Evening star., 1908-01-19

of commons have had a very consider
seek a sphere of usefulness in the other
chamber
Irish Peers Not Irish.
Meanwhile there are signs that even
the way he was chosen is not quite
smooth. in spite of his sponsors. One.
who is himself by a way of being pos
sible Irish peer some day. said to me:
IF the Irish peers should elect Lord
tive peer they will be breaking an un-
written law an established custom
namely. to elect no representative VINO
is not Irish or who has no stake or
property in Ireland.
There are no two men less Irish than
Lord Curzons proposer and seconder on
this occasion. The Duke of Abrrcorn
is the head of that family which Is
known throughout Ireland as the hungry
Hamiltons.' a family of Scottish race.
and Lord Londonderry is no more Irlsh
than the German emperor There are
several Irish peers who exercise their
right to vote at elections Of representa-
tives for the house of lords. but not De
dream of becoming candidates. There
is, for instance, Lord RsDdleshaln %
Rendlesham in Suffolk who is an irish
peer and an Englishman. and | tnlnk
the rule has applied to the Lords I,s-
brrne. irish peers. but heads of the
Vaughans. who have been seated at
Trawscced in Cardiganshire. since the
thirteenth century.
Concealing Incomes.
The treasury officials are now busiiy
engaged in making up the estimates
Of the financial year for the coming
session. and Mr. Asquith is said to he
very well pleased with the result. The
income tax returns show a marked in
crease over the average of o,evious
wears owing to the new regulat tions.
MANY who formerly put their income
at a lower figure have now beeh
obliged to make a correct return. oW-
ing to the new power which the IN
come tax department possesses OF de-
manding list of salaries rom EN-
ployeS.
In some cases the difference is so
marked that proceedings may be taken
for fraudulently concealing inc mes. put
I do not think there is any dang " OF any
considerable number of prosecutions.
The government does not wish to do
ANYTHING gratuitously to make itself
unpopular and Mr. Asquith has stated
practically that he will let bygones ne
bygones But an attempt at conceal
ment under the new regime Will GER
tainly be visited with heavy penalties.
So far the returns Justify the expecta-
ton that the exchequer Will more than
make up the loss on the lower scale OF
taxation for earned incomes. IN 1as., @
there Is good reason to hope that the
return from the income tax TINS year
will show a surplus considerably De
yond Mr. Asquith's estimate !he gov
eminent may. therefore. be able to re-
nit some small amount in indirect tax
alton next year in addition 10 setting
aside larger sum than was expected
for old-age pensions.
England's Richest College.
Trinity College, Cambridge, which
benefits by the will of Sir William
Pearce to the extent of a4O0.nOO. has
the largest gross revenue of any col
lege in either university. Its total in
come is over s76OOO "a year.; but it
provides seventy scholarships of f1o0
a year for five years. numerous exhi-
bitions and prizes. The masterahip is
worth 81 loo year, and each of the
seventy fellows draws dividend
varying of late years between f3O
and Go3O q year for six years Be-
sides these stipends there are the spe-
cial salaries of tutors. lecturers. chap
lains. organist. choir and the nainte-
nance of the largest college library
and collegiate buildings in either uni
versity. In spite, therefore, of the
large income. those responsible :or the
financial arrangements of this huge So
ciety dn all. some 700 souls) ave to
exercise rigid economy. and the pres
ent addition, to the college exChequer
may be usefully spent in many ways
without incurring the charge o. lux
urious living.
Bleak Dramatic Season.
Theatrical managers have turned their
backs on the year with no sign of re-
gret-except for their depleted bank
balances. The right plays have been
harder than ever to find. especially with
Mr.. Pinero. Mr.. Barrie. Capt. Robert
Marshall and other leading dramatic
authors resting their hands. serious
modern drama has few successes to
the lighter side. This Is not because
the public are incurably frivolous. but
because attractive dramas are not put
before them. For instance Irene
Wycherley." by a perfectly unknown
writer. Mr.. A. p. Wharton, Caught on"
at once even at an unlucky theater.
for the reason that 1t had real dra
matte feeling and grip.
The Waldorf Theater, about which
there are frequent rumors. Still Ian
guishes for a tenant. One Of Is earliest
productions was a play called Lights
Out" 1t has more or less lived up to
that title ever since. Shortly ii will
he renamed and repainted. like the
Playhouse and the kingsWaS-once
equally unlucky. 1t will take a long
name given to 1t by Mr.. Seymo + Hicks,
"the Automatic Theater, be- lise it
opens and shuts itself.
l. IL CORE.