New-York tribune., 1903-02-18
PARLIAMENT OPENED.
T4IP4TERS TO SUFFER.
The Speech from the Throne
Brilliant Spectacle.
esDeeial 70 The New-York Tribune BY Frenoh caele1


ccopyrght. 1908: BY The Tribune AssooiationD
London. Feb. is. / q m.-Taxation is the word
which sums up the programme of the new
session Of Parliament Fifteen years ago land
owners would have accepted a twenty years
purchase with feeling of relief. They are now
counting upon twenty-five years purchase and
expecting cash payment Their antcipations
may not be fulfilled literally, but the interven-
tton Of the state in the transfer of land VIII
he an extensive process Economy is whlstled
down the wind in the Kings speech when an
increase of expenditures for the empire is IN
evftable and London taxpayers are singled out
for increased burdens. The new Education Dill
implies higher school rate for the metropolis
and the London Docks bill while essential TO
the prosperity of East London. will involve a
largely increased local taxation. The famous
cream colored horses. with their gorgeous trap
pings may precede the state chariot on the
opening day OF Parliament but when the King s
speech is read the long suffering taxpayer
Identifies himself with Issachar. crouching under
his burdens and longing for rest.
The ceremonial parade from buckingham Pal
zoe n Westminster has become so familiar
spectacle that it exeites only a languid interest
L was well managed in consequence Of fire.
e,!enr rehearsals and the Foot Guards lined up
in the Mall and at Whitehall with unwonted
hrilIiancy the weather being clear and the SKY
almost cioudless. The crowds Of spectators
were large. hut not markedly demonstrative as
the royal carriages and state coach passed
slowly by with escort of Horse GUARDS
The Duke of Portland was the only missing
-7p77re the other court functionaries being IN
their usual places. The procession was splen-
didIv horsed and attired- The Duchess of Buc-
cleuch the Countess Dowager Iytton and MISS
Knollys were handsomely gowned, but the
queen. in purple and ermine with wonderful
lace veil and a small diamond crown was un-
rivalled in grace and beauty
The scene in the House of Lords was more
brilliant than when the last session of Parlia-
rnent was opened by the King and Queen. The
reeresses were present in full force, many
wearing the coronation robes which were seen
IN the Abbey. and all had beautiful laces and
Jewels The tableau formed by the King ana
Queen. the pages, court functionaries. heralds
7,,rsri1ants. the sword bearer and the Lord
chancellor was arranged more artisticaly than
before and the Crown diamonds flashed from
s,Irnptuolls cushion There were bitches in the
ceremonial for while the Duke Of Devonshlre
lynelt correctly and the Marquis of Londonderry
posed well with the magnificent sword, some
body blundered and there was an awkward
pauze before Black Rod was dispatched to sum-
mon the Commons. The King read his speech
il a full. clear voice without a sign of physical
weakness he looked eAlTti4ely NSAAr anu N--
not require prompting at any turn Of the pro-
ceedings. The House of Lords. with masses OF
crimson in the peers and peeresses' robes, ana
with blaze Of gold brocade and quarterings
ef The court officials, splendid spectacle
The Queen has seldom looked handsome or
The King possessed Of an air Of greater dis
tinction
Both houses reassembed at i O'Clock for the
debate on the address. and in the Lords there
WAS 4 large attendance. Among the early ar
rivals was Lord Salisbury, who made his first
sppearance at Westminster since he dropped
the mantle of the Premiership upon the shoul-
ders Of his nephew. The Prince Of Wales fol-
lowed Lord Salisbury, and the new Archbishop
of Canterbury was introduced and signed the
roll as Prirnate Of All England The address
was soon agreed to in the Lords, and in the
lower house the debate would have been dull
enough but for the slashing attack on the gov
ernment by Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman.
The Liberal leader was particularly merry at
the expense of Lord Cranborne, whom he de-
scrf9ed as inheriting the habit of indiscretion,
and he went at great length into the Venezuelan
and other foreign questions, putting formi-
dabIe string of interrogatories on those subjects
To the Prime Minister. He pointed out that
there was no mention of Germany in the Kings
speech, and gravely attributed the omission TO
2 printers error. Loud opposition cheers
greeted his protest against the German alliance.
Where he parted company with the government,
ne said was in the adamantine bonds with
which it bound this country to Germany in
regard to Venezuela. N r.