Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07
BRITISH UNEMPLOYED
Asquith Cabinet Had Hard Nut
to Crack.
VICTORY Fok JOHN BURNS
Applicants for Work 0utnumber
Any Previous Record.
LABOR PARTY AT VARIANCE
Death Of Thomas Carlyle's Niece.
Frugal Character of Commons
Feed Functions.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


LONDON. October q. 1903
Mr.. Asquith's statement OF the question
of unemployment has shown it as great
personal triumph to Mr.. John Burns. de-
spite the dead set that has been made
against him by certain members of the
cabinet, and the announcements of many
of the liberal papers that he was to be
thrown overheard. The surprisingly law
ish encomiums of the prime minister,
added to the fact that the policy adopted
by the cabinet Is obviously the policy OF
the president of the local government
board, testify to the predominance of Mr.,
Burns. If report be true, chagrin to his
rivals for popularity in the ministry-Mr.
Lloyd George and Mr.. Winston Churchill.
These gentlemen are credited with the de-
sire to make large concessions to the
socialist doctrine-to place unemployment.
like pauperism. on the rates; to institute
state workshops as palliatives. though
this would probably create more unem-
ployment than 1t removed.
Mr.. Asquith's statement bears no trace
of weakening in this direction; the RENE
dies proposed are temporary, and the
sition-for the time being. at least-that
does not justify the es-
tablishment of special remedial legisla-
tion of permanent sort at the expense
Of the general body of ratepayers. 1t is
worthy of note that the cost of the minis
terial proposals will fall on the exchequer.
This will hardly commend itself to the
chancellor OF the exchequer, already at
his wits ends for money. Mr.. Lloyd
George. 1t is believed, would have pre-
ferred to have thrown the burden on the
localities. thus safeguarding the treasury
and pleasing the socialists at the same
time.
Mr.. Burns ruthless determination to re-
sist-even to the extent, 1t is said. of res
ignation-any such departure has evident
on most excellent authority that the ad-
ministratton of the grant Of 93OO.OOo Will
lie entirely in the hands of the local gov
eminent board, and will not, as has been
reported, be controlled by a committee of
the cabinet. Mr.. Burns. the undoubted
last word in the spending of the money.
In short, his victory Is complete.
AS usual. the members of the labor
party are not satisfied. No concession
would probably satisfy them. They
have held a meeting and decided to
press the government for a larger grant.
The extra 100000 for the unemployed
over and above the E2OOOOO which is be-
ing distributed Is, in their view, quite in
sufficient. Apart from this they are ap-
parently pleased with the government
statement. They are particularly glad
that the regulation which forbids the re-
lief of any one who has been In receipt
OF poor-law relief during the last twelve
months should be relaxed. and that the
ban on men who have been relieved dur
ing the last two years for sixteen weeks
should be removed.
Criticism Of Liberals.
They regard with even greater salts
faction the relaxation of the regulations
of the local government board, which
have rendered the distribution Of the
grant so difficult that last year 1000
of the 100000 was returned to the
exchequer.
The criticism Of liberal members is
chiefly directed at the proposal to make
good the difference In local expenditure
on contract and unemployed labor. This,
ties to spend large sums on the unem-
ployed without discriminating between
the At and the unfit, the genuine unem-
ployed and the loafer.
I am informed that the cabinet has de-
cided on the creation of a committee of
of trade to superintend the working of
Mr.. Asauith's scheme. This committee
will be in the nature of a central labor
bureau to help local bureaus. and act as
a sort Of clearing house for the unem-
ployed.
l have questioned several local admin
istrators in London regarding Mr.. AS
quith's proposals. Apart from members
of the labor party the great satisfaction
is expressed by them all that no pro-
a rate. These men who are In daily
touch with the ratepayers hold that in
creased rates bear much more hardly on
the general population than increased
taxes: that the poorest classes of the
population who are fortunate enough to
be employed might escape new general
taxation. but would hardly fail to feel
increased local taxation; and in many
cases they would not be able to bear
the burden. The central (unemployed)
body for London is in a curious diff
fculty 1t has great numbers of men
which to pay their wages, but it has no
work for them to do. 1t is urgently ap-
pealing to the various local authorities in
and around London to send them work.
The amount Of distress is shown by the
fact that on the starting OF the work Of
laying a new tram line at Hampstead
this week the applicants for work were
so numerous that the police had to be
to keep order. 1t is work
rather than money that is the immediate
most disappointed with the premier's
statement. 1t had confidently reckon
ed on the crisis resulting In the she'd
ding Of Mr.. John Burns from the min
istry and it Is much chagrined at the
turn events have taken. The president
of the local government board has
triumphed all along the line. Mr.. Burns
has always been a strong man: today he
Is stronger than ever. There is no doubt
that he has had fight. and that he has
had opponents both in the government
and out Of il. But the government will
hesitate a long time before it gets rid
Of the president of the local government
BOARD.
Germans Secure Ship Order.
1 hear that the Germans have managed
to capture a shipbuilding order for $780,
OOO which had been definitely placed with
a Greenock firm. The contract was for
the construction Of Ave steamships for the
Russian volunteer fleet, and the Greenock
tender was the lowest. All
the details except In regard to the dates
of payment had been arranged, when the
German firm of Messrs. Schchau. which
had rendered unSuccesSfully, offered to do
the work for the same price as the
Greenock company, but to ask for no
payment whatever until the end of 1870
and then to require no interest. These
terms proved too tempting, and thus at
the eleventh hour the business was car
ried away from the Clyde. / understand
that the German government has been
directly or indirectly, to get the
contracts away from England In the in