Weekly Mail

"SETTLED." RAILWAY DIRECTORS CONGRATU- LATE MR. BELL. [By OUR ]LONDON CORR"PONDiLrNT.j LONDON, Wednesday Night. At a Quarter to nine am official of the Board of Trade dashed down the etaimme, and informed other Civil Servants who-were in the vicinity that the strike was settled. "Settled," he cried in a voice that carried conviotion, and immediately afterwards he was surrounded by his colleagues, who were anxious to obtain all the particulars. But these were not forthcoming, as he frankly said, "I don't know them. They will be published in due course." A few minutes later Lord Claud Hamilton, looking far more satisfied than he did after the morning conference, hurried down the stone stairs, to be immediately followed by Lord Alierton and the other directors who had been in conference with Mr. Lloyd- George. "I don't think you want a.ny more conferences of this kind," laughingly observed Lord Alierton to a Board of Trade official as he went away. It was some time later before Mr. Bell and his colleagues left the building. They had not seen the railway directors; in fact, it was so arranged that they should not, but on the staircase, juet before the directors left, they came quite accidentally across Mr. Bell. who was walking along a corridor. Sir Charles Renehaw, who was the first to tee Mr. Bell, heartily shook him by the hand. What did you mean by bringing us down here to jump on us?" he said. Mr. Beil laughingly replied, We want more than this. Sir Charles." Sir laughingly shook his head, and grasped Mr. Bell again by tJtie hand. Imme- diateJ? afterwards Lord Alierton, Lord Claud Hamilton, and the other directors went up to Mr. Bell, and again congratulated him upon the happy termination of the crisis, and then left the building. fr. BelJ, though not officially reeogroised i by the conference, seemed quite pleased that a recognition of some kind had taken place, even if this was upon the stone staircase of the Board of Trade. Even if I knew what occurred within the c osed doors of the conference, I am pre- ,e, *ro™ giving any details of what took J ma? that the negotiations ter that it nf7 and delicate charac- int,erchan it waa oaly after long and repeated basis of settlement wis arivLan7 co?l^<m it required all the tact i?r. « President of the Board of Tv^rilT °1 • both parties into agreement bring The men's representatives showed that they bad a thorough grasp of their case, and they debated with great keenness and remarkable ability every aspect of their position. Mr. Bell, as I have before said. was in attendance, but he intentionally took little Part in the aotual discmssion in the Presi- dent's room. He did, however, feel con- strained to put in an explanatory word here and there, and he was successful in no small degree in moderating the ardour of some of the extremists, who openly declared that I a strike was the only way out of the impasse- Mr. Lloyd-George refused, however, to accept generalities of this kind. He had every objection thoroughly thrashed out, argued personally with each objector, and Ultimate1 y won them over to his way of was more ba<W an hour to get the Ure bof<Xre h,e was ^le 6ne men into line. then PAo^lyin^rraJ^f' w*re the directors r°°m' ^ltefc entered from ano?h6r ™XZr an hour was occupJ j- other Phases of the qu £ ^n i* ^cussing tors, and, a.s I have d"e<v to nine a delighted and Trade official was able to annSJnS^? vl collea-srues of that department that o ment had taken place. a settle- I am violating no secret -when I Sa_ th neither the masters nor the men are alto, gether satisfied with the settlement which has been arrived at. It is true that tho masters have not wholly conceded the prin- ciple of recognition they have fought against so strongly, but, on the other hand, the men have consented to a modification of I this principle which, it is to be hoped, will satisfactory to those whom they repre- rteo^.y have not had the principle of rate, obn conceded, they have, at any grievances a conrt through which their it is important* exPeditioTIsly filtered. For has been fixed in to-note that a time limit The establishment F 10 avoid undne dol?-y- committees will, it -• local conciliation men, and the establisL^eved, 8atl'sfy the of arbitration will prove ^l^i a oonrt eides ve ao°eptable to both When I left the Board of ing Mr. Lloyd-George was busiiv ejen- drafting a letter to his Majesty i-?r,5 -in him of the happy termination ferenre. the oon-

