Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07
KINGS BERLIN VISIT
Queen May Not Accompany
British Sovereign.
AUSTRIA'S PART IN PLANS
Government Counsel Busy Drafting
Bills.
SCHEMES BEFORE PARLIAMENT
London County Council Seeking
Powers to Construct Subway.
Lord Amherst's Daughters.
SCHEMES BEFORE PARLIAMENT
snecial Corresnondence Of The Star.


I learn on good authority that there Is
close connection between the sudden
clearing Of the war clouds in the near
east and the forthcoming visit Of King
Edward to Berlin. Incidentally revela-
ton Is afforded Of the increased influence
the king yields over European politics.
It is obvious that Austria has been the
disturbing factor in Europe. and that she
has enjoyed the support of her German
ally. Germany has greatly desired the
kings visit but the king made 1t condi-
ton Of his going to Berlin that Austria
should adopt more reasonable and &C
commodating attitude. Pressure was ac-
cordingly brought to bear upon Vienna
An offer of pecuniary compensation was
made to Turkey, which she accepted. This
all occurred with extraordinary rapidity,
the situation was cleared as if by magic
and the way was open for the royal visit
1t may be said that the kings visit was
finally decided before the arrangement
OF terms between Austria and Turkey
So far their public pronouncement is
concerned. that is. no doubt. true. But
events of this magnitude are in train
long before it Is opportune to proclaim
their progress to the world 1t may be
taken as certain that the kings visit to
Berlin was not finally and decisively ar
ranged until 1t was known IN the chan
Celleries of Europe that Austria had
agreed to compensate Turkey, and thus
cleared the European sky.
There is. after all, a possibility, l hear,
that the queen may not accompany the
king to Berlin. She has no liking for
the Prussian capital and would much
prefer to stay at home during his maJes-
tvs hurried visit. She has decided not to
leave Sandrngham for longer than pos
sble till, at least, the opening of parlia-
ment. The kings visit to the kaiser Is
now whitfield down to three days, and
hos Of NOT int ra
Tea with the burgomaster is a tame con-
trast to London's stately city ceremonial
at the Guildhall. In the end, of course,
the queen may be persuaded to go, but
at present her inclnations do not point
10 her leaving England.
1t is formally announced from Berlin
that there will be no review of German
troops in honor of the king and queen
on the occasion of their visit. There
are, l understand. several reasons for
this. One is that at this time of year
it would not be wise for the king and
queen to sit in an open carriage to wit
ness what would necessarily be some
what lengthy ceremony. Another reason
is that the garrison of Berlin is composed
of whole army corps of guards of
whom one-third are recruits. who prob
ably do not yet know their goose step.
A more delicate reason, perhaps, is that
the kaiser does not wish to raise I'M
pleasant memories in the mind of Queen
Alexandra by parading in front of her
the regiments which were instrumental
in wrestling Schleswig Holstein from her
fathers state in Denmark. 1t is no secret
that the queen is very sensitive on this
point. and, indeed, at time It was
thought she would not visit Berlin for
this reason.
Drafting Bills for Parliament.
The office of the parliamentary coun-
sci. where the bills of the government
are drafted, is very busy just now pre-
pairing the legislative measures of the
coming session. 1t is believed that the
government proposes to introduce, apart
from the budget, around which the in
terest Of the session will center, only
two big bills a poor law reform bill and
an Irish land bill. The latter is already
drafted. having been laid before parlia-
ment before the Propagation. But there
will be number of smaller or more or
less controversial measures, so that the
Office has plenty of work to do.
The staff consists of first counsel.
who gets G2,5O0 year, and a second
counsel who begins with 41.SOO. and aft
er three years Service gets G2,0OO. There
is an additional grant of 91,5OO per an
mum for fees to outside lawyers for as
sistance I'm drafting bills. when. as now,
they are too numerous to be COPIED with
by the permanent staff.
The craftsman, of course, receives his
instructions as TO what be Is to put into
a bill from the minister at the head of
the department to which it relates after
an outline of the proposals has been laid
De1OTe the CdDlnet ana Quly sanctioned
The first parliamentary counsel is Ar
thur Theodore Thring, G. b. He Is re-
sponsible for the drafting of the chief
government bills and for some months
before parliament meets works often for
twelve hours a day.
No fewer than three important schemes
for new docks, involving an expenditure
of $4,000 600 are being promoted in bills
which will be dealt with next session.
The proposed undertakings are for Ply
mouth. Southampton and Harwich. The
Plymouth scheme, supported by group of
well-known financiers Is estimated to cost
over E225O.OOO, and provides for the
building of four new sea walls, two grav-
ing docks and extensive quay railways.
Southampton's new docks at Itchen,
costing 41.2JO,OOO, are to be built by the
London and Southwestern Railway Com
pany, the promoters intention being to
enable that port to compete for the great
liner traffic. On the new docks at Har-
witch. for the continental trade. the
Great Eastern Railway Company also
propose spending 91.2J0,OO0.
The competition OF the tube railways
and the successful identification of the
District and Metropolitan systems have
long turned the very serious attention o.
railway directors to the possibilities OF
electric traction Not only is the North
London railway to replace steam by eiec.
tricity. but ! understand that the London
and Northwestern Company. the line run.
ming TO Liverpool and Scotland. is about
TO begin an experiment over nearly twenty
miles of line When this new system has
been tested and found reliable it will bs
extended.
At the same time the lines that serve
Londons southern suburbs have made
and still making, experiments in the
hope Of finding some means of checking
the deadly competitions OF the electr.t
trans. Unfortunately for these southern
lines, they have very little money. anC
for the first year or two electrification o
line involves loss. It's chief chance O.
success lies in improved conditions O
travel that attract more patronage bu
some OF the southern railways can hardly
rely today upon the good will of the lon,
suffering people whose daily misfortune
is to travel by them.
The Traffic Problem.
London took long time to move In tn,
matter OF travelling facilities adequate {
it's ever Increasing area and population
and something of the same philosophy
unconcern has been shown in regard t.
the traffic problem in the busier thorough
fares. Public opinion. If sporadic indica
tons of popular feeling may be de
scribed, has. however. been stirred re
Gently by the frequency OF street acct
dents Inquests connected with motor &C
cidents are unpleasantly numerous, an
the pedestrian may be excused a grow
when motor cars whisk past crossings a
a pace which forbodes the extinction o