Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-04
|SPEECHEss40N TARIFF
London Has "a Surfeit Of
0ratory.
CHAMBERLAIN IN LEAD
LEGISLATORS MIXED UP IN Gov
ERNMENT CONTRACTS.
Yellow Journalism Blossoms Out in
British disqualification
News and Gossip.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON. January 20, 1904.
Mr.. Chamberlain began his tariff crusade
in London yesterday at the Guildhall "A
little less than two years ago he went to
the Guildhall as the city's guest to receive
it's congratula lions on the accomplishment
of the South African war. and made one
of the great speeches of his life. Yesterday
he went to explain why he had begun an.
other imperial task. and to ask the citys
help in accomplishing it. Much water has
run below the bridges since the spring OF
1902, but, judging from the remarks one
hears on every side Joe as the city Will
call him, has not lost his hold on the
imaginations and the affections Of those
who earn their daily bread within the one
square mile.
The platform from which Mr.. Chamber
lain spoke was Immediately opposite the
site of the one on which he had the city's
address presented to him in 1902 The plat
form was changed. and so was the audi,
ence. The audience of 1902 was composed
of the elect of the land. cabinet ministers
and society leaders were as thick as au-
tumnal leaves. On Tuesday it was one
confined to city men. The ultra OIL cal
and fashionable crowd of 1902 was entAu-
siastic, but it's enthusiasm was easily ex'
celled by the commercial crowd or l3of
Numerous electrophone installments were
arranged, and those who have the electro
phone in their homes were able to listel to
the statesman while they enjoyed their
afternoon cup of tea.
Former Uterances Repeated.
Mr. Chamberlain said little that he has
not said before, but it was the first time
that London had had it first hand and
not through the newspapers. Yesterdays
speech marked the beginning of an appall-
ing flood of oratory this week. Mr.. Cham
berlain spoke in the afternoon, and at niSnt
the Duke of DevonShire spoke in Liverpool,
Mr.. John Morley in Bervie and Mr.. Walter
Long in York. Today Mr.. Balfour speaks IN
Edinburgh, but at non-pol1tlcal 1unctich
Mr.. Morley speaks in Forfar, Mr.. Austm
Chamberlain in Stalybridge and Mr. CHAP
lin in Gansborough The big radical day
is Friday, when Sir Henry Campbeil-1Ean-
herman Mr.. Asquith and Sir Edward Gray
are among the orators Altogether pe'ore
Sunday bells again chime we shall nave
endured about twenty speeches dealing
with the tariff Question and other questions
of the day. -.i
Considerable curiosity is evnced as to the
seat which Mr.. Chamberlain will occupy IN
parliament now that he is no longer en-
titled to place on the treasury bench.
Obviously he will haYe corner seat
which places carry no little amount of pres
II.
once again occupy the corner of the bench
in the third row below the gangwdy. which
he occupied In the parliament of 1s92-5 1t
has been Mr.. Chapiih's place latterly, but
the ex-agricultural minister. will no doubt
give it up to the fiscal champion.
Two Legislators in Trouble.
Under law Similar to that which is in
force in the United States. prohibiting a
member of Congress from having any prof
table cornnection1 with government con-
tracts. two members OF parliament are
about to lose their seats. Mr.. Alban Gibbs.
one of the two conservative members for
the city of London. and Mr.. Vacary Gibbs,
the member for Mid-Herts, are, it appears.
members of thee firm which recently acted
as agents for the government in purchasing
the two Chilean warships The firm con-
sequently acted in the capacity of govern
ment contractors, and these being excluded
from parliament, the question is whether
as members of the firm the two members
are placed in this position. Mr.. Alban
Gibbs and Mr.. Vacary Gibbs are taking
legal opinion on the subject, and it is stat
ed that they WILL If necessary, resign their
seats and seek reelection. Mr.. Vacary
Gibbs is a member of Mr.. Chamberlain's
fiscal commission.
] believe that the very fact of resignation
will wipe out all disqualification. which in
this case would be only technical, and there
would be no bar to their transaction being
ended. The act of George III bearing ON
contracts, which still holds good, is exceed
ingly stringent in respect to members. I'm
der this act a member of parliament can
be neither directly nor indirectly interested
in a government contract. The penalty on
a government contractor sitting or voting
in the house is $500 day, recoverable by
anybody willing to play the part known to
the law as common informer.
London Newspaper Enterprise"
We are having lively times in London
th,.aa >f tl,a
day newspapers burying treasure" and CIV
ing clues to it's whereabouts. All London
is digging for treasure" Two papers have
planted 1900 each in the shape of medals
to be redeemed for money at their respec-
tive offices. was walking through the city
about o'clock Sunday morning when to my
surprise / heard newsboys calling papers.
One o'clock on Sunday morning is a most
unusual time for newsbOys to be out, and
naturally thought that war had been de-
clared. 1t was not that, however. 1t was
the hidden treasl re business. Papers were
selling thick and fast, and under every
lamp post one or two men were standing
studying the clues, whilst others also con-
suited guide books In Fleet street there
was quite a crowd cyclists being In great
plenty. whilst outside the offices of one of
the Sunday papers surged struggling mass
of humanity anxious to obtain copies as
soon as they were published The hidden
treasure information was hastily consulted
and search parties started off on their task
at once. The majority of the men were of
the artisan class. but not few had the ap-
pearance of well-to-do city clerks A few
women were also to be seen, and the excite
ment enabled one to gain some idea of what
a gold rush in Australia and the Klondke
must have been. One woman actually car
red a pickax, because, as she remarked,
1.-THE ground is very hard after the frost"
1t was a curious sight, watching old and
young, and in some eases whole families,
scraping and digging between tram lines
and causeway stones. Even the cracks be-
tween the bricks in a wall were noticed and
passed only after Thorough inspection.
Photographs Of the Victoria Memorial.
Particulars have not hitherto been al
lowed to transpire of the great central
piece of sculpture which Mr.. Brock has
been commissioned to execute for the
national memorial to Queen Victoria, to be
erected in front of Buckingham Palace,
and which will Undoubtedly be its most
striking feature. Except from few of
his most intimate friends, the eminent
sculptor has guarded his secret with jealous
care. But he has at length consented to