THE AGREEMENT. RULES AND PROVISOES FOR THE NEW BOARDS. The following is the actual text of the agreement:- I The undersigned, being the authorised representatives of the railway companies named below, declare that they are Prepared on their behalf to adopt a system of conciliation and arbitration as a settlement of the question relating to the rates of wages and hours of labour of the various classes of their employee on the general lines of the scheme appended to this agreement. They will also use their good offices to induce other railway com- panies to adhere to this scheme. Such adherence may be notified at any time within She next three months. I (Signed) STALBRIDGE, ALLERTON, ERNEST PAGET. C. RENSHAW. ALEX. HUDSON, CLATJD HAMILTON, W. GUY ORANET (Secretary of Committee). Also signed by:- D. LLOYD-GEORGE, HUDSON KEAHLEY, LLEWELLYN SMITH. Q. S. ASKWITH. [The railway companies whose adherence to the agreement is expected are:— Caledonian Railway Company. Great Central Railway Company. Great Eastern Railway Company. Great Northern Railway Company. Great Western Railway Company. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Com- pany. liondon and North Western Railway Com- pany. London and South Western Railway Com- pany. London, Brighton, and South Coast Rail- way Company. Midland Railway Company. South Eastern and Chatham Railway Com- pany. Ttie undersigned, duly euuthorised represen- tativœ of the Amalgamated Society of Rail- Itativcs of the Amsigtmated SOcie-ty of Rail- way Servants, accept on behalf of its mws- bers the terms of the agreement with regard to conciliation and arbitration signed this | day at the Board of Trade by the represen- j tatives of the railway oompanies:- 1\ G. R. BELL (President). T. OWEN. I A. HARPER. I C. W. BEARDSLEY. NATHAN RIMMER. THOMAS MURPHY. RICHARD BELL (General Secre- tary). Also signed by- D. LLOYD-GEORGE. HUDSON KEARLEY. LLEWELLYN SMITH. G. ASKWITH. I.—OUTLINE OF SCHEME FOR' CONCILIA- TION AND ARBITRATION. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. (a.) Boards to be formed for each rail- way company which adheres to the scheme to deal with questions referred to them either by the company or its employes- relating to rates of wages and hours of I labour of any class of employes to which I the scheme applies which cannot be mutually settled through the usual ohan- nels. (b.) The various grades of the employee 01 the company who are covered by the scheme to be grouped for this purpose in a suitable number of sections, and the area served by the company to be divided, if necessary, for purposes of election into a number of suitable districts. (c.) The employes belonging to each section to be grouped, to choose from among them- selves one or nO .e representatives from each district, these representatives t< form the employes' side of a sectional board to meet representatives of the company to deal with rates of wages and hours of labour exclusively affecting grades OIl amrployes within that section. (d.) The first selections of representatives to be conducted in a manner set out in the to be conducted in a manner set out in the I rule of procedure; consequent elections to be regulated by the boards themselves. (e.) Where a sectional board fails to arrive at a settlement the question to be referr-ed on the motion of either side to the Central Conciliation Board, consisting of representatives of the company and one or more representatives chosen from the employers' side of each sectional board. (f.) In the event of the conciliation boards being unable to arrive a.t an agree- ment, or the board of directors or the men failing to carry out the recommendations, the subject of difference be referred to arbi- tration. The reference shall Le to a single arbitrator appointed by agreement between the two sides of the board, or, in default of agreement, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Master of the Rolls, or in the unavoidable absence or inability of one of them to act, then by the remaining one. The deci- sion of the arbitrator shall be binding on all parties. THE DURATION OF THE SCHEME. The present scheme to be in force until twelve months after notice has been given by one side to the other to terminate it. No such notice to be given within six years of the present date.

INTERPRETATION. If any question should arise as to the interpretation of this scheme, it shall be decided by the Board of Trade. or. at the request of either party, by the Master of the Rolls.

