spite
full daughter of the vulgar merchant, Sterling
was natural, spirited and clever. Violet Darrell
was excellent as the demure sister, part which
was once played by Kitty Give; and Allan
Aynesworth Lionel Ringwald, Eric Lewis
Charles Calvert and Carlotta Zerbina were all
very good The revival was enthusiastically re-
ceived. and the audience in the exuberance OF
its satisfaction, demonstratively called for the
author.