Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-31
Fear That Mine Owners Will Shift the
Responsibility 70 the Poorer
Glasses.
100000 POUNDS Is PLEDGED
Britain Has Not Vet Presented Claim,
But Expects New Assembly to
Pay the Same.

stitution in the Transvaal may split.
1t certainly is the danger point, and
1t Is a certainty that there are break
ers ahead. The representatives Of the
government of Great Britain are try
ing to make out that these deferred
payments are a special sign of con-
hdence in the people of the Transvaal.
lnasmuch as the payment of the con-
tributtons toward the expenses of the
war was promised by the magnates
OF johannesburg, the people generally
would not care how soon these mag
mates were taxed, but it is believed
the gold mining interests will dodge
the responsibility and throw the pay
ment of this money upon the farmers
and the small business men of the
Transvaal. The entire matter If left
an open question, in the belief, it is
stated, that the money will be given
as free will offering by the new
legislative assembly, a belief which.
in all human probability, future events
will not Justify.
This promised contribution to the
British exchequer by the Transvaal
Of 100000 pounds toward the cost
OF the South African war was a pledge
made to Mr.. Chamberlain by the lead
ing representatives of the gold min
Ing industry, the very men most in.
terested In bringing about the down
1all OF the BOer republic. No sim
gle installment has been paid. In
deed. the industry FROM whose rev.
enues alone it could have been paid
up to the present time has been so
depressed that the British government
has not presented any claim. Conse-
Quently the legislative council of the
Transvaal has expired without pass
ing the necessary legislation for rails.
ing the loany and the new legislative
assembly comes into being unpledged
by word or deed. OF course, the Brit
tsh government holds that the peo-
pie of the Transvaal are pledged in
honor, and leaves it to the new as
sembly to do what is right and Just.
It can be readily seen that this leaves
the matter largely in the hands of a
body of men not yet selected, and it
is impossible to even venture a pre-
dictiOn as to what will be done in the
matter.
Upon this subject text of the state
paper drawn up by Alfred Lyttleton,
acting on the advice and experience
of Lord Miner, the constitution pro-
mulgated for the Transvaal in the let
tiers patent and orders in council has
the following to say:
No Desire to Force.
I'm dealing with this question of a
change of constitution his majesty's
government has not overlooked the
fact that the United Kingdom has a
great financial interest in the political
stability of the Transvaal, because.
as part of an arrangement whereby
the British exchequer guaranteed to
the colony the interest and principal
of loan of 100000 pounds certain
prominent and representative persons
undertook that the colonies should
make a contribution of 100000
pounds toward the cost of the war.
The colony has reaped the advantage
of the guarantee, which has enabled
the taxpayers to obtain the resources
necessary for the development of the
country on considerable easier terms
than would otherwise have been pos
sible.
His majesty's government is aware
that it would be competent for them
to ask the existing legislative council
to pass the necessary legislation for
the purpose of raising war cOntribu-
ton loan, and that the issue of the
first instalment of 10,O0O,00O pounds
might then be made as soon as the
position of the colony enabled it to
meet the charges of the additional
debt; but they are anxious to avoid
any appearance of imposing or ex-
tracing this contribution by compul-
sion. They desire that the contribu-
ton should be made-not SO as to ar
rest the sufficient development OF the
colony, or to impose undue taxation
upon it's citizens, but in the same
willing spirit in which it was promis-
ed. rejecting the worthy desire to
share the immense burdens which
have fallen, as the result of the war,
on all classes in the mother land.
10 Up to the Assembly.
""Actuated by this desire, and rely
ing on the royal spirit of their fellow
subjects in the Transvaal. his majes'
tvs government have decided not to
press forward the necessary legisla.
ton in the legislative council which
Is so shortly to expire, and have de-
liberately left the matter to the new
representative assembly, in the assur-
ed belief that they will do what is
just and right"
The provisional constitution of the
new colony provides that the legisla'
tive assembly shall consist of the
lieutenant governor, from six to nine
members of the executive council and
from 30 to IS elected representatives.
the colony being divided into electoral
districts by commission of three.
The elected representatives are, there
fore. 1t will be seen, to outnumber the
Official members by some Ave to one
and will not for the present decide the
fate Of ministries. Party government
at the present time in the Transvaal,
it is believed, would imply permanent
division between Dutch and British,
countrymen and townsmen. The argu-
ment is advanced that unfettered self
government, that is party government
as 1t is known in England and in all
the British colonies, must under pres
ent conditions in the Transvaal, be
race government. The claim is made
that old presidents, successful In 9TH
er colonies, will be followed as far as
possible. The British themselves ap-
pear very much disappointed and say
that the proportion OF the elected to