Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-14
LIBERAL pARTY'S PROGRAM
Calculations Before Election Completely
Upset BY Size of Majority.
MANY IMPORTANT MATTERS ARE PENDING
Laborcrs and Trade Unionists 10 Re-
ceiNe Much Consideration, but
Extent OF Reforms Are
Matters OF Debate.

LONDON, Feb. 13.--The fact that the
liberals have a clear majority of eighty
hve over all combinations between union
ISIS, nationalist and labofites In the
new Parliament has completely upset cal
eulations as to the course of events OF
probable legislation during the session OF
| Parliament for which the members assem-
bled today. Before the extent of the vic
tory had been realized II was expected
that the policy of the government on many
important issues would be largely con-
trolled by the labor party and to
lesser extent by the nationalists. or by a
| combination of the two. With a clear
majority OF eighty-ive behind him Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman can carry out
! the general liberal program without run
ming much risk But there questions
on which the party is not unit and
which will cause the session to be trouble
some if not stormy. One of the first and
| by no means the easiest task OF the new
government will be the tacklins of the
education acts of 1929 which have been
! the causes of so many long debates both
| in and out of Parliament Those who are
! demanding amendments to acts claim that
| the mandate from the electors is clever
| genuine popular control: No religious
| tests for teachers" There are differences
| of opinion as to how the changes are to be
carried out, but on the principles they
| agree.
Nation to Pay Teachers.
| In detail they ask for a great proportion
| of the cost of education to be charge upon
the Imperial Exchequer; the training teach
ers TO be more OF an Imperial than local
charge; the appointment of teachers to be
L
of employment shall include the COM
! pulsory giving or receiving of denomina-
tional religious instruction. that parents
have the right to send their children TO
some other place than the school for the
purpose of receiving specific UNCONVENTIONAL
instruction at the hands of their religious
PASTORS; subject to this. voluntary schools
to be opened each morning with a simple
family religious service. In all this they
expect powerful resistance on the part or
! Anglcans, with possible combinations
| against them among other denominations
! In any event change In the education
! act is a pledge to which the liberal party
! in general and the premier in particular
are positively committed.
That the act will be changed by large
majority vote in the Commons goes with
! out saying but the difficulty in carrying
out the pledge to the people comes when
/ the amendments reach the House of Lords.
The disestablishment of the Anglican
| church in Wales is another question bound
| TO be raised, on which the different de-
nominations will clash, but it is rather
early TO forecast the governments inten-
tions in respect to this.
| Home Rule Far or.
| Changes in the Irish policy. leading to
: tar daaC larger
policy" may be expected. Home rule Is
/ still far off, though Irishmen profess to
have some hope as a result of the intro
duction of strong labor party. The labor
candidates were supported by Irishmen as
against liberals fthey favoring an Irish
Parliament. with the support of but
fifty labor!tes tho nationalists cannot hope
to attain their ends, but in addition to
labor there exists In the present Parla-
/ ment home rule element inside the lib
eral party. Should labor gain strength
i and elect another hundred members at the
next election absolute home rule will be
| in sight Modified home rule, putting an
Irish house absolutely subservient to the
/ Imperial Parliament. might be an outcome
of the life of the present Parliament and
be accepted as a step by the nationalists
and as a compromise by the House of
Lords. There is no reason TO believe that
! labor will lose the strength that 1t has
gained; in fact, the leaders have announced
! their intention of contesting every bye
| election where they have the faintest
! hopes of success and home rulers claim
! that absolute home rule will come with
: the next elections. The greatest question
I at present however Is: What will be
/ the policy of the nifty labor members who
/ have secured seats at Westminster? There
IF Iah her
but on the main subjects in which labor is
! interested they are agreed. The parlia-
! mentary committee OF the Trades Union
! congress which endorsed thirty of
the fifty successful labor candidates,
I has drawn up general program
+ which includes trades dispute bill; amend
ment of the compensat ton act; amendment
/ OF the truck 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 co
| years OF age; extension OF the housing of
| the working classes act; establishment of
an eight-hour working day, adult suffrage
and generally for the maintenance of free
trade; amendment of the education act;
popular control of the liquor trade; extern
sion of municipal trading and nationalist
| ton of means OF transit and natural re-
sources i'm the kingdom. The trades dis
pute hill is placed hrst by laborites, IL
aims at restoring the legal status of trades
unions which was denied by the Tam Vale
decision.
state Insurance Suggested.
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 10 compensate for all accidents or
! injury, or for diseases arising out of or
incidental to the nature Of any employ
ment."
The amendments TO the truck act aim at
( preventing stoppages OF any description
! from wages. The amendment of the un-
employed act is desired so that employ
ment can be found at trade union rates for
! those unable TO find work The old age
! pension proposal il the establishment of a
! scheme To provide all citizens over % years
! Of age with a pension OF at least shillings
week, the entire cost to be borne by the
! imperial eNchequeT The miners delegates
/ brought the eight-hour working day 10 the
! front, but the trades union congress pro-
/ poses that any union. If 1t SO wishes. can
/ have its trade exempted. There is also
difference OF opinion respecting adult suf-
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