Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/98

 90] ENGLISH HISTOKY. [afbu.

tion to change in any respect, the administration of secondary education in the matter of religious instruction. He could not allow that the Charity Commission was in the nature of a judicial body, its functions being almost entirely administra- tive. With respect to the consultative body he should prefer to postpone detailed explanation till the committee stage. The bill was then read a second time without a division.

In the House of Commons precedence was given to financial questions, and the general discussion of the Budget was con- cluded without bringing out more than a reiteration of Sir Wm. Harcourt's denunciation, who remarked that appar- ently to the imperialists the meaning of " taking up the white man's burden " was the suspension of the sinking fund. We were to have the glory of an imperial policy, and those who came after us were to pay for it. Sir M. Hicks-Beach reminded his predecessor in office that he had himself three times sus- pended the sinking fund. With a fixed charge of 23,000,000/. for the debt there would still be nearly 6,000,000Z. a year for the payment of principal — just the amount which Sir Wm. Harcourt had thought sufficient to apply to that purpose during the year 1886-7, when the total of the debt was very much greater. He also dwelt on the fact that a constant increase of the sinking fund must tend to raise the value of Consols till the public were disgusted at the price which would have to be paid for them. With this singularly inaccurate prophecy the discussion closed, and within less than six months Consols which then stood above 110 had dropped to considerably below 105.

The London Government Bill, on the passing of which the Ministry had staked their credit, occupied no less than twelve nights in its discussion in committee, and but for the warning that prolonged debate would curtail the Whitsun holidays might have gone on for longer. The Opposition saw their opportunity, and determined to use it to the best advantage; for as the metropolitan district, now represented by a Unionist majority, was also the most hopeful field for the Liberals at another general election, it was highly important that the electors should be conciliated. The question was which party could claim to have best represented the wishes of the voters. The first skirmish (April 24), arose on the question of the inclusion of the City of London within the operations of the bill moved by Mr. Haldane (Haddingtonshire), and negatived by 208 to 103- votes. Mr. Stuart (Hoxton), the champion of the London County Council, assisted by Sir Charles Dilke (Forest of Dean) and Mr. A. Birrell (Fifeshire, W.), next displayed a remarkable hostility to the word " borough," preferring the term " district/' Mr. Pickersgill (Bethnal Green, S.W.), was more successful in obtaining the introduction of a suggestion that every unscheduled borough should be formed with due regard to efficiency of administration, local history and association, and also should