The Northern Guardian. — 1894-05-22 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

GOSSIP OF THE HOUR.  The Central I,sTews says :—" A large section of the Cabinet are in favour of referring the issue to the country." "Should Ministers be defeated upon an essential part of their financial scheme," the same authority says, "they would resign and advise Her Majesty to dissolve Parliament."  ---000 No one would be greatly surprised if this turned out to be true. The Government have placed themselves in a very awkward position by means of their extravagance in promises, and it is highly probable that they will rid themselves of all troubles and follies by committing suicide. The Radicals profess to be a noble anci daring Party, yet they talk about running away from their posts. Brave, very I  At St. Stephen's, says the Standard, the Civil Service Estimates were under consideration, and though much that was useful and suggestive was advanced in the course of the debate on various votes, the formal proceedings of the sitting were decidedly unexciting. Nor can it be said that the forebodings of a blank Session and of an early dissolution which the supporters of the Cabinet communicated to each other in the lobbies rose to the dignity of an( emotion. The desponding frame of mind has almost become normal, and the only fluctuations are due to speculations as to the precise character and probable period of the collapse.  On the Liberal side of the House there is a growing belief that if the Government carry the Budget they will dissolve immediately after, says the Standard. The supporters of the Ministry recognise that it is impossible for them to pass their larger legislative proposals, and that the only means of escaping from absolute deadlock is by an appeal to the constituencies. Though Mr Haldane's statement on the subject had no official authority, it is believed that he spoke on the best and most trustworthy information.  The possibility of a serious ministerial crisis on the Committee stage of the Budget Bill is freely discussed among the supporters of the Government. A number of Liberal members have warned their local agents to be prepared for a possible dissolution at any time.  The Daily News says there is every prospect of the Scotch Local Government Bill passing the second reading at to-night's sitting. The Scotch members on the Opposition benches declare their readiness to fulfil in the most liberal spirit the undertaking, given by Mr Arthur Balfour, that every effort should be made to dispose of this stage at a single sitting.  The Standard says :—" The Unionists do not intend, as at present advised, to divide against the second reading of the Scotch Local Government Bill ; but it is doubtful if this stage of the Bill, and the motion to refer it to the Standing Committee, will be disposed of to-night."  . --000- The Standard says :—" Mr Morley girds at Mr Balfour for having demoralised the people by giving them grants for public works. Will he repeat the taunt in Donegal and Connemara Can he deny that the peace which reigns is  largely due to the wise and benignant policy of his predecesbor 7 -000—  It is stated that no successor has yet bee* appointed to Mr Mundella. Mr Bryce seems to be the favourite, and, if he be appointed, Mr Herbert Gardner muy be asked to undertake the duties of the Duchy in conjunction with those of his own Department. Upon this point Mr Labouchere will again move his resolution, or take some readier method of calling attention to the bargain by which the Agricultural Department was equipped with an independent salary, on the ground that the salary paid to the Chancellor of the Duchy should lapse.  Mr Acland's name is also mentioned in connection with the Board of Trade, Mr Bryce taking the latter's place as Vice-president of the Council of Education. There is, however, reason to believe that Mr Sydney C. Buxton, Under-Secretary to the Colonial Office, has been offered, and has accepted, a seat in the Cabinet.  A large number of amendments have been tabled to the Miners' Eight Hours Bill by miners' members opposed to the Bill. A correspondent says :—A still more important amendment has been given notice of by Mr Wrightson, the member for Stockton. It is to provide for the exclusion of Northumberland and Durham from the Bill. Seeing that Northumberland and Durham miners object to be included it is difficult to see how members can vote for coercing Northumberland and Durham. It is thought this amendment will meet with much support, as it is a more direct way of dealing with the difficulty than the amendments which propose to shelve Northumberland and Durham by local option clauses.