The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-04-02

COMMONS IN A ROW
OYER STOCK INQUIRY
Prominent Member Resigns and
Calls II Attempt to
Whitewash.
EPITHETS ARE Used
Lloyd George Calls UniOnist n
Cad When Questioned About
His Dealings.
EPITHETS ARE Is
Spec,ol cable Despatch TO The Su>

Il question Dy 1neHlDeT ny calling MN
a cad" THIS Of course was not an
official answer. but It was a real answer
and was spoken 80 tha, the whole House
could hear It.
Tonight member OF the House of
Commons committee of inquiry into the
Marconi shares transactions Of members
of the Cabinet resigned his member
ship from the committee which is sup
posed to be an absolutely impartial ju-
dicial body. on the ground that the com
mittee was n mere humbug appointed
to whitewash men into whose conduct
II should make an impartial investi-
cation
This fairly indicates the extreme heat
and bitterness engendered by the House
OF Commons inquiry into the stock deal
inSs OF Sir Rufus Isaacs. the Attorney
General and Lloyd George. tho Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer in the American
Marconi company.
The matter. inevitably of course has
been made to great extent party
question. but an impa rtial observer can
see that there Is more than that to II.
The committee is supposed to conduct
| an impartial inquiry on behalf of the
House of Commons into attacks upon
the honor and rectitude of two members
OF the Kings Government as judged
oS 'rauitiohs ana unWritten laws which
| have for long been held to regulate their
| actions.
| Without taking sides it can be said
| that If the same feeling which exists to-
DAY IN the minds Of their critics had
existed under similar circumstances a
couple of generations ago there is little
doubt hut that Sir Rufus Isaacs and
Lloyd George would now be undergoing
impeachment instead Of an inquiry by
a select committee of the House"
| Again. without taking sides, for the
press and prominent individuals who
are supporters of the Government can
| be quoted in this sense, il il uerfectIv
| fair TO saw Tim, thor. is . biy ,aoI,rn H.,
the country that ;he honor and in,eyri,v
| Of members of the Gnyernm.nt arc n,
stake. not specifically of tho uembors
| of this present Government bu, Of n
| British Governments
| This feeling d,n,uds tbat ,b ,,,.u
| ton must be. fought out tn - finish
! Just now England and the English cop
| bc brutully frank with itself and Them
selves in their own affairs. ON the
| other hand no country and no indi-
| viduals can on occasiom make more
prolific use of wh!tewash in the sup
| preston of ugly facts
| Whether or not tn. latter trait is be-
ing exhibited to an extraordinary extent,
1t is only fair 10 wait until the com
inittee's report is made before deciding
1 ljut me attack IlnNH (sanrDa ma
on the moor or the House OF Commons
| 'hls AFTERNOON by Ny. kebty Fletcher
SHOWS now strongly this opinion is held
py the opposition Tor II was made coldly
anu ny caIcuihton. There is stronger
! ','uehcr vi 'h!s t'eiins in the resigna-
non oi menner OF the inquiry com
mice "'' lhr ground thai the investi-
| H"''"h was Il iafce ana would result In
"NHn''s 'he accused members or
'"r nj o"nI''e.
i"e government OF course, appoints all
! .o''''"'''res ~ '"'S sort ana is supposed
,,.,',f, - ''at II, "'u'harE language
| "ou'' oe 'd.''u an impartial jury That
rE 'pp"'"''o '""hSe1 Tor the defence
'''' oee" common accusation. but to
'' '''p". ''"' "'H''N'' II - unworthy Of
'"o S''"t h"'lCe III the rsport Is made
I ''N
'es'ths on this account il cannot he
pasSeo over IL Is all the more impor-
'ah' as 'he man VIII" resigned is Har-
old Smlth. brother of +. T.. Smith
Inc latter, as is well known, is marked
out as the most prominent coming man
on the Cnionist side of the House, and
Is destined indeed To occupy the very
same position in the next Unionist
Government that Sir Rufus lsaacs holds
in the present Ministry.
1t Is Impossible not TO connect this
member with his brother, who. as n
front bench members of the OpposI,lon
ranks as one of the most important
members in the House of Commons
coming only after the front bench mem.
bers Of the Government
| Mr. Smith writes to tn. chairman of
the Marconi inquiry commit,e. askin.,
to be relieved of his membership IIe
goes on 10 say:
| Il have arrived at this conclusion
| after fun considerable and with great
! regret. but after what took place ON
| Friday morning ] cannot see nv way
clear to continue to attend the meet
inss. Two members have been publicly
charged with having received and with
held from the committee most vital in
formation. which. had It been communI-