New-York tribune., 1908-01-20
TASK OF PARLIAMENT.
TsIK OF EXTRA SESSION.
Mana Difficult Problems Before
LEGISLATORS at London.


-,,5on Ian I9-The third and what prom
.ses = be the most critical session of the Par
,;snsr, controlled by Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
,s--7s7 VIII be formally opened on January %
nv the King with the pcmp and ceremony which
mark the hrief annual visit Of the monarch II
& SterheTl's. His ma Sesty viii he accompanied
-, this occasion by Queen Alexandra the Prince
er5. Princess Of Wales and any other members Of
ire royal family who happen 20 be in England II
the time
This formal opening Of the houses Of Parlia-
men; always attracts momentary attention but
rhs real interest. keener than ever this year.
centres more II the legislation which the gov
e-nrlent expects TO introduce ard the social re-
forms. whose cost Is estimated az many millions
of pounds which +he new elements in the polit-
ical arena. the Labor and Socialist parties are
attempting 10 bring about II all the legislation
promised for the coming session is forecast IN
the speech from the throne the members of the
EoUse Of Commons will havc Z stupendous task
before them. and the usual session Of SIX months
viii hardly afford sufficient time 10 dispose of 1t
al. Al autumn session Is therefore already be
i-s discussed.
I-ish affairs are sure TO occupy much time for,
besides the Irish University bill promised to the
Catholics and bill TO deal with the grazing
lands over which cattle driving originated. the
Opposition has threatened 10 introduce an
viii enable them 70 discuss in detail the govern
rnents Irish policy. This viii place Nj Birreii.
the Secretary for Ireland on the defensive in
respect 10 wha1 has been done what he has
failed To do. the Cnionists put 1t. and also
enable him - make statement - 10 future
policy. II wln be the first big debate Of the
session. and unless the younger Nationalists are
held IN check as lively & discussion a Parlia-
ment has Witnessed in recent years.
FIGHT OK n~.T or1-T1N- NJ
After ireland IN point o public interest VIII
come licensing BILL which the brewers. dis
rilla-s and license holders throughout the king
com have already organized TO fight The meas
Ure Is not expected TO meet all the demands NJ
TIE temperance party. Il VIII provide. however.
that q rhe END Of specified period all licenses
shall cease and the power 10 grant new licenses
be placed ia The hands OF more or less p0pu-
lar authorities thus es;a EIishing 70 some OK
tent local option Should the brewers con-
sicer Il Dre1udicial 10 their business they can
depend the House Of Lords either to reject il
CT % amend 50 that i would not be acceprab bIe
- the Commons and thus ada another to The
many Liberal grievances against the upper
chamber.
oio age pensions occupy Z prominent place in
The government programme The principle is
Supported by al pa ties. but on details there 5s
q hopeless difference. Gr. Asuuith the Chan
ceLor Of the Exchequer. il Is believed viii pro-
pose that start be made with a vote Of - COO
~at. 10 which must be added 10000 put
aside last year for this purpose. This sum the
Labor members contend. is Inadequate ey7lr>-for
start while on the question q how The money
is II be applied there are hardly two opinions
ak. This one measure may therefore lee e.
pecte1 To take UD lot Of time. Being a mat
ter Of finance, the Lords have nothing 10 say
CT
BILLS To AID THE LABoRERs
The rest Of The programme includes another
attempt 70 amend the education act bone Of
cc-tsrticn between the TWO houses the rein
reduction Of the Scottish land valuation and
Land Bills REACTED BY the Lords last year.
nev English land valuatian bill measure
estzbl-shing eight hours a. the legal working
--se III al mines. bill es,a blishing new port
,.1cho-5ry for London. with power TO collect all
-es and erect new docks. which The owners of
DOCKS are opposing. and Z lot Of housing AMI
other reforms looking 70 the comfort and health
q the poorer residents in large cities. which
John Burns. secretary Of the Local Government
Board. has devised after careful study OF the
working Of similar measures in Germany and
elsewhere.
TIE advocates Of woman suffrage. having
failed To convince the government that The time
HIS come when women should have the right 10
vcte. wiI depenC on members OF various parties
20 advance their cause. Such a bill however.
stands I.c-le chance OF reaching the statute
books Without government support
4 PROBLEM FOR THE EXCHEQCER-
The budget viii nor be less interesting than
the bills The reforms mentioned mean
great increase in the expenditure. and when
there are added 70 this an increase Of t3.000.0o0
II the naval estimates 70 meet the German pro
posals al extra tLO00.0eD for the new army
scheme and q similar increase for education, eX-
perls saEsthe Chancellor Of the Exchequer VIII
have 70 ind nearly 10000. 900 more than wes
Necessary last wear and if the expansion con
tn0es there viii be q further increase Of 10
ep10g1 next year Most OF the increase for this /
year v51 5e obtained by more stringent col /
lection q -Ee income. excise and other taxes,
for 0nlv rhe tariff reformers have mentioned any
new source q income.
SIX months seem al too short for the work in
hand. rut the government * determined 70 /
established record in case the rejection Of its
Proposals by the Lords forces an appeal 10 me .
country fC- an Endorsement Of its policy 10 re-
form the upper house. Frequent long night ses-
sio-s and the use Of the closure may therefore
b looked for as every effort will be made TO get
Z large number of new bills passed. and If the
lords are oldurate 20 aCd TO the score against
their retaining power 10 nullify the Work OF