Evening star., 1908-01-25
NEW HOUSE PROGRAM
Problems Now Awaiting SoIu-
tion by Parliament.
LICENSING QUESTION UP
Nationalists Will Force Home Rule
to the Front.
FIGHT FOR OLD AGE PENSIONS
Suffragettes Are Talking Large,
But There Is Not Much Hope for
Their Bill This Session.
FIGHT FOR OLD AGE PENSIONS

LONDON. January a0-The third and
what promises to be the most critical
session of the parliament controlled by
Sir Henry. Campbell Bannerman will be
formally opened January - b ythe king.
with all the traditional pomp and cere-
mony that marks the brief annual visit
of the monarch to ST. Stephens. His
majesty will be accompanied on this oc-
casion by Queen Alexandra, the Prince
and Princess OF Wales and any other
members of the royal family who happen
to be in England at the time, while to
greet them in the historic chamber will
be assembled the usual gathering OF dig
nitaries
This formal opening OF the houses OF
parliament by the king in person always
attracts momentary attention. but the
real interest. keener than ever this year.
centers more in the legislation that the
government proposes To introduce and
the cost OF the social reforms estimated
at many millions OF pounds, that the new
elements in the political arena. the labor
and socialist parties are attempting to
bring about. If all the legislation prom
lsed for the coming session is fo.ecasted
In the speech from the throne, the mem
bers OF the house of commons will have
stupendous task before them. and the
usual session OF six months will hardly
afford sufficient time to dispose of it all.
The Irish Problem.
Irish affairs are sure to occupy much
time. for. besides the Irish universities
Dill promised TO Catholics. and a bill to
deal with the grazing lands, over which
cattle driving originated. the opposition
has threatened to introduce an amend
ment to the reply to the speech which
Wiii enable them 10 discuss in detail the
governments Irish policy. This will
place Mr.. Birrell. the secretary for Ire
land, on the defensive, in respect to what
has been done or what he has failed to
do as the unionists put IL, and also en-
aple hlm TO make statement as to fu-
ture policy. 1t will be the first big de-
bate Of the session. and. unless the
Younger nationalists are held in check as
lively one as parliament has Witness
ed In recent years.
After Ireland. in point OF public in
terest. VIII come a drastic licensing
Dill. to fight which the brewers. dis
tillers and license holders throughout
the Kingdom have already organized.
Inc measure Is not expected To meet
party. 1t will provide, however, tnat at
the end of specified period all Ii
censes shall cease. and the granting OF
new licenses shall be placed N the
hands of more or less popular authori-
ties, thus establishing to some extent
local option Should the brewers consid-
er It preJudicial to their business they
can dependupon the house of lords either
would not be acceptable to the COM
mons, and thus add another 10 the
many liberal grievances against the
upper chamber.
Old Age Pensions.
Old age pensions occupy a prominent
place in the government program. The
principle is supported by all parties,
but on details there is a hopeless diff
ference. Mr.. Aisquith. the chancellor
of the eXchequer. it is believed will
propose that a start be made with a.
vote of E5.000.000. to which must be
added G2.oO0OOO put aside last year for
this purpose. This sum, the labor menu
bers contend is inadequate even for a
start, While on the question of how the
money is to be applied there are hardly
two opinions alike. This one measure
may. therefore. be expected to take up
a lot of time. Being a matter OF finance.
the lords have nothing to say on il.
The rest Of the program includes an
other attempt to amend the education
act bone of contention between the
two houses: the reintroductioa of the
Scottish land valuation and land bills
rejected by the lords last year: a new
English land valuation bill: n measure
establishing eight hours as the legal
working time in all mines: bill es-
tablishing a new port authority for
London, with power to collect All dues
and erect new docks, which the owners
of docks are opposing, and a lot OF
housing and other reforms looking TO
the comfort, well-being and health OF
the poorer residents In large cities.
which John Burns. secretary of the
local government board has devised
after a careful study of the working
of similar measures in Germany and
elsewhere.
Woman Suffrage.
The advocates Of womans suffrage.
having failed to convince the govern
ment that the time has come when
women should be given the vote, will
depend upon private members 10 ad-
vance their cause. Such a bill. how
ever. stands little chance OF reaching
the statute books without government
support.
The budget will be not less interest
ing than the legislation. The reforms
mentioned mean a great increase in the
expenditure. and when there is added
to this an increase of 100000 sterling
in the naval estimates to meet the
German proposals. an extra million for
the new army scheme, and n similar
increase for education. experts say the
chancellor of the eXchequer yIll have
to find nearly G10,OO0.000 more than
was necessary for last year.
Six months seem all to short for the
work in hand. but the government is
to establish a record in case
the rejection of its proposals by the
lords necessitates an appeal to the
country for on Endorsement of it's
policy to reform the upper house. Fre-
of the closure may. therefore. oe looked
for.