The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-22

in passing the bill on its second reading
! took the fdsm of rejecting the motion
, of Mr.. Balfour.
The largest attendance of members at
the present session Of the House re-
fiettcd the vital importance OF the legis-
| lation under discussion. The division
on Mr.. Balfour's amendment was 225
in favor, and 34S against It. This is the
normal ministerial majority with the
support of the Laborites and Irish Ma
, tionallsts. The House then adjourned
, until to- morrow.
The public interest In the bill was
shown by the unwonted crowds which
sought admission to the galleries, there
being at least ten applicants for every
seat
Balfour's announcement that the Con-
servatiyes are opposed to a general
election at this time was interpreted
ty friends of the Premier as meaning
the Government will receive Conserva-
tive votes to Kill any extreme amend
rents that may be offered tomorrow.
The Miners Federation to-day served
an ultimatum on Premier Asquith. He
was notified that il he refused to accept
the amendments proposed by the miners
including the fixing by the proposed
law Of . minimum wage scale for each
district OF not less than shillings daily
for an adult and shillings for a minor
working under ground. the miners would
refuse to abide by the minimum wage
law and would not 60 back to work on
Monday.
The Labor members are unalterably
opposed TO the minimum wage bill as
originally framed. They are a unit in
declaring that they will vote against it.
A majority Of the Nstionalists are with
them In this attitude. Their reason is
that the bill fails to meet the situation
and they contend that if they sanction
straddle in the present instance they
are likely to he confronted with one when
the home rule bill IL brought up.
fhoch Edwards. leader Of the miners,
said .o-day that the miners resented
the Government interference. He stated
that they had not asked for the bill. The
claims OF the miners. Edwards said, are
both reasonable and entirely fair.
There are daily additions to the stories
OF distress caused by the strike. Thou
sands of persons are on the verge of
starvation and are dependent upon
charity. An Instance Of this is afforded |
In Burslem. in Stafford. In what ix
known as THE Potteries" district At
that place alone 10000 meals have been /,
served in the town hall in the last
eleven days.
Those who could AFFORD to pay It were !
charged one cent for each meal. but |
those who had no money were fed free. |
The workers OF all classes who have |
not been thrown out OF employment by |
The strike are sending in their coritrl- |
buttons TO aid such cases. and It is this !
that has SO far prevented the hungry !
people from looting in the districts !,
which are. most affected by the strike. !
Such instances as that Of Burslem are
widespread.
In other places the employers OF per-
sons who have been thrown out of
work are advancing money to feed their
employees. the funds so furnished to
be repaid when work is resumed.
As a threatened augmentation to the |
present industrial stagnation come in
creasing rumors OF a nationwide railroad |
strike. confirmation OF the report that |
the railroad employees will submit a new
programme to the operators in May has !
just been made by j. H. Thomas. score
tary of the most important railway mems |
union and a Labor NJ. p. Mr.. Thomas |
would not commit himself. however, as
to whether the men were definitely de- /
cided to stop work unless the operators ,
met their demands.
1t is reported that the railroads will
totally discontinue their Sunday SER
vices in two weeks IL the strike con-
tinucs that long. The Great Central an
nounces that there will be an entire
OF passenger and freight
trains on Sunday on and after March "a.
SASorHAR. Scotland. March Ala
force Of 500 miners marching to the
mines. outside Of this city to-day to