New-York tribune., 1905-05-23
UPR0AR In THE COMMONS.
THE SESSION SUSPENDED.
Great Disorder OUer Attempt to
Force Reply from Premier.

London. May 22-The sitting Of the House OF
Commons tonight was marked by scenes OF the
widest disorder growing out OF a motion by
Sir Henry Campbell -Banneruan TO adjourn the
House in order that he might discuss the charge
against Premier BaIfoUr OF having violated h.s
pledge not to deal with the subject % Colonial
preference without first appealing 20 the coun-
Try. Alfred Lytteiton. Secretary Of state fer thu
Colonies. was put up to reply IN ;hs Liberal
leader but the members Of the Opposition
shouted down all his attempts to speak. even
after the Premier had demanded a hearing for
the Secretary. Finally the Speaker. after he
had exhausted every effort to queI the turbu-
lence. put into force for the first time new
rule empowering him to adjourn the House in
cases of grave disorder.
The matter came up at the afternoon sit
ting when Premier Balfour. in reply TO
questions. said he did not consider himself
pledged to inaction in regard TO colonial prefer
ence. except so far parliamentary action
was concerned. He reiterated that the govern
ment did not intend to deal with the fiscal
question in the present Parliament. The mat
ter Of colonial preference might. however. BE-
submitted to colonial conference in 1905. even
though the country had not previously had
opportunity OF expressing opinion the
subject The decision Of the conference. how
ever. would not be binding either on the mother
country or on the colonies without legislative
action.
Sir Henry CampbeTl-Bannernan the Liberal
leader. charged Mr. Balfour with violating the
pledge he had made in his Edinburgh speech.
and moved the adjournment OF the house to
discuss the matter.
The debate Sir Henrv's motion came up
at the night session and marked by scenes
of the widest disorder. The Liberal leader de-
manded a plain answer from Premier BaIfour.
and Alfred Lyttelton. Secretary OF State for
the Colonies. rose to reply. The members Of
the Opposition drowned the efforts OF the Secre-
tary with cries of "BalfourI BaIfour!" After
continuing for about ten minutes. Mr.. Lyttelton
sat down Winston Churchill then ATTEMPTED
to speak. but the Ministerial party drowned his
efforts, the Nationalists joining in the din and
shouting for the police.
After number of members had failed TO gain
a hearing the Premier rose to point OF order
and temporary lull followed Mr. BaIfour said
he thought it highly improper that he should be
Immediately expected to follow the leader Of The
Opposition He said he had never before known
the Opposition to refuse to hear minister and
ne insisted that the House should hear Mr. Lyt-
telton. as otherwise the dignity Of the House
could not be maintained
Mr. Lyttelton again made an attempt to speak
but the uproar was renewed Finally the Speaker
said it was obvious that the scene could nor
House, under the rules empowering the Speaker
to take such action in cases of grave disorder
The Speaker had been unable to get even a
semblance of order after howls and counter
howls lasting more than an hour
The action Of the Speaker and the scenes in the
House created a great sensation in the Iobbies
which were crowded with members discussing
every phase of the evenings occurrences. which
were said to be unprecedented The galleries
led wifi
men, who gathered in the hope Of hearing an
interesting debate on the fiscal question They
took part in the cries for their favorites. thus
adding TO the din. and aftsrward joined the ex-
cited crowds in the !obbies
These undignified scenes grew to some extent
out of the Balfour- Chamberlain controversy.
with the addition of the heat engendered on the
Opposition side 10y the PremieT's alleged breach
CT his pledge not to deal with the subject OF
colonial preference without first appealing TO
the country. The members generally were in
feverish expectation that the debate would in
directly provide the terms Of Mr. BaIfour's
answer to Mr.. Chamberlain's compromise pro-
posals 1t was also anticipated that Mr.. Cham
berlain himself would make an important speech
on the fiscal question hen when Secretary
Lyttelton put up to speak instead of SIR.
Balfour a storm burst such as has not been seen
in the House Of Commons since the DAYS OF the
Gla6stonian Irish debates.
The Opposition interpreted the Governments
course attempt to stihe discussion. al
though moderate members admit that Mr.. Bal
fours attitude was correct. The Premier him
self in appealing TO the House TO permit Mr
Lyttelton to speak maintained that he 0he
Premier) was "A prisoner IN the dock and
ought not TO he put on his defence until ne had
heard the accusations against him.
Except when Sir Henry CampbelI- lI-Raunerrnan
taunted him with being the sole cause OF the
disorder and Mr.. Balfour flashed rather an
angry reply the Premier was most composed.
Mr. Lyttelton also showed the greatest self
possession in his difficult position Standing at
the Treasury table flushed but immOt1le. times
out Of number he essayed To speak always be
ginning: The Prime Minister and always he
ing shouted down with cries of "Balfour. RaI-
four, Let him defend his own honor Let him
fight his own battles.
Whenever the storm showed signs Of subSid-
ing the Irish members renewed the hubbub. until
finally the Deputy Speaker. for the first time
put in force of the rules adopted by the
present Parliament empowering the Speaker in
cases of grave disorder 10 adjourn the House
The Liberal leaders afterward held a con-
ference, and il Is expected that vote OF cen
Premier BalfOur VIII be moved to-rno--
by Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman
A COLONIAL CONFERENCE ASSURED.
london Nav 2S-It is understood thar "a