II .-OUTLINE OF SUGGESTED CONSTI- TUTION AND PROCEDURE OF THE CONCILIATION BOARD. N.B.—The following outline is intended as a general model, to be amended in detail to suit the oircrumstaffloea of the particular companies. CONSTITUTION OF BOARDS OF CONCILIATION. Boards to be constituted in the first place fo" the more important sections, the list to be subject to modification to suit particular railways. The following are suggested simply as examples: Railway "A"—(1) Locomotive drivers, fire- men, and cleaners. (2) Signalmen, pointsmen, &c. (3) Permanent way men, platelayers, Ac. (4) Traffic department men other than signalmen. Railway B "—(1) Locomotive drivers, fire- men, and cleaners. (2) Signalmen and pointsmen. (3) Goods guards and shunters. (4) Passenger department guards, ticket examiners, shunters, and porters. (5) Telegraph and permanent way. (6) Goods checkers, porters, carmen, van- men, stablemen, and labourers. Note.—Variations may be made in the above olassifteation,. core being taken to provide, as far as possible, for the inclusion of other grades of wage-earning employes engaged in the manipulation of traffic in one or other of the boards. If the employes belonging to any section not included cut the outset should desire hereafter to participate in the scheme, they may make application to the central board which, if it think it desirable, may either admit them to an existing sectional board, or arrange for the constitution of a new boa.rd, the electoral districts to be based as far as practicable on districts already in existence for the purposes of the railway companies (e.g., district superintendents' or district goods managers' districts), which may, if necessary, be grouped for the purpose. Note.—It seems desirable that the districts should be as few as possible, preferably not more than four, and in no case exceeding six, in order to admit of two operative repre- sentatives instead of only one being elected for eaich district on each board. This will give opportunity folr variety of representa- tion, e.g., for firemen as well as engine- drivers to be elected on Board I. without unduly increasing the number of members On the board. to tertrL °f office of the conciliation board j T? years, casual vacancies through fcoH n^sn-ation, or loss of qualification momL, ky co-option by the remaining th<i earae side of the board.

^ECTION OF CONCILIATION BOARDS. ^lng ruiee to apply to the first elections to be regulated w/>m- c^1 £ ition boards themselves:— (1) Nomination papers proposing candidates for the various boards, signed by not less than 20 adult employee belonging to the y than 20 adult employee belonging to the game &OOt10n and district, to be sent to the Board of Trade on orr before a. date to be arransed. (2) The board, after satisfying themselves that the nominations are in order, to pre- pare voting papers and arrange for them to be circulated to the adult employes ou a given pay-day. (3) The Board of Trade to receive and count the voting papers of the men, and also to the voting papers of the men, and also to receive from the company a list of its pro- posed representatives on >ue various boards. (Note: It is desirable that at least one of the company's representatives on each board should be a director.) the company's representatives on each board should be a director.) The result to be published with as little delay as posedble. Prpcse 0-f theon (Note: For the purpose of thesw rules admit" means a person a&ed 20 and up- wards.)

PROCEDURE. wards.)

PROCEDURE. Each side of a ocnoiliation board to select its own chairman. Every board to meet for business as required at the request of either [ side, a fortnight's notice to be given of all meetings. No meotinjf shall 00 tailed tn August or September. Meetings to be con- vened by the secretary, who .shall bo appointed by agreement between the two sides of the board. Failing agreement, each side to a.ppoint a secretary from among the employes of the company. The agenda to be circulated with notiom. and no question not on the agenda to be brought up except with the consent of both sides. Each side of a board to vote separately, and all decisions to be arrived at by agree- ment between the two sides.

MODE OF DEALING WITH APPLICA- TIONS. Before a conciliation board can entertain any proposal for a change in the rates of wages or hoars of labour of any close of employes, an application for such change must previously have been made in the usual course through the officers of the depart- ment concerned. After any such applioa-1 tion has been made by the employes, they shall be informed as soon as practicable, and in any case within two momths, of the company's decision with regard to the request, or of their desire to refer it to a conciliation board. In the event of the dc6- edon not being accepted, of of no reply being received within the specified time, the men may require the matter to he referred to a conciliation board, which shall at ouco be convened to consider the matter so referred. Now: For the purpose of this rule the months of August and September shall not count. Any proposal agreed to by a oonciliaiion board involving increased expe-nditnre shall be placed before the directors for their acceptance at their next ordinary board meeting, or if that meeting takes place within a week of the proposal, then at the next meeting but one, and failing this, shall be referred forthwith to arbitration. Any proposal agreed to by a conciliation board I involving a reduction of rates of wages shallj be communicated to the men, and if rejected by them within a month, shall be referred forthwith to arbitration, subject to the above provisions1. The decision of a conciliation board to be final and binding on the parties, and no decision to be re-opened within twelve months. Where a sectional board fails to arrive at a settlement the question to be referred, on the motion of either side, to the central conciliation board. Should the central con- ciliation board fail to agree, the question to go forthwith to arbitration a.t the request of either party. Proceedings before the arbitrator shall be Teg-nlated by him, includin.g the period d,uring which the aWThrd shall be binding. EXPENSES. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the expenses of arbitration pro- ce>eding,!s and conciliation boar-cls to be divided equally batween the company and ¡ its employes. Note.—It is agreed that, in order to keep procedure simple and inexpensive, counsel should not appear in these cases. On behalf of the members of the Asso- ciated Society of Locomotive Engineers and BLR. LLOYD-GEORGE, The Welshman who Bettledthe Railway Dispute. -1 Firemen, we accept the arra3ng«men ts entered into to-day art, the Board of Trade. (Signed) ALBERT FOX (Secretary). J. M. BLISS (E.C. Member). ARTHUR S. TIPPETT. On behalf of the members of the General Railway Workers' Union, I accept the arrangement agreed to to-day at the Board of Trade. (Signed) THOMAS LOWTH (Genetrai Secretary).

