Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-16
ARMY SCANDAL CREATES TALK
Movement of vote Of Censure Fails,
but Members Have Warm
Discussion.

LONDON, July 15.-(Special Cablegram 10
The Bee.)-The vote of censure on the
government in respect Of the army con-
tract scandals, which was moved in the
House Of Commons by Sir r. Reid, failed
like its predecessors, the majority for the
government being seventy-four, which is
exactly the present estimate OF it's work
ing strength. This has given rise to the
never ending discussion OF whether the
government is growing stronger or weaker
or whether II is riding for fall. or whether
these oft-repeated failures really Indicate
satisfaction on the part Of the vast ma
jority of the voters OF the way that things
are beiaG conducted.
That the government did show unex-
pected strength in the matter Of the army
contract scandals is admitted by all who
nave studied the drift OF things. Ministries
have risen and fallen for less And i'm
partial men probably agree that the min
listers made a better defense Of the war
scandals than had been anticipated in
many quarters. In moving his resolution,
Sir Robert Reid insisted that the House of
Commons cannot be prevented from in
quring into the conduct OF the govern
ment by the fact that a royal commission
| has been appointed TO deal with the sub
| ject matter. That is quite true as a gen
/ eral proposition, but Il does not follow
! that the critics of the governulent are
entitled to assume the truth of state
ments which have not been proved, and
/ which were not checked by the examina-
ton of the ministers primarily response
| BILE. The unfairness Of this procedure was
/ illustrated rather sharply by Sir Robert
| Reid himself, who, after quoting a state
ment rejecting on Lord Milner, Lord
Kitchener and Colonel Morgan, said he
| oef. e. IN,
had been established. but he Immediately
proceeded to expauate upon the enormity
of the proceedings OF these men IL the
statement We're true. Mr.. Broderick COM
planned with some justice of the unfair
ness of having charges Of this kind flung
at himself and others upon the report OF
a committee which gave him no opportunity
for explanation of his own conduct. There
has no doubt. been waste and blunder-
ing at every stage of the war with the
Beers,
If one thing has been demonstrated It is
that the people of Great Britain will not
take continuous and intelligent interest
in military affairs. Efforts have been made
by the present government to remedy the
defects which successive governments OF
both parties have failed to deal with. siI
Henry Campbell -Bannerman says the gov
ernment has lost all grip on business. Th,
government officials on the other hand
claim that 1t is the first government fol
a generation that has shown any grip a
all of the fundamental principles OF EN-
cient preparation for war. Mr.. Brodericl
and Mr.. Arnold Forster showed at an,
rate that they tried to do the best tina
was possible in the very difficult circum
stances with the very bad machinery the,
inherited from their predecessors. TIL,
Royal commission alone can tell whethe
or not the officers on whom the govern
ment had to rely in South Africa faile,
70 do the best they cpy,5, and whethe
any OF them su,ss 90 G1W as ic ~ thel
pockets at the country's expense.