Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-14

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH OF
NATIONS spoke last week Of the
strike in the Scotch coal mines and the
threat Of its spread to embrace the en-
tire coal industry Of Great Britain.
New arrangements respecting pay
and hours had been necessitated by the
going into effect on December l OF the
new mines act, the which substitutes q
seven-and-o ne half hour day for the
old eight-hour day. However, passage
of the bill was facilitated and perhaps
made possible by the understanding that
the owners advocacy Of a Spread
over" system de, 45-hour week or
00-hour fortnight with the distribution
of hours adapted to the owners wishes)
would receive full consideration. AS
December / approached, the owners de-
clared uncompromisingly for the spread
over system. Moreover, they demanded
COR many did wage reductions to cor
respond to working hours reduction.
The Scotch miners struck, the min
ers of England and Wales temporarily
accepted the spread-over system (but
with no wage reductions) pending ne
gotiations. A conference of Miners
Federation delegates in London on De-
cember 4 accepted the spread-over prin-
ciple. provided there should be no wage
reductions. 1t would seem, indeed, that
wage reduction was merely a talking
point" for the owners. On December 8
the Scotch miners went back to work.
A frightful menace had been dtSsi-
pated.
Land poor, the Duke of Montrose has
sold Ben Lomond, so famous in song
and story.
George Francis Hill, keeper Of the
Department of Coins and Medals in the
British Museum. has been appointed the
director and principal librarian Of the
museum, in succession to Sir Frederic
Kenyon, who retires on December 81.
Mr. Hill has been in the service of the
museum over 81 years and is one of
the worlds great authorities on coins
and medals. 49,
Imports into Canada in October
showed a remarkable falling of in COM
parison with the figures for October,
1929; $78,358, 900 against $1l6,271 900.
Imports from Great Britain totaled
S13 1855 900 In value, against $17,816,0 900
| for October 1929; imports from the
United States $4s, 327 900, against ST.
355, 900 for october, 1929.
Il
! FRANCE-On December President
Doumergue invited Louis Barthou to
form a cabinet.
M. Barthou has had distinguished
career. He Is So years old, son Of q
tinsmith, graduate of the University OF
| Bordeaux, q lawyer Self-made, virtuoSo
extraordinary, and a writer OF some
note He entered public life at ~, as
Deputy from the Bases PyreneeS. He
first took cabinet Office in 1894 as min
lister of public works. In 1913 he be-
came premier under President Poin-
care, and 1t was under his guidance
/ that the epochal measure was passed
increasing the term of service with the
colors from two to three years. During
the war he served Importantly as a
minister and O member OF the War
Council. He was for some years presi-
dent Of the Preparations Commission;
1 which difficult function he exercised
most admirably; indeed, recommen-
dalton Of his contained the germ Of
the Dawes plan.
In 1922 he represented France with
great distinction in the Conference of
Genoa. In 1928 he became Vce-presi-
dent Of the Council and minister Of
justice in the Poincare cabinet, but he
declined portfolio in the succeeding
Tardieu cabinet because of the illness
OF his wife.
ri. Barthou tried hard, but about
midnight of the 7th was compelled to
announce failure. His main effort had
been to secure participation Of the
Radical Socialists. But the latter would
have nothing TO do with O. government
which should include q member of the
Republican Democratic Union Oouis
Marins Right group; and TO make that
concession would mean loss of Tar
deus support. O loss neither desired
nor In he Afforded
On the 9th the President invited
Senator Pierre Laval 10 have o try.
Senator Laval IL Of the Left but only
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