THE KING INTERVENED, + MR. BELL'S SPEECH AFTER THE SETTLEMENT. Mr. Bell, after leaving the Board of Trade, took part in a discussion on the question, "Can Publicity Avert Strikes," at a dumer of the Sphinx Club at the Hoi-ei Cecil. The chair was occupied by Mr. R. Balch. and the company included Mr. W. F. D. Smith, M.P., Mr. J. D. Rees, M.P., Mr. Victor Grayson, M.P., Sir Vansittart Bo-water, Mr. Carl Hert- schel, Mr. Newton Crane, and Mr. A. Mac- donald, C.C. Mr. Bell was unable, through other engagements, to attend until after the dinner, but towards ten o'clock the chairman announced that he had come from II Mr. Lloyd-George's room to that peaceful I aasemiily. where riddles were auanered. H4& hoped thait the question with wtdeb 1fT. Bell was conoorned had been settled. (Cheers:) Mr. Bell, in the course of his speech, said he had just oomc from the room of the President < the Board of Trade, where he had Oeen engaged with the very important question that had occupied the attention of i the newspapers and the public during the i last- eight or ten weeks. What he hid always endeavoured to do, and should continue to do, was to act strictly in accordance with his own convictions— (hear, hear)—and if hit) convictions dictated to him that he was engaged in a good oause or that be was advocating a good cause no one and nothing would turn him away from his convictions. While he had endeavoured to secure as far as he could the rights of those whom he represented, he desired to do that without in any way injuring the rights of others. Ever since half- past three o'clock that afternoon they had been engaged on this important question, and it did seem to him that on the side of i the working men sometimes and on the side of the employers they allowed dignity to come in the way of the right thing being done. When dignity prevented a settlemenxt of important disputes it might be brushed aside a little. If dignity had not been allowed to play so important a part in this unfortunate agitation the matter would have been settled long ago without injoring either side. Now, I after all, it had been settled by somebody else coming in between. To that, of course, he had no objection, but, instead of the representatives of one side being in one room a.nd the representatives of the other eido being in another, and a person in the important position of the President of the Board of Trade going, as it were, as a messenger between the two parties in the two different rooms,, it would have been far better if they had. sat on the opposite sides of a table thrashing out the question for themselves. ETIQUETTE AND THE KING. He regretted very much tha.t the price of stocks should fall. At the same time, it was hardly fair to him to attribute that to his speech. Ever since, he believed he had hardly made a speech but the price of,' stocks had been influenced. He hoped that j the next speech he made would influence the price of stocks the other way. He thought everyone there would concede that even the workmen had the right to ask for an advance of wages without anyone using that as an exploitation to the price of s stock until such times as the men made j: unreasonable demands and forced them upon t: the employers. However, he would not dwell on that sub- < jeot now. He did not want to say much 1 about the settlement of their affairs that day at th? present juncture. He had said sufficient now. The fact of the matt-or was that there was a certain amount of etiquette to be observed in these things, and he had no desire in any way to commit a 1 breach of etiquette any more than anyone else. It was understood that they were not to say much about it that night beyond the fact that the question had been settled, because the document which they signed had to go before the King. It appeared that his Majesty had interested himself very much in this movememt- (cheers?)—and' he was very anxious to know the result of it that night, and that they had fully settled it. Every gentleman present knew full well that und-er the cir- cumstances it would be wrong to give the information away, and the King would have the information before it appeared in the newspapers in the morning.

