The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-04
EngIand's Reconstruction Par
Lament Opens Sessions.
Faces Attempt by Workers To
Do Own RecOnstructing.
THERE'S IRISH REPUBLIC, TOO
Fate of Lloyd George Rule De-
pends on Congress.
There Are Vital Problems Now
To Be Passed On.

London, Feb. 4.-The "reconstruc-
ton" parliament convenes today with
a large portion of the country's work
ers attempting to take reconstruction
into their own hands.
AS organization of the newly elect
ed legislative body gets under way,
Great Britain and Ireland face the
constantly growing menace of a gem
eral strike which is frankly admitted
by many of its instigators to be the
first step toward attempted socializa-
ton of the nations industries under a
Bolshevistic regime.
Irish Republic, Too.
Added to this situation was the en-
barrassing presence of the new Irish
republic which was formally de-
lament" in Dublin. That the British
government had not evidenced in anv
way its intentions toward this new
neighbor only added to the response
bilities of the new Reconstruction"
parliament in ting matter.
For a week parliament will devote
itself to organization work, including
the swearing in of members, hearing
of contests, etc. 1t will be formally
opened by King George on Febru-
aEy IL.
So important are the problems i'm
mediately confronting parliament that
Premier Lloyd George, despite the
urgency of his presence at the peace
conferences. will arrive in London the
last of this week to confer with par
liamentary leaders and direct formula
ton of legislative program.
Problems to Come Up.
The vital questions which the par
lament must pass upon are:
Ratification of the peace treaty,
settlement of the general strikes, def
s,.s@ do VrIc n
republic. adoption of general recon-
struction program.
Under the last division is included
the problem of import restrictions
with possibly departure from the free
ira de" policy: free land for soldiers;
better housing and working condi-
tions, and extension and maintenance
of the merchant marine.
Both the coalition and minority par
ties are pledged to=p put thru sociological
forms which will make the country
worthy of the ''heroism of the men
who have fought for her since 1914
The housing problem will be one of
the first things to be considered.
House For Workers.
Parliament will be asked to author
ize the building of thousands of cot
tagesS within easy access to the indus
trial regions. These cottages would
be sold to workmen on easy payments.
- A ministry of health is to be Great
ed to keep tab on sanitary conditions
in industrial quarters and see the
workers environment is made more
pleasant.
The wage scale, it is hoped. will not
be allowed to drop back to its ante
bellum, hand to mouth level
While there will be some difficulty
in fixing a minimum wage. it seems
practically certain that some figure
will be agreed on which will email BILE
all workmen to maintain a much
| higher standard of living than hith-
! erto has been possible.
Regulation of working hours will be
debated and some maximum working
day fixed.
| Helping to Find Work.
| The labor ministry is helping de-
F. modified soldiers to find jobs
Whether such assistance will develop
| into a regular free labor agency with
| branches thruout the country or
whether the bulk of this work will be
! done by the trade unions. is still un-
certain. Both schemes have their ad-
! yocates.
Quick formation and passage of the
| industrial part of the reconstruction
| program will, it is believed. tend to-
ward amica BILE adjustment of the labor
crisis now threatening the country.
/ There was some conjecture as to
whether the Sim Feiners elected to
parliament would attend in it's forma-
I
gone conclusion that if they did. they
would withdraw before formal con-
vening of the body Iext week COM
/ pelied them to swear allegiance to the
| king. The few Irish nationalists
elected will be represented by T. P.
| O'Connor. their leader.
| Oppose "His Majesty"
One of the notable features of the
new parliament will be the appearance
/ of the party as "his majesty's opposi-
tion.' The laborites won this posi-
ton by the last elections by polling a
plurality over the other non-coalition
parties, with the exception of the Sim
Feiners. The latter. however. are ex-
pected to re1iQuish their chance to lead
the opposition by refusing to sit.
i Among the not4d statesmen who
were defeated for reelection are Her
! bert Asquith, former premier. and
Arthur Henderson, labor leader.
How the British parliament is divid-
| ed. politically:
Coalition-Unionist. 33S; Liberals
1876; National Democratic party, 10.
Total 484.
Non-coalition = Labor party. SO:
Unionis.s, As; Liberals. IS: National
party, q Independents, Z; Sim Fem
ers, 7s; Irish Nationalists, Z. To-
tol 222