New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
UNIONISTS EXULTING.
Reaction against Free Trade
Pension Com promise.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune
1905 by The Tribune Association


tCopyright. 1eos. by The Tribune Association
London. Feb. l5-Unionists still exult over
signs of a popuIar reaction against free trade. The
large increase of their poll in the Leeds election
encourages them to believe that tariff reform Is
making progress in the great northern Industrial
belt They are already confident that they can
carry London the Midlands smaller towns and
the agricultural divisions. The elections have
been fine tonic for Nj. Chamberlain. who hopes
to return TO the Commons after his return from
his villa in the Riviera Mrs Chamberlain and
the doctors have found it difficult to Keep MIN
out of Westminster since the opening of the ses-
sion.
Nr Rslfour while still in delicate health, is
credited with brilliant rnanouvre in putting
up Lord Camperdown TO introduce the measure
in the House of Lords for dealing with ScotIlsh
land reform. This will be in an advanced stage
before the two bills reintroduced in the COM
mons reach the upper chamber The Lords may
send it TO the Commons before rejecting the oid
bills for a second time The government cannot
anpeal 10 the country effectively against the
Lords minor issue like Scottish land REFORM
1t must have some question in which the trade
unionists are vitally interested. Mr. Balfour
and Lord Lansdowne are too shreWd poiluciaiS
10 help along a Liberal-Labor coalition
The Prime Minister, meanwhile, is fully en-
ployed as a peacemaker within and outside the
Cabinet. Ministerial dissensions over the hcens-
ing bill have been settled with difffculty ana
there will be many discontented members dur
ing the debate The question of naval arna-
rnents is even more troublesome, with sharper
line of cleavage within the Cabinet and two oo-
stinate factions in the main body OF the govern
ment supporters Robert William Perks, who
has instructive power of forecastlng the teno
of the opinion of the majority. has deserted the
and iniu
under the preteYt that German activity mVolFeS
The necessity for more British battleships-
4 compromise which viii reduce Mr. AS
quth's margin for the pension scheme is prop
able. The government apparently IS convinced
that the Labor party will be disappointed by a
meagre allowance for pensions and 1t is prepaf-
ing as an offset a concession to the more ao-
vanced socialistic section in the appointment OF
q commission for the consideration Of the ma
tional purchase of railways This VIII De
cheap policy for it will be several years before
a report be presented, and II may lrlSAted
the timorous Liberals.
The Blue Book published during the week, has
shown that local expenditures in England and
Wales have more than doubled in tWenty-hV
years. To this steadily increasing burden Is
added the terrible weight of direct taxation Tor
national purposes, with both political parties
committed to old age pensions and social re-
forms,
Nj Morley is exposed to Radical outbursts
over little war on the Indian frontier, and has
taken full responsibility for Lord Kitchener s
measures for disciplining the turbulent tribes
men.
The debate over disorders in the Enghsn
Church has shown that the high church men,
represented by Lord Robert Cecil and Mr.. Mas
ternan, are prepared to welcome disestabllsh-
ment as alternative for fres discipline Dill
It points to the conclusion that drastic leglsa-
ton is impossible and that the English Church
will be allowed breathing space for settns
its house in order. l. N T.