EFFECT OF THE AGITATION The effect of the railway agitation has been to depress the value of railway stocks by many million pounds. It is, of course, impossible to accurately gauge the loss arising from this oause alone, as other fac- tors have affected prices in many instances. Nevertheless, it may be taken that the bulk of the fall in prices since May 2 has beea attributable to the threat of a strike. In fact, much of the decline which took place j • before that date may have been occasioned thereby. Railways all over the kingdom, and debenture and preference, as well as ordinary stocks, have fallen. The following list gives ] the comparison of the prices of the ordinary stocks principally dealt in locally:— May 2. Nov. 6. Fall. < Barry Undivided 199 173i 2511 Barry Deferred 100i 771 221 Great Western Ordinary 125 118 7 Lon. and North Western Ordinary 14S4 136 ICJt Midland Deferred 63i 58i 5 J Bhymoey Undivided 19U IMi 7 < Ehymiiey Deferred 94 90 4 Taff Yale Ordinary 78i 74i 4 Bhymoey Undivided 19U 18411 7 Rhymney Deferred 94 90 4 Taff Yale Ordinary 78i 74. 4 PRESS OPINIONS. The "Am-ea" says :-Mr. Lloyd-George haal. very notably enhanced his political reputa- i tion and his personal prestige by his sue- I oess&ul treatment of the railway dispute., The task he had to accomplish was one of no little diiffculty, and called alike for capacity and lor coe. as well as for the tact and psttieaoe essential in the recon- ciliation of opposing interests. By com- posing a troublesome quarrel he has con- ferred great benefit not only upon both parties immediaitely concerned, but upon the I public a.t large. "Daily fc;rrorricle."—Mr. JMoyd-Oeorge has I induced directors and mem to declare war upon war in future. The victory which his Minister has won for peace and conciliation will be peculiarly gratifying to Edward the Peacemaker. Telegraph."—iNover was a better day's work done in WhitehaH-gajrdems than was done in the offices of the Board of Trade yes- terday, and the President is to be congra- tulated heartily and sincerely upon the suc- cess which has crowned tion. He has acted as the chief of a. great State: department of a commercial station ought to act, and has established a valuable prece- dent for future disputes in any important industry. Tribune."—It is a triumph of the first order for the statesmanship of the President of the Boa.rd of Trade. "Morning Post."—Mr. Lloyd-George deserves and will receive the coaxgnatulations of his countrymen. "Dail" News."—There will be a universal feeling of gratitude to the President of the Board of Trade. Birmingham Post."—Our n-rst word of comment on the happy settlement of the railway dispute must be one of congratula- tion to Mr. Lloyd-George. • He said the other day that he should not consider he had succeeded in his mission as con- ciliator unless he got peace with honour to both parties." He has achieved his pur- pose, and the country owes him a. consider- able debt of gratitude. "Irish Times":—J'No member of any political party will refuse to Mr. Lloyd- George greiat and lasting credit to which his successful intervention has entitled him. Mere fact he has brought the negotiation to a successful issue is an eloquent tribute to the tact and impartiality with which he conducted extremely difficult business." Westminster Gazette":—"It is a great gain to have this lingering quarrel at length disposed of in a manner which will bring ye-ace with honour to both parties, and, even more important, in a manner which sets an example to the whole of the uses and methods of conciliation that takes a great load off the public mind, and enables us to feel reassured about the future relations of labour a-nd capital at a moment when a por- tio,) of the public were beginning to be gravely disturbed about it. The "Globe," commenting on the railway settlement, says:—"The cardinal fact of the situation is that the chiefs of English and Scottish railways have receded under pree- siue irom what hae been their traditional attitude since railways first came into exist- ence. They have abdicated from their posi- tion as sole Icrclg in their own house, and have admitted their employes into a modified partnership. To the wider public the real -c&or in toe strife will ecssn to be Mr. LJQyd- George." The "Pall Mall Gazette" remarks: —"Com- mon-sense has triumphed, and there is to be no railway strike, while all concerned share credit of a settlement which is most gratifying to the public and most beneficial to railway managers and railway workers. It is to Mr. Lloyd-George that chief honours fall, and they will be given ungrudgingly." The London &tar" to-day states:—The most popular man in the country to-day is Mr. IAoyd-George. lie has done the State a service which the nation will not forget. Sympathy and all round are the out- come of what threatened to produce nothing but hatred and animosity. There will be. ahaoppy Christmas all alone the line.

