Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-19

and all the points of vantage along the
troop-lined route followed by the royal prog
ress were occupied by cheering crowds. The
rich military and naval uniforms. the quaint
garb of the yeomen and watermen, and the
gilded state coach, with its handsomely
caparisoned horses, all combined to form
an effective picture.
Within the "gilded chamber" a brilliant
scene met the kings gaze as he entered
from the robing room. attended by all the
high officers of state, bearing the various
insignia of the monarchy. The hall was
crowded to Its capacity. The mourning
dresses of the women were shown off to the
1uiest extent by magnificent displays of
jewelry, and eontrasted with the brightness
of the peers robes and the uniforms of dis
tnguished diplomats, the soldiers and sail
ors who participated in the ceremony.
Fer eife- first time since early in the reign
of the late Queen Victoria only a single
chair occupied the dais in consequence of
the absence from England of Queen Alex
andra. The king, arrayed in robes of Grim
son SILK and velvet edged with gold lace
and surmounted by heavy cape of ermine
having seated himselfSon the throne, COM
manded the presence of the commons to
hear his speech. AS soon as the speaker
and commons had arrived the king took the
document containing the text of his speech
from the kneeiipg lord chancellor and read it.
The Kings Speech.
The speech contained no surprises The
usual reference to the continuance of friend
ly relations with foreign powers was fol-
lowed by a paragraph rejoicing over the
fact that the Russo-Japanese war had been
brought to an end by the satisfactory con-
clusion of the negotiations commenced in
August and due to the initiative of the
President of the United States, which had
resulted in an honorable peace"
~ 81. . tl,n
king remarked: 1T is earnestly to be hoped
that the result of these negotiations may be
conducive to the maintenance of peace
among all nations"
Colorless mention was made of the Anglo
japanese treaty, the dissolution of the union
of Norway and Sweden and the condition of
Macedonia, which has continued to give
cause for anxiety
The speech announced that the idea of an
intermediate stage for a representative gov
ernment of the TransvaaI had been aban-
oned and that a new constitution would be
drawn up as expeditiously as possible, add
ing that until the TranSvaai assembly meets
the Importation of Chinese will be sus-
pended.
After announcing the postponement of
the proposed colonial conference until early
in 1907 the king congratulated the com
mons on the steady increase in imports
and exports, indicating that the industries
generally are in a sound and progressive
condition, but Immediately afterward the
KING invited the earnest dlteHtion Oh the
legislators to the additions made in re-
cent years to the national expenditure and
capital liabilities of the state"
Prospective Legislation.
The speech closed with a mention of
prospective legislation. An important para
graph devoted to Ireland was as follows:
MY ministers have under consideration
a plan for improving and effecting econo-
mics In the system of government for Ire
land and for introducing thereinto means
for associating the people with the con-
duct of Irish affairs. 1t is my desire that
the government of the country in reliance
upon the ordinary law should be carried
on so far as existing circumstances per-
NIT in a spirit regardful of the Irish and
sentiments of the Irish people and trust
that this may conduce to the maintenance
of tranquility and good feeling between the
different classes of the community"
The other legislation forecasted In the
speech included pills to amend the edu-
cation act, dealing with trade disputes.
the law regarding colonial marriage and
the prevention of plural voting at parlia-
mentary elections.
Immediately after reading the speech the
king retired, put off his robes of state the
procession was reformed and he returned
to Buckingham palace
1t was noticeable that the king is still
suffering from the injury to his knee sus-
tanned while out shooting. November 10
last. He walked haltingly, aided by a
erywhere In the hall, despite occasional
huskiness.
Ambassador Reid and Mrs. Reid and sec
retary of the American embassy and Mrs.
Carter were among those present at the
ceremony.