New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
LIBERALS STRONGER.
Signs of Harmony IN Cabinet
The Days Returns.
fBy tn. Associated Press.


London, Jan. 2e.-The week closes with
the Liberals in better heart a result of
their gradually swelling total. They en-
phasize the fact that with the Iaborites the
governments purely British majority will
be forty. The fact that Premier Asquith
and Chancellor Lloyd George are taking a
brief holiday, after short conference to-
day, is further resssuring to the rainis-
terialists, who see in this evidence Of
harmony in the Cabinet.
II Is notable also that the more moderate
opinion, which few days ago echoed the
Conservative suggestions of a conference
on the subject Of the House OF Lords, has
now come into lire. the extremists decar
ing that II is the governments first duty to
pass the budget at once, and then take UP
the matter of the Lords.
There is no question that the ploughing
of sands by the introduction Of legislation
would likely be barren. At the came time
1t is limited that the second budget, which
is due 10 be presented as soon the first
is PASSED, viii contain concessions to the
Irish in the reduction OF spirit taxes and
10 the inaperieliste by an increase in the
navy. for which probably $685. 900 will be
voted
The ITnionists confident that the gov
e1nfnSnt VIII pc plunged ln1O Ql1IlCuiueS
from the outset by the Laborites. who are
certain to Teintroduce their right to
work bill. which was rejected by the
government I'm the last Parliament. More
over. the debate on the address is likely 10
be animated. 4 host of amendments is al
ready foreshadowed. including the Home
Rule ard fiscal questions. The latter, how
ever, is likely to be in the backgreuna so
far as Parliament Is concerned, although
an active prcpag ganda will be continued in
the constituencies. The warmest fight in
the new Parliament Will be on the veto of
the House of Lords, which all are agreed
will bring on new election within a few
months.
The general elections are ct an end with
the exception of seven constituencies, the
returns from which can be forecast conf
d"rtiy, and the tripartite coalition of Lib
erals Laborttes ard Irish NationaHsts wifi
find itsels with a nsjcritv Of 122 seats
In this combination, however, there are
included some ten OBrienitss and Healy-
ties, who are sworn opponents of the budget
and of any trucking 80 sither Saxon party.
The Unionjst tariff reforiners, who are to-
day one behind the Liberals, will be almost
certainly the strongest homogeneous party
numerically in the House Of Commons.
though by hare margin of one. The posi-
tion OF the parties to-day is:
GOVERNMENT COALITION.
Lipersis 2o2
OPPOSITION.
Crionists ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I'll
The final figures which will not be avail
able before February l2, doubtless will give
the Unionists 274 seats, the Liberals 273, the
NatIonaIists s. and the Labefites A.
Both sides claiming victory. but the
verdict of unbiased observers is that none
of the great questions on which the cam
paign centred has been settled. From the
point of view of the politicians the chief
practical result is the marked weakening OF
the position of the Ministry. which at the
time of the dissolution OF the last Parlia-
n1ent commanded a clear majority OF fifty
eight over all other parties combined.
In the new House Of Commons the Lib
erals will be unable to legislate without
Laborite or Nationalist support, and the
latter VIII be IN a position to throw them
cut at any time they see fit unless the
Unionists come to their help, as il is con-
ceiYable they might do under certain Cir
cumstances.
With two gains to-day the Unionistg
scored q total of i25. The Liberals to-day
captured the JaTrow division of Durham
County from the Labor party, giving them
total of twenty gains. The Laborites have
only single gain and many losses, 50 they
return to Parliament fourteen short of their
number in the last House. There arc ru-
nors Of the possibility OF actual coalition
between the Liberal and Labor parties
through the appointment of two Laborites
in the Cabinet, but the Labor vote appears
10 he too welded TO it's independence to an
prove such a proposal.
Sir Charles Dixie, Liberal, for the For
est OF Dean division of Gloucestershire, wss
among to-day's successful candidates