"wipe WITH FRIENDS IN WALES." ——^ HUSBAND HOMELESS IN LONDON. In the case of jjraaihwaite v. Riley in the City Xiomdon Court, the rplaicat.tiff. Miss Brauhwaite, dreaemjaker, 1. BisSt-street, Windsor, applied to have Mr. William Riley, timber agent and arbitrator, 32, Great St. Helens, E.C., com- mitted to prison for the non-payment of £.40 due for dresses supplied to his wife some time ago. Defends nt said he oould not pay the debt as ho was absolutely without means. Plaintiff's solicitor said that the defendant was trying to mislead the court Defendant said that was net BO. Plaintiff's assistant said that the defen- dant's wife was very well dressed. Judge Loniley Sxai^h-; If she was still wearing the pialntifrs clothes I can easily understand that remark. (Laughter.) Plaintiff's Aitfostaat: But she was not. 3>efeadiint said that on the previous even- ii^T"he walked the streets of London, ana in- teiwkvi to apply to the board of guardians for reMctf. On the previous evening he slept partly at the Great >«estem Railway Sta- tion, and he walked from one to five o'clock, sitting down at Kensington-gardens, outside. He frequently did it, and the police oould prove it. Judge Lumley Smith: It is very healthy, if it is done for choice. Defendant: Ah! Bot. your honour, it. is not; I am a county ge1;LtJem.wn. Plaintiff's solicitor said that the defendant had made statements to thorn, about his wife's drunkeimesjs, and that it. had affected the defendant's poedtioeL, y¡rú. to be an affluent one. Plaintiff 1.Llú. not believe the defendaJBt's story. Defendant said he defended tti.e action on the first hearing, and his wife's affaire were then geno into, but he was not going into it now. He submitted to t.be ruling of the court, however much he disagreed with it At the instance of one creditor am order was made for his oonumttal- HE WAS ARRESTED by an officer of the court. Plaintiff's solicitor said that the defendant had paid nothing in that action. I defendant said that was so, but in the other case his friends came forward, and after he had been under arrest for eight or ¡ nine hours his friends insisted on paying the money for him and he was released. He did very little work. During the past year he had acted as a.n arbitrator on four occa- sions in various parts of the country, but he had to pay travelling expenses to earn those fees. Judge Lumley Smith: How long is this state of things gomg to last Defendant: I a.m going to recover myself in time. My wife does not still reside at Windsor as suggested. He oould not pay the rent there, he went on tcr~feay, and ne gswe up the furniture to pay tne rent. He had not been there for six month. He was willing to try to pray 10s. a month or something like it. He was not a dishonest man. He would pay whec he could. He had been in a very good position, but at pre- sent it was a case of et^rmtioin. His wife had plenty of dresses. She was staying with HER EREEND6 IN WALES. and had been there for four months. It was not true that he had a season ticket to London from Windsor. He had only 2d. in the world at the present time. His wife had offered the plaintiff £5 before the action, and the plaintiff refused it. Plaintiff's Assistant: No. Judge Lumley Sinith: I don't think anyone would refuse any money- I don't think it is much use making an order for 10s. a ¡ month. Dofendant runs soane risk in saying these thinjgis if they are not true. I have I had his evidence booked, a.nd it can be Squired into. Defendant: I am an honourable mail, a;nd I am on my oath. Judge Lumley Smith: I will make an order for the payment of ICS. a month. If he is not telling the truth be ought to be sent to prison on another charge. I do not say any- thing. The first pg^rment is to be made on January 1. I cannot send a man to prison unless I have evidence of means that he can pay and will not do 00. It ma.y be a very ha.rd case, and I cannot help that. The initial miaahief is in giving credit. Plaintiff's Solicitor: They have to in thait kind of business. An order was made for payment of 108. a month.

"A NOXIOUS DRUG." PONTYPOOL MAN'S DANGER. Joseph Henry Loveday and John Bonrest were charged at Ponit-ypool on Thursday wjtth xnaJaciously administering to one George Price a certain noxious drug, eo as to endanger his life, at Poniypool on the 5t.b. irr-jt. Potnrt Bladen said that he appre- hended Joseph Henry Loveday at the Lower Mill Works, and in answer to the charge he said, "I did not give it to him. He has done) nothing to me, and I have never done anything to him that I know of." He after- wards arrested Forrest at Waenfelin, and in reply he said, "It's wrong, sir; it's a lot of lies." Witness added that Price was still in i very dangerous state, and his depositions were taken yesterday. Mr. Bowen (the magistrates'-elerk) said he had the depositions, in which Price identified prisoners as the men who administered the I poison. Prisoners were remanded in custody nntil Saturday.

