New-York tribune., 1909-09-10
KING FORMER VIEWS
Royal Commission Report Signed by
Him az Prince Recalled
Copyright. 1909. by the brentwood con,snv


were also made from the platform tnst tbe mon
nrch Just prior to his departure had oxnr.ssaa 60
Premier Asqutth his warm approval of the various
features OF the financial projects the govern
rnent especially those connected with the taxation
Of land This assertion has been vigorously con-
tested and denounced by the Conservatives and
Cnonists. on the ground that the Crown Is hound
by the terms and by the spirit of the constitution
strict impartisty and TO the avoidance of any
thing that could be construed as partsanship. 1t
expected that official denial of the story
would be issued, either by the ministers themselves
by Lord Knollys, the Kings private secretary,
but nothing has
The reason for this is possibly that twenty-five
years the King member of the royal
commission the housing of the working classes
in The United Kingdom. of which Sir Charles Dilke
was the chairman and the late Cardinal Manning
one of the most influential members Among the
recommendations of that commission, which he
appended his signature. along with those of the
others the commission is a drastic proposal
recommending that the site value of vacant land
should be rated at per cent of its selling value.
Tho entire purport OF the recommendations of the
commission is that there should he large add-
tional tax levied, especially in cities and towns. on
the ground landlords. whose revenues do not con-
sttute a recomPcnss for any industry or expendi-
fure their part but the natural result OF
industry and activity OF the townspeopls them
selves. These principles all intsnts and pur-
poses embodied III the financial projects OF the
government-constitute in fact their very basis
and are points which being most vigorously
fought by the Unionsts
II is perfectly true that when Edward VII signed
his name these recommendations of the royal
commission the housing of the working classes
r. quarter of a century ago he was merely Prince
of Wales and a such member of the House OF
Lords and entitled to such. Nor can the
views which he expressed as heir apparent oe con-
sidered as binding him in his capacity as King
,ilI his signature the report of that royal com
mission regarded by some as standing IN the
way of denial of the story which the Liberals
are exploiting to his recent expression OF ap-
5roval tie government finance bill
PREMIER CLEMENCEAU AS PLAYWRIGHT
Much TO the dis1nay OF the new French govern
r1ent ex-Premier Clemenceau has decided to delay
his departure for Egypt and 10 remain IN farls
until well into the winter In order 10 suptIfi
personally the rehearsals and the producloh d'
one of the leading boulevard theatres OF new
drama which he has just completed and which is
an adaptation of his novel, Les Plus Forts oh9
a. fsw weeks have elapsed since he resigned the
Office OF Prime Minister, which he held for four
sears during which time he virtually every
department of the government with the most au-
rocratic hand reducing his colleagues OF the Caol
net TO the role of clerks employed 10 exc
cute his directions.
That he should have found leisure during his
strenuous of the presidency OF the Council
of Ministers to write drama serves to call at
tention once the extraordinary versatility
and mental as well physical visor Of this sep
tuagenarian. who in many respects resembles the
late William E. Gladstone. To the best of my
knowledge, he is the only playwright who can
boast of having held the office of Premier and
that he still considers himself journalist is ap-
parent from the fact that he has announced his
intention Of attending the International Press Con-
ference which is TO be held in London very shortly,
when he will avail himself of the opportunity Of
making stay Warwick Castle as the guest Of
Lord and Lady Warwick.
ARTHUR LEES NEW COUNTRY SEAT.
Arthur Lee formerly military attache OF the Brit
Ssh Embassy Washington subsequently Civil
lard Of the Admiralty In the Balfour adnins-
fration, and now one OF the leaders OF the op-
position the House Of Commons, will hence
forth make his home at Chequers Court, beauti
fui place in Buckngha rnshire. which is considered
10 be one of the finest examples Of Eltzabethan
architecture in the United Kingdom. Chequers
Court is situated in the Chiltern Hills The origi-
nal house dates from about 1890. But only the
foundations. cellars and room or two above
ground remain Of the old mansion. which was
practically rebuilt by Sir William Hawtrey in 15sS
Chequers Court until has been sold.
and throughout period OF seven hundred years
has changed hands only by means of will IFS last
owner being young Frankland Russell Ashley, who
recently came Of age. It possesses many historic
"a associations we'll number of relics OF
Oliver Cromwell, while the estate that goes with
St embraces about twelve thousand Colonel
Lee. who went through the Spanish American War
and the entire Cuban campaign as military at
tache, has an American wife in the daughter OF
n,
year to pass without running to the United
States in order To visit his wife's family and his
many friends. He Is slated for Cabinet Office
the next Unionist administration. and stands
particularly high in the confidence and friendship
of Arthur Balfour.
AN OLD OXFORD LANDMARK GONE.
Dr. BeIamy who has just died AZ the ripe
age Of ninety. for many years the de facto
ruler of the University Of oxford as its vice
chancellor. and held the office of president of St
Johns College for less than forty years. lie
reigned at Oxford vice-chancellor with hand
Of steel encased In velvet glove. and. unlike
some Of the university dons was, in spite of his
od-fashioned courtness, absolutely free from syc-
ophsncy. Thus. when King George Of Greece
yisited the university. and il fell upon DIR. Bel
iany yice-chancellor to do him the honors of
the university, he among other things. entertained
him at dinner in ST. Johns Hall Just before they
went in table the English royal eqlBrry, who
had been attached TO the service OF the King by
the Court Of ST. James's during his stay I'm Eng
land Bellamy that Ibis majesty usually
took a cigar with his dessert DR.. Bellamy, who
had never until then allowed smoking in the ban
quoting hall common room. declined to make
exception for any guest, matter how dis
tnguished. When the time for smoking arrived
he simply turned to the senior proctor and eH-
claimed: Mr. Proctor. take his majesty into the
garden for a cigar" his majesty went.
Member Of old county family OF Norfolk, he
had a beautiful place near Kings Lynn. known
Is the Manor House. Ingoldsthorpe and was a
neighbor therefore OF Edward VII at Sandring-
ham. When on one occasion the King, then Prince
Of Wales, complained In kindly fashion that he
saw little OF the doctor at Sandrfngham. he
excused himself with the remark. The truth is.
sir, I cannot stand your smoke"-for he could not
abide tobacco.
Many Of the most distinguished men Of England
passed through his hands while at Oxford. and he
coached the late Lord Salisbury as private tutor