Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-22
PARLIAMENT TORN;
MAY 60 To PIECES
OVER COAL STRIKE
Minimum Wage Bill Intro
duced by ASQuith Precipi-
tateS a Crisis in House of
Commons
lRr A.,oci.tsa Prsss.l


acterized as passing in magnitude any
thing this country has heretofore expe-
rienced. was reflected in the tense at
mosphere Of the house OF commons this
afternoon when the minimum wage bill
came up for second reading.
Premier Asquith formally moved the
second reading OF the bill and then
yielded the floor TO Mr.. Balfour. who
moved its rejection
The country" said Mr.. BaIfour.
never before has been faced with
crisis such as this. We are witnessing
the new. strange and portentous spec
tacle OF a single organization, acting
within its legal powers. threatening 10
paraIyze the whole trade Of the country.
There is no Indication that the lead
ers OF the movement desired to temper
the use OF their legal powers. with
any consideration OF mercy. Was there
ever an American trust at any period
OF its existence which had used or mis-
used the powers given to il by the law
10 the detriment OF private interests and
general trade TO the extent we are now
witnessingT'>
cries Of YES from the labor benches
greeted Balfours question as to the
American trusts Mr.. Balfour said he
recornized the earnestness OF Premier
Asoufth's efforts but declared:
There never has been a graver case
OF a government deceiying itself and de-
ceivfuzs the house OF commons.
The former premier said the govern
rnent defended it's bill on the ground of
the existence OF abnormal places IN
some OF the mines but this was merely
10 save the face OF ministers who had
FASTENED. under threats 20 yield TO the
conditions laid down by the miners.
He complained that the government
had sanctioned the caring up Of existing
agreements without a word OF protest.
ana declared that there was no justifi-
cation for the government attempting 70
force this colossal revolution" through
the house OF commons in less than a
week
Nr sBslfour said that even assuming
the government were defeated. there
could not Re adissolution as II was i'm
possible 20 add the confusion OF a gen
erai election TO the horror OF the strike
He intInated that although the union
ISIS intended to test the opinion OF the
rousa regardfnz the methods Of the gov
eminent. they would after that do their
best to see that the policy OF the gov
eminent had its chance
r~ror4 mis- Il appears clear that the
unionizts viii not obstruct the commit
tee stage OF the bill and that the house
OF lords viii pass H.
The crisis which has arisen over
the minimum wages bill introduc-
"a nv Premier Asquith I'm the
house Of commons 70 bring TO an
end the deadlock in British trade
caused BY the national coal strike con-
tinues- The idea appears to be gaining
rrround that there will be considerable
deIav in passing the measure. even II II
is not thrown out entirely. and that
thus the strike will be prolonged
The spread OF this opinion has caused
further CONSERVATION in the Industrial
districts OF the United Kingdom
where the suffering is extreme IL Is
now estimated that besides the l.
GOO 600 miners on strike, nearly 2.0o0,-
600 other persons have been rendered
idle
In towns OF the kingdom people are
waiting the action OF the house OF COM
mons tonight There is no doubt that
the minimum wages bill viii receive a
second reading. for the coalition com
posed OF the Liberals, the Irish party
and the Labor party will unite IN Vot-
ing for IL. Troubl will begin. however,
when the bill reaches the committee
stage. at which period the members OF
the Labor party will propose the
amendments on whose adoption they in
Eist
The Liberal party is now swept by
doubt. Some OF its members wish the
bill abandoned Others desire TO &C
cent the miners wages schedule and an
even larger fraction IS willing TO en-
graft on the bill a clause establishing
a minimum OF s1-25 daily for all men
employed underground and so cents for
boys
Liberal members OF parliament are
warning the Labor members that should
the bill be defeated IL will be neces-
sarv for the government. which is
friendly TO them. to resign and hand
over the management Of the country
Affairs TO the Unionist party. which is
not so friendly.
A general election would. IL is pointed
out, be impossible until the dispute is
settled and the government would be
carried on without a parliament
This morning the executive commit
tee Of the Minerals Federation con-
ferred with the Labor members OF par
lament and framed amendments which
they intend to move when the minimum
wage bill reaches committee stage in
tire house
Railroads continue to curtail service
on some OF the northern lines all
freight trains have been cancelled
The mine owners appear pleased with
the threatened wreck OF the minimum
wage bill. which they characterize as a
DISSEMINATING makeshift"
Many OF them contend that enactment
OF the bill will condemn members OF
the less productive c0alers 10 permanent
abandonment
They demand radical amendments "a
the bill providing specific safeguards
and giving the powers Of an arbitrator
10 the chairman OF the district boards,
no they claim should be appointed by
the lord chief justice OF England and
the lord Justice general OF Scotland, 70
work in their respective jurisdictions
because OF political considerations en-
tering so freely into the government s
proposals" For this reason the own
srs fear that appointments Of chairmen
81 district boards BY the board OF trade
as proposed possibly would be biased
Mr.. Balfour's appearance at the house
q commons today in opposition to the
governments bill looking TO settle
ment OF the coal strike creates a con-
stitutional situation OF the greatest
sonfusion which may wreck the gov
srnment and precipitate a general cleo
ton with its grave uncertainties as q
irish home rule. Welsh disestablish'
uent. electoral reform and all the other
big features OF the Liberal program.