THE GERMAN SCANDALS. I f I PRINCE BUELOWS ACTION. TOTAL BREAKDOWN OF DEFENCE. BERLIN, W ednesday. For the first time in his official career the Imperial Chancellor appeared to-day to appeal to the protection of the courts a.nd claim the severity of the law," as he haineelf pat it, against attacks upon his moral character of such an incredible nature that public interest was considerably aroused as to what motive could possibly have provoked them. It was anticipated t.hf1Jt the obscure journalli;rt" Brand must be backed by great political influences, and that the present case stood in close connection with the Moltke-Hardcn dramatie libel action of the other day. In these circumstances the Chancellor's manly and decisive evidence, and Prince Philip Eulenburg's cmphatic denials, joined to the total inability of the accused to adduce a shred of evidence beyond the vague assertions that slanderous hints had been communicated to him by more or less disreputable characters, made it abundantly clear the oase was nothing more than an extremely serious libel, and crowds left the court at the luncheon interval discussing the probable length of the sentence. The defence provided a eeries of anti- dinmxeiS. Beginning with a boastful enuncia- tion: of his political aims, the prisoner, when his witnesses failed him, admitted he had obtained the information ou which he had ba.sod his attack? largely from the editor of a gutter journal. Then, immediately before the Public Prosecutor's epeech, he retracted has accusations, and finally ended with an appeal from his old parents. A glance at the accused provided an expla- nation, if not an excuse, for the light of fanaticism glinted in his eyes, and gave one the impression he was hardly responsible for his actions. The proceedings unrollüd a picture of certain developments in the morals of I modern Germany which it is impossible to re- produce. Prisoner flaunted these peculiar psychological qualities before the court, and repeatedly referred to an association of which he is president. The court was dragged, as in the Moltke- Harden case, into an unprintable discussion concerning doings of this daö3. of society. Considerable indignation was aroused by the enforced recognition of the existence of such a class which such a di2êJ.æion implied. In fact, the whole case was a fresh instance of the length to which the abuse cf expert evidence, so typical a feature of German legal procedure, can be carried. I Prisoner's counsel made the beet of the case for his client, but the latter's attempts at hysterical tfreatricate undid any good that Dr. Bam-aii's earnest appeal for leniency of the court mdght have effected. The spectators fosnaed relieved when prisoner was led away to the cells weeping after a most tender leave-taking with one of his masculine adherents.

A SENSATIONAL ENTRY. NOTABLE WITNESSES FAIT, TO APPEAR. Prince Buelow's libel action against Herr Adolf Brand in respect of certain allegations :a,at3 concerning tile 0hau>ceHor by the young publicist beg-an on Wednesday in Refim before Dr. Pu&ch, assisted by four other judges. The proceedings were held in the same court where almost a year the famous Captain Koepenick was tried and convicted. The police control was extraordinarily strict, noixKiy being admitted even into Ww building without cards. Long btiwe tile opening of the trial every seat in the court waa occupied. Among the spectators were numerous officials of the Foreign Office, Dr. Von Gordon, Count iloltie's counsel, and maity well-known figures in Berlin society. liuioio'iiz-s wore current that accused was unafble to appear owing to the state of his hea-lth, but these reports were denied by I the appearance of the aooueed himself. He is an insignificant looking man, deadly pale, with a maee of brown, waty hair, and brown moustache ajid imperial. lie wore a asedy trock-ooait, with a black butterfly" tie. The court presented a. solemn aspect witen the name of the accused was oaJled. At the end of a handsome oak panelled room thre judges, in black robes faced with black velvet, sat at a horseshoe table. The Public Prosecutor, a handsome, grey haired man, with persuasive manner, occupied a desk to the right of the judges. I A formidable array of witnesses, sum- moned for the defence and prosecution, then entered, and the Public Prosecutor announced that Prince Buelow would appear a.t ten o'clock. Geheimrath Scheefer, the Prince's secretary, was present, but Count William Hohenhau a.nd Count Lyna.r are ant from Germany. A telegram was handed in stating that Count Lynax had leift his old residence a long time ago, and liiis present t address was unknown—an announcement that was received with laughter. A telegram announced the absence of Count Van der Schulenburg, who is also one of Brand's witnesses, but the prisoner insisted on the importance of Count ScllU- lenbarg's evidence, since the latter was the principal source of the accused's informa- tion for the allegations asrainst the Chan- cellor. The court decided to make another effort to oompel the attendance of the witness and of Count Philip Eulemburg. Dr. Ba-rnau, counsel for the defence, observed that it was doubtful whether the accused, -who suffers from fainting fits, would be able