Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
FIGURING :. STRENGTH
English Politicians Estimat-
ing Majo9riity''s Vote
IN NEXT PARLIAMENT
INTEREST MANIFESTED OVER
LEASE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY.
Londoners Hopeful That Electric
Trains Will Supplant the "Puffng
Billies"-Stowe House History.


majority which the government is still able
to command in the house Mr.. Balfour
has said that he will not resign so long
he retains the confidence of the house,
the obvious opinion of the country which
is supposed to be represented in parliament
being apparently of no account. When the
present parliament was elected in 1900, the
government had behind it a clear majority
OF 1875.
Now, thanks to an exceptionally high
rate of mortality among their supporters
as commentator unhappily puts it today,
ministers have suffered sixteen reverses.
This has reduced the governments work
ing majority to 103 as each lost seat counts
two on division. But the majority does
not really reach this very comfortable figure.
For no fewer than thirteen ministerialist
members have risen in open revolt against
their side, on the fiscal issue, and last ses-
sion they consistently walked into the OPP
position lobby on almost every division.
This means another difference of twenty
six votes on a division, and the available
majority of the government is brought down
to seventy seven.
Then there are several members on the
government side of the house who, al
though they have not openly and ire
trievably Joined forces with the opposition,
are in a state of sulen mutiny and may
be expected to take very little part in
the business of the house during next ses-
sion. Mr.. Balfour may, therefore, be en-
titled to ratulation If he succeeds in
keeping his majority above half hum
bred, and even that figure is ludicrous as a
sign of continued confidence when one
takes into account the feeling of the coun-
try.
1t is very doubtful, however, if the gov
eminent will be beaten in any straight par
ty isgue. For divisions of that character
even the demoralized unionists will general
ly muster in sufficient numbers. If the gov
eminent comes to grief it will be some
rather unexpected and possibly unforeseen
issue not directly connected with party
politics. For example, some of their sup
pOrterS look with extreme anxiety and
doubt to the discussion on the army esti-
mates Every one agrees that the army is
in a state Of chaos; that Mr.. Arnold For
ster has no plan, or that If he has plan
he has not been allowed to carry 1t out.
The military members of the house are
in a state of revolt against the war office,
and most of the unionists are disguised at
the muddling and fncompetency which has
distinguished all the efforts of the govern
ment to reorganiZe the army. 1t is quite
possible that there may be repetition of
the cOrdite vote on the army estimates,
though on a much more important matter.
During the recess several of the altera
tons recommended by the committee which
sat the heating and ventilation of the
house of commons have been carried into
effect. The air, which is caught by an in
take at the front Of the terrace. facing the
river, and purified and heated or cooled
according to the seasons, will now be drawn
in by an electrically driven fan, and 1t will
pass through a new set of Washing screens
at the intake In recent years there were
great complaints among members as to the
condition of the atmosphere In the house
after a long sitting, and some or the all
ments which affected members were at
tributed to this cause. Under the new ar
rangements the air will be frequently
changed during the sitting of the house, and
at the dinner hour air will be sent into
the chamber at a high velocity, SO as to
thoroughly remove any polluted atmosphere
hanging about the building Electric ex-
haust fans instead of gas jets and fires are
to be used for extracting air which has
served its turn in the house. Electricity
will be used also almost exclusively, doing
away with the gas which for years has
flared in the big central lobby and else
where. Another improvement is the inser-
tion of an elevator to the reporters gallery
for the use of the press, which has not
heretofore been too well looked after.
Interest in Land Lease.
Keen interest will be felt by numberless
visitors to the metropolis, as well as by Lon
doners generally, in the decision at which
the London county council may arrive con-
corning an important Recommendation SUD-
mitted by it's improvement committee. The
proposal of which acceptance is ADVISED is
that a ninety-nine years lease of the middle
nort,on of the vacant land between the
Strand and the newly constructed AldWych
Crescent, and bordered on the sizes py the
approach roads which will connect those
two thoroughfares, shall be granted to
French syndicate, with a view to the erec-
ton in the center of the site of fine stone
building Of approved design, TO contain
large galleries for the accommodation or art
and industrial exhibitions, ana trench
theater, restaurant and cafe; and the laying
out of ornamental gardens between this CEN
trail block of buildings and ring or SHOPS
wherein Frenchmen Will sell millinery,
boots. confectionery, stationery and other
goods. The scheme includes provision also
for the erection of an open-air theater for
use in summer.
1t is proposed that the buildings shall be
restricted in height, and that above the
shops there shall be a promenade, where
visitors will be able to walk or sit overlook
ing the gardens beneath The site, which
has an area of about lZo,5oo square rect,
NAV he described as unique and for a lease
of il is offered an annual rental of f55,OO0,
which, capitalized at thirty years purchase.
would represent sum OF t., t50OoO. Should
this novel and attractive scheme De carried
out, AldWych is likely 10 pecone CentraI
pleasure resort.
Already at one Of Its points OF junction
with the Strand the new Gaiety Theater
stands, and adjoining this the Galety res
taurant is approaching completion. Upon
the opposite side of the crescent the Wall
dorf Theater has been carried almost to roof
level and next to this Will stand hotel
bearing the same name, "nlle d niue iar.
Their east the foundations are being laid Of
the theater to be erected for Mr.. Seymour
Hicks. Thus, should the proposed French
theater be built, the places of the Olympic,
the Globe and the Opera Comique, which
have been swept away in the course of the
Strand Improvement, will be supplied by
more commodious and handsome houses.
Passing of Steam Traction.
THE Metropolitan District Railway Com
pany met yesterday, as the chairman said,
for the last time under the regime of steam
traction. It is true that we have heard
somewhat similar promise before for at
the last meeting Of the company we were
assured that the line would be entirely
electrified before January l Of this year.
The era of '.Puffing Billy has not yet, how
ever, ended on the underground. and the
Londoner, being the most patient and long
suffering of animals. will probably be quite
content If the electric trains appear be-
fore the heat of the summer becomes most
offensive. To those who know the peculiar
methods of the underground company it
will not come as surprise that the golden
prospects fourished in the eyes of Lon
doners when it was determined to electrify
the line are gradually becoming little
clouded
AS their passengers do not seem to be
decreasing in number. the directors are
fhau