New-York tribune., 1908-01-30
PARLIAMENT OPENED.
4 MASS OF LEGISLATION.
Extreme Radicals Not Pleased
The Kings Speech.

London, Jan. 29.-Large is the Liberal
programme of legislation for the session of
Parliaynent which opened TO-DAY and earnest
the government leaders have shown them
selves to be in their endeavors to meet the views
of all factions constituting the present Radical
majority in the House of Commons there is
we'll defined feeling of disappointment among
the ministerial supporters that the Cabinet has
not been more definitely radical in It's pro-
posals
The speeches of Cabinet representatives since
the last session of Parliament had led to the
expectation of more definite proposals regards
ing the governments Irish policy, old age PEN
sons and education. to mention only a few
subjects, the references to which in the King
speech did not satisfy the elements especially in
terested therein
Rumors from Dublin had forecast another
Irish councils bill. but there has been subst1-
tuted for this measure which. if it passes. VIII
deprive the landlords of their grazing lands
only in certain sections. Similarly, forecasts
rega arding educational and old age pensions pro-
posaIs promised much more than was Indicated
bv the references to these matters in the speech
from the throne. There is an inclination to be-
reye that the King used his influence as far
as he was able without overstepping the con-
stitutionaI bounds to modify the moro sweeping
proposals with which the Cabinet Is credited by
those usually in their confidence
Even the whitfield programme. however
strikes old parliamentarians with astonishrnent
"Stupendousr' was the word frequently heard IN
the Hobbies of Parliament applied to the iegisia-
tion outlined. Mr.. Balfour. header OF the op-
position party. in the course OF the depate on
the address in reply TO the speech from Iiie
tbro,a said that 1t could not be carried through
without an unprecedentedly Vloient use oi t''e
rni1lotine. which practically would stife free de-
bate.
,so1-rTf4.s GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
II II. Asquith chancellor Of the exchequer'
who in the absence of the Premier, Slr heIirS
Campbell -Bannerman, assumed the iedoets"ip
- tho t5ouse of Commons. admitted that the
dozen measures mentioned in the Kings speech
constituted a long list. Nevertheless, he added
cbeerfuIIy the government not only proposed 10
carry them, but "a great many others whlch
.aro necessary to translate the platform pro-
faosions into the pages Of the statute DOOR,
Tho criticisms of Mr.. Balfour in the Com
mons and Lord LansdoWne, the opposition iead-
or in the House of Lords on the government
proposals, apart from the leneth ol 'iie Pi
s,u,,,,,,,o wore directed against the peace con-
eoo of Tho Hague and the Anglo Russian
convention Both speakers hoped that the gov
ernroant would withhold its ratification OF the
,ood international tribunal of appeal in
nrize cases until ii was quite sure lhdt tie Cou'
o,,,d be nroperly constituted and governed by
a code of regulations approved peloreAaho D'
the mowers affected. The opposition leaders
a1so feared that Great Britans interests In the
,,rior Culf were not sufficiently protected by
tho Anglo Russian convention.
NJ ,scuith was able to reassure the Cnloh-
ISIS on the latter point. saying that the govern
ment had made Great BrItatns status OH t"o
eulf ouitc clear by declaration made contem-
noraneousIy with the signing OF the agreement
and assented to by the Russian Anpassaoo''
Lord Lansdowne took occasion 10 express HS
qualification that the difficulty Win the oI'iteo
states regarding the NeWfoundldhd hSheIle9
question was going to arbitration. and consd-
.red that the settlement of the diterence pc
tween Canada and Japan was most oreo''aoie
49,. only, n the Dominion government but TO
49,, ooorr,,ent of our ally. which had exhibited
- Gov the first time self-restraint and sa-
e,acitv that had elected the admiration OF all
.bo had opportunties of coming INTO close con-
tact with its diplomatic proceedings.
c-o,-rrsr OF HOUSES MAY BE sHELVED.
r.5 1a,sdovne sarcastcally referred to the
.,b1a absence in the Kings speech of any
rofororca to the relations between the two
bo,,ses of Parliament. 1t is understood that the
C,,,i,et has decided practically to drop this fight
until next year
The Nationalists came into prominence early
in the session, but were foed by the Speaker In
an ATTEMPT to have committee appointed to IN
ni,ire into the conviction of Laurence Ginnen
Nationalist member for the North Division of
westmeath who recently was sentenced to six
months Imprisonment for contempt of court at
q hearing in connection with the cattle driving
trials The Speaker ruled the motion for the
annointment of such committee out of order
John f. Redmond, the Irish leader gave no
tice of Home Rule motion for February ), and
in the course of the debate the address said
that the Kings speech was disappointing and
unsatisfactory. Only by the government frankly
nutting its Home Rule convictions into action.
he said could disaster to Ireland be averted.
Mr. Redmond and his followers all par
ticuiarly jubiant, having just from a
party meeting in the committee room at which
the recent reconciliation of the warning elements
was sealed. Timothy Healy, William O'Brien
and all others who had at one time or another
been formally expelled from the party took part
in the family reunion. Sir Thomas Henry Grat-
tan Esmonde. who recently resigned his seat in
the Commons because he did not sympathize
with the policy of his party. but has since re-
Continued oH third