The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-03
TWO CHAMBERLAINS
FILL STAGE IN
PARLIAMENT
Continued From First Page.

conclusion of the defense of the atti-
tude of Premier Balfour and his ia
Their towards the fiscal question the
Interruptions grew more frequent and
the chancellor of the exchequer clutch
ed the brass bound treasury box on
which Gladstone was so fond of lean
ing, addressing his remarks almost
solely in the direction of his father.
Defiantly Austen Chamberlain ac-
cused Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
Of attacking the premier in his absence,
and with touch of pride he said:
1.-THE member from West Birmingham
is here. He can speak for and look
after himself"
The house finally expressed it's re-
lief when the speech was over and gen.
orally termed the opening as one Of
the most extraordinary personal sit
uations that ever had occurred and the
speech as one of the weakest defenses
of the governments policy ever made.
On behalf of Premier Balfour, Austen
Chamberlain declared the house of
commons must first decide whether or
not it desired any change at all in the
fiscal system, and until that point was
settled the opposition demand for de-
tails of the governments fiscal reform
plan could not be granted.
No News in Kings Speech.
With the exception of the foregoing
unexpected incident and the spirited
defense of his action in the Whitaker
Wright case by Sir Robert Finlay, the
attorney general, the opening of par
lament was uneVentful.
King Edward and Queen Alexandra
drove in state to the house of lords, where
the session was declared open. His
majesty's speech from the throne is
generally regarded as having merely
recorded facts already known. Lord
LanSdoWne, the foreign secretary, con-
frmed what has heretofore been gen.
orally conceded as Great Britain's at
titude in the far Eastern crisis without
throwing any new light on the nego-
tiations. Both in the house of lords
and the house of commons the British
Tlbetan expedition and the war in
Somaliland came in for criticism, but
the opposition, after the fiscal ques-
ton, laid stress chiefly upon the i'm
portation of Chinese into the Trans
vaal and the report of the war commits
sion.
In the house of lords the absence of
the Duke of Devonshire formerly lord
president of the cOunciD and Lord Bal
four of Burleigh (former secretary for
ScotlandO from the ministerial bench
was noted, but in spite Of this the
house of peers ended the session with
a passivity that quite belied the party
cleavage which has occurred since last
they met
Cleavage Noted in Commons.
In the house of commons this cleav-
age was made apparent, for Charles T.
Richie, former chancellor of the ex-
chequer, and Lord George Hamilton,
former secretary for India, both took
their seats below the gangway and
directly in front of Joseph Chamber
lain, and, curiously enough, between
Lord Hugh Cecil, the bitter opponent
former colonial secretary, and Jesse
Ceilings, his most faithful adherent.
AS one member said, Everything is at
skies and sevens."
The government is not likely to be
turned out on John Morleys amend
ment to the address in reply to the
speech from the throne, which is
against return to protective duties; but
the general impression prevails that the
government will not be able to keep
its forces together to see the session
to an end.
The Irish party, which now almost
holds the balance of power, held a con-
ference and decided to take no action
until the government has defined it's
intentions toward the Catholic univer-
stty and the amendment to the land
purchase act. 1t is probable that Mr..
Redmond'S adherentS will abstain from
voting for the present on any division
which would endanger the government.
Mr.. Redmond will enunciate the policy
of his party tomorrow.
Sir Robert Finlay, toward the close
Of the night session, said he intended
to amend the law dealing with COM
pany cases, such as those of Whitaker
Wright. He declared that after care
full consideration Of the evidence at his
disposal in 1902 it seemed to him that
Wrlghts misstatements were really in
support of the corner" which would
have rehabilitated the London and
Globe Finance corporation, and were
made with the view of benefiting rath-
er than injuring the shareholders. The
attorney general announced that the
government would pay the costs of
the Wright prosecution.
Throughout the first sitting the on
position appeared much invigorated
with its successes in the bye cleo
tons.