Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-14
Reelected Speaker
Of the Commons.
British Parliament Re-aS-
semb|es on Tuesday.
Wild Scramble for Seats by
| the New Members.
Nothing But Routine Business
Till Kings Speech Monday.

London, rep. lo.-xAltIlOuS tIltt CtlC-
monial of formally opening Parlia-
lncnt will not occur until Feb. 10, and
while no legislative work can be under
taken until the Kings speech has been
delivered on that occasion, the second
Parliament of King Edward assembled
Tuesday afternoon for the election OF
q Sneaker of the House of Common.
This was the only business Tuesday
and the swearing in of members Will
occupy the rest of the week.
The new House of Commons meets
under conditions of unusual interest
and evidence of this was seen in the
wild rush for seats at midnight when
the spectacle at the entrance of the
houses Of Parliament at Westminster
assembled the entry to a pit on the
first night of play by a popular au-
thor. Nearly 800 of the members are
entirely new to Parliamentary life.
Outside the house a great crowd
showed keen interest in the proceed
ings. criticisng or cheering according
to their political bias. the better known
members while the arrival Of the yeo-
men of the guard to make the histori-
acl search of vault for Guy Fawkes
caused unboundcd enthusiasm.
The greatest question at present.
however is: What will be the policy
of the so Labor members who have
secured seats at Westminster. There
are two distinct groups of Labor MEM
bcvs but on the main subjects i'll which
Labor is interested they are agreed.
The Parliamentary committee OF the
Trades Union congress which endorS-
ed 50 OF the 80 successful Labor can
dGateS has drawn up general pro-
gram which includes Trades Dis
putcs bill; amendment of the COM
tuck act; amendment of the factory
acts; amendment OF the unemployed
act; abolition of Chinese labor in
South Africa; establishment of a
state pension fund at GO years of age;
extension of the housing of the work
ing classes act: establishment of an
S-hour working day adult suffrage and
generally for the maintenance of free
trade; amendment of the education
act; popular control of the liquor
trade; extension of municipal trading
ard NATURALIZATION of means of tram
sit and natural resources in the king
dom. The Trades Disputes bill is
placed first by Laborites as it aims at
restoring the legal status OF trades
unions which was denied by the Taft
Vale decision.
Among the amendments proposed to
the compensation act is one providing
that some system of state compulsory
Insurance should be established which
will secure that employees shall have
paid the necessary funds to compen-
safe for all accidents or injury, or for
diseases arising out of or incidental
to the nature Of any employment"
The amendments to the Truck act
aims at preventing stoppage of any
description from wages the amend
ment of the unemployed act is desired
so that employment can be found at
trade union rates for those unable to
find work" The old age pension pro-
pCsal is the establishment of a scheme
to provide all citizens over 60 years
of age with pension of at least five
horne by the Imperial exchequer. The
IIlIiltlS OtltSdltS biouSlll lilt o-Houi
working day to the front but the
III adcS Union congress proposes that
any union if il so wishes can have its
trade exempted. There is also a diff
erence of opinion respecting adult suf-
fIangc, some of tie unions favOring
woman suffrage and others opposing
it. Labor members endorsed by the
congress are pledged to an amendment
20 the Education act securing educa
tional freedom and state maintenance
compulsory attendance up to 16 years
OF age: secular education in state sup
ported schools; establishment of train
ing schools for teachers. Beyond the
program outlined labor members are
free to support or oppose the govern
ment but generally they will be guid-
ed by their leaders.
Keir Hardie, the leader of the group
supported by the Labor representative
committee. in an article has pointed
out that he and his followers have mo
option but to sit in opposition, since
to do anything else would be to belle
their professions Of political indepen-
dence. In all probability a seasonal
policy will be decided upon Needless
to say each measure introduced by
the government will be judged upon
it's merits but from time to time the
party will be under the necessity of
taking its bearings and Of deciding
how far its duty consists in giving a
general support to the government or
of entering upon militant policy to
force the hands of the government in
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