Omaha daily bee., 1908-01-20
REFORMS In ENGLAND
intense Interest in Coming Session Of
Parliament.
NEW ELEMENT IS ACTIVE
Socialists and Labor Pa T. Push
Important Meas
IRISH AFFAIRS TO THl
Universities Bill and Grazing
Bill to Come Up.
DRASTIC LICENSE BILL PROPOSED
IRISH AFFAIRS TO Thu
DRASTIC LICENSE BILL PROPOSED
steaEure VIII Probably Increase the
Friction Between Lords and
COmmonH-Interest in
budget.


Commonn-Interesf in
budget.
LONDON Jan. 19.-Thc third and what
promises to be the most critical session OF
the Parliament controlled by Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman will he formally
opened on January % by the king with all
the traditional pomp and ceremony that
marks the brief annual visit Of the mon
arch 10 St Stephens. His majesty will be
accompanied on this occasion by Queen
Alexandra. tho PRINCE and PRINCESS Of
wales and many other members Of the
royal family who happen TO be in England
at the time, while to greet them In the
historic chamber will be assembled the
usual gathering of dignitaries.
This formal opening OF the houses Of
Parliament by the king in person always
attracts momcntary attention. but the real
interest. keener than ever this year, cen
ters more IN the legislation that the gov
eminent proposes to introduce and the cost
Of the social reforms, estimated at many
millions Of pounds, that the new elements
IN the political arena. the labor and So
cialst parties. arr attempting to bring
about. II all the legislation promised for.
the coming session is forecasted in the
speech from the throne the members of
the House Of Commons will have stu
pendous task before them. and the usual
session OF six months will hardly afford
sufficient time to dispose Of 1t all
Irish Affairs 10 Front.
Irish affairs are sure to occupy much
time. for besides the Irish universities bin
promised the Catholics and a bill TO deal
with tho grazing lands, over which cattle
driving originated, the opposition has
60,
the reply to the speech. which will
able them to discuss IN detail the govern
ment's Irish policy. This win place Mr..
Rrrell, the secretary for ireland, on the
defensive n respect to what has been done
or what nc has failed to do. as the union
lists put n. and also enable him to make
statement as to future policy 1t will be
the first big debate OF the session, and
unless the younger nationaists are held
in check, as lively one as Parliament
has witnessed in recent years.
Drastic License Bill.
After Ireland IN point OF public inter
ts.S Siir Sosnr a dfas lc licensing bill. to
fight which the brewers dlstillers and
license holders throughout the kingdom
have already organized. The measure is
not expected to meet all the demands of
the temperance party. Il win provide.
however. that az the end of a specified
period, all licenses shall cease and the
granting OF new licenses shall be placed
IN the hands OF more or less popular au-
thorit;cs, thus establishing TO some extent
local option shouid the brewers consider
Il prcjudicial to their business they can
depend upon the House Of Lords either to
reject Il or to so amend It that II would
not be acceptable to the commons and thus
add another TO the many liberal grievances
against the upper chamber
Old age pensions occupy a prominent
place IN the government program The
principle Is supported by all parties, but
on details there is a hopeless difference.
Mr. Asquth, the chancellor of the cxche-
quer, It is believed, will propose that a
start be made with vote of R5,OOO,0co. to
which must be added e25OeO09 put aside
last year for this purpose. This sum, the
abor members contend. is Inadequate, even
FOR start. while on the question OF how
the money is to he applied there are hardly
two opinions alike. This one measure may
therefore be expected to take up lot
OF time. Being a matter Of finance the
lords have nothing to say it,
Other Important Measures.
The rest of the program includes another
attempt 10 amend the education act, bone
Of contention between the two houses the
reintroduotion of the Scottish land valua-
ton and land hills rejected by the lords
last year; q new English land valuation
bill; measure establishing eight hours
as the legal working time IN all mines
bill establishing a new port authority for
London to collect all revenues and effect
new docks. whi,A the owners of docks are
opposing; and q lot of housing and other
reforms looking TO the comfort well being
ana health Of the poorer residents in large
cities, which John Burns. secretary Of the
local government board, has devised after
a careful study of the working OF similar
measures in Germany and elsewhere.
The advocates of woman suffrage having
failed 70 convince the government that the
time has come when women should be
given tbs vote, win depend on private menI-
hers to advance their cause. Such bill.
however, stands little chance OF reaching
he statute books without the government
upport.
Interest iR Budget.
The budget Will he not less interesting
than the legislation. The reforms men
toned mean a great increase in the ex-
penditOFs and when there is added TO this
an increase of R3.OOOOOO in the naval esti-
mates 10 meet the German proposals. an
extra million for the new army scheme,
and a similar increase for education. ex-
merits say the chancellor OF the exchsqueT
win have to find nearly elO,ooo,OOO more
han was necessary last year.
six months seem all too short for the
work IN hand. but the government is de-
lermined TO establish a record. in case the
rejection OF their proposals by the lords
uscessitates an appeal to the country For
an endorsement OF their policy TO reform
the upper house Frequent night sessions
and the adoption OF the closure may there
tore be looked for.
Mrs. Martin Secures Divorce.