Evening star., 1908-01-25
Educational Reform Bill.

of the United Kingdom, and you will re-
member that there was a long fight
last year upon very complicated law
which was passed by the house of COM
| MONS but was defeated in the house of
lords by ecclesiastical influences. This
| measure will be renewed at the approach
ing session In simpler form to provide for
the transfer of the educational system of
the kingdom from sectarian control to
the care of the county and municipal
authorities. and to remove it from all
ecclesiastical and religious influences and
restrictions.
Any attempt to load down the bill with
provision for the maintenance of the
school children at public expense will
Ike its passage even the more difficult,
although it will popularize the measure
| among the labor unions.
Tariff Agitation Unlikely.
1t is not expected that the tariff ques-
ton will come UP as separate issue dur
ing the next session of the house of COM
mons. Its advocates do not think the
time is ripe for action. They are carry
ing on a campaign of education by or
gaEizing clubs for discussion and lee
lures, by circulating literature and by
working among the labor classes who,
strange to say. are almost unanimous in
favor Of free trade. Furthermore, any
attempt to bring thS question to an issue
would split both the conservative and
unionist parties upon which Mr.. Chamber
lain depends for the support of his scheme
70, a protective tariff. The liberals are
very nearly all free traders. Only few of
them are protectionists. The protection
party at present is composed almost ex-
cusively of manufacturers who want to
shut off competition from Germany,
France and the United States in their
own markets.
The liberal party is conglomerate,
made up Of all forms of opposition to
the union conservative party. and its
leader, Mr. Campbell -Bannerman. fur
nishes the cohesion that keeps the diff
ferent factions together
Mr.. Chamberlain is pretty well used up
physically, although his influence is
still very strong. He and his protective
tariff faction have captured the ma
chine of the unionst conservative party.
and will use it effectively to advance tariff
men and keep down the free trade ele-
ment In that organization. The union
lists and the conservatives are one and
the same thing. There. used to be liberal
unionists and conservative unionists, but
the liberal panty has taken such an ad-
vanced position on public questions that
the LIBERAL unonists have dropped the
first word in their name and have drifted
back into the conservative ranks.
The conservative organization, as l have
already suggested is controlled by the
high tariff men, although Mr. Arthur Bal
four, the recognized leader of that party,
has never committed himself on the quas-
ton of fiscal REFORM" as the Chamber
lam proposition for tariff on imported
goods is called in polite language. Mr.
BalfouT, however, Is IN a very compli-
Gated position. He cannot get along with
out the organization of his party. which
is for protective tariff, and the organi-
cation cannot get along without him, be-
cause he is the only leader who can hold
the party together There are many
strong and stubborn free traders in the
conservative party.
Some Coming Problems.
The next house of commons is likely to
be troubled with the temperance question,
as well as the several others have men,
toned There is a growing sentiment
throughout the kingdom for local option.
At present any one can obtain a license
10 sell liquor at any place he desires if he
tulfills the required conditions. and for
that reason there happens to be "a pub
lie house on every corner" Temperance
advocates, having abandoned all hope of
getting prohibition for the entire king
dom. are now asking for prohibition in
spots. on plan similar to our local op-
ton.
An effort will also be made to reduce
the numerical strength and the expense of
the army
There will also be an attempt to modify
the power and limit the jurisdiction of the
house of lords The liberal government
demands the last word in legislat on for
the house Of commons. and a bill now
pending provides that if there shall be a
division between the houses over the same
measure for three sessions the house of
commons shall have the right to pass it
over the heads of the lords. The lords
threw out the educational BILL they hated
TO pass the strike bill: they would have
defeated the "workmen'S compensation
act If they had not been afraid to do SO.
but if they should defeat the education
bill again, or any other measure of SINH
ar popularity, the liberal party will go to
the country on that ISSUE. and the house
of lords will be compelled to accept the
popular verdict as expressed at the polls.
The socialists demand several measures
in addition to those ] have mentioned, in
Guiding an increase of the income tax on
a graduated scale that will compel multi
millionaires to divide their property with
the public; they demand that the govern
ment shall fix the prices of bread and coal
and other necessaries of life, and sell them
to the poor. even If they have to ma
tionaiize the coal supply, the flour mills
and the bakeries. They also ask for govt
arnment dispensaries to sell liquor at cost.
and for government restaurants at which
meals shall be served at cost; the estab-
lishment Of state pawnshops at which the
poor can borrow on chattel mortgages at
a nominal rate of interest, and free insur-
ance by the government against sickness
and disability.