to stand the strain of the proceedings. The Public Prosecutor emphatically declared it was highly desirable that the trial should procecd. He suggested calling in a doctor to attend the accused if neces- sary. AN "UKBXPBCTED WITKESS. While the Public Prosecutor was speaking a sensation in court was produced by a.n usher running up to the President and •whispering something to him. IVxrrs were flung open, and a tall, distinguished-looking man, leaning heavily on his two supporters, appeared. It was Count Philip Euienburg! His face-was leaden grey, and he was breath- ing heavily as he hobbled im, held up on either side by his SOlD. and private secre- tary. The President asked the Prince, who gave his name in a loud voice, to retire to a private waiting-room. Accused was then heard. He gave hiis age as 35, a.nd doolatred he was a Protestant, a.nd had been freed from miiitaj-y service. He bad often been convicted of disorderly conduct and of the circulation of immoral publications. The court adjourned for fifteen minutes to enable a doctor to ascertain whether the accused was able to stand a continuation of the trial. The coincidence of Prince Buelow and Count Philip Eulemburg appearing as wit- nesses for the prosecution and defence respectively excited intense interest among the spectators, who had come prepared for some of the political sensations which were denied them by the non-appearance of Prince Philip Eulenburg at the Moltke- Harden trial. The political antithesis between the Prinoe and t.ie Chancellor is not yet forgotten. During a short adjournment the question was discussed whether the course of Wednesday's proceedings would bring to light who were the real prompters of Herren Brand and Harden in their respective attacks on the Chancellor and oil Prinoe Philip Eulenburg's "camarilla." When the court re-assembled the incrimi- nating brochure was read, after which Herr Brand declared he had made no accusation of actual criminal offences against the Chan- cellor, but he maintained he was abnormally inclined. The President pointed out that the accused's personal views of the question in no wa.y affected the extent of the libel. Herr Brand affirmed his aim had been to demonstrate how wrong had been the recent agitation against a certain group under the mask of morality. He denied he had been influenced by a desire for revenge for the class whose interests he represented, but he wished to show that Prince Buelow had in the Moltke—Harden, affair exploited the per- verted tendencies in question, being himself subject to the same abnormal sympathies. CHANCELLOR IN THE BOX. The Chancellor, Prinoe Buelow, was then called. Preceded by a polioe-lieutenant, his Excellency entered dressed in a frock-coat and carrying some papers in his hand. Ho bowed to the court, and then took the oath in a loud voice, giving his name as Bernard Henry Martin Charles and age as 58. He declared tha.t anything of a.n abnormal or perverse nature had ever been repellent and incomprehensible to him. The accusations which had been brouglit against him by accused were untrue and senseless. The Chancellor described the responsible duties of his two secretaries, Herren Scheefer and Seebad, and added: "I am well dis- posed to my subordinates and free from aJl bu my intercourse with Geheufr- rath Scheefer Las never been characterised by the least familiarity." The Chancellor absolutely denied he had ever been implicated in any blackmailing affair. He further declared lie had had a.bso- lutely nothing to do with the Zukunft" articles, and had neither inspired nor influenced them. Cross-examined by the President, the Chan- cellor declared he had never to his knowledge met Count Lynar, but had long known the two Hohenhaus and Prince Philip Eulenburg. It was only, however, in recent years he had heard unfavourable reports about them, and he had never d:scusscd such subjects with Prince Philip Eulenburg. Prince Buelow, who had given his evidence with the utmost confidence, was then per- mitted to retire. PBJNCE PHILIP EULE-VBUBG. Amid a general rustle of expectation Prince Philip Eulenburg was now led in, seated in a ohair. He spoke in a quavering voice, with great earnestness. Prin-ce Philip Enlenburg Hertefeld deposed he was 66 years of age. He had been a friend of Priuce Buelow from his youth. If the Chancellor had inclina.t,ions of which Ilurr Brand had accused him witness must have known it. As a matter of faot, they had never even discussed such things. Prince Eulenburg added that be had besn oalled as a. witness presumably on the assumption that he was abnormally inclined. He begged to be all-o^od to say a word regarding this allegation. He declared in the most definite language that he had never been guilty of practices contrary to Para- graph 175. He had ever been an cnthn- siastic friend, and was proud of having good friends, bnt if he had dreamt that after 25 years a man like the expert Dr. Hirsohfeld would propound a theory according to which no friendship was pure he would have ceased making friends. The President vetoed the question of the defence, whether Prince Philip Eulenbun, had any reason to ascribe the instigation of the Zukunft articles to Prince Buelow. Prince Philip Eulenburg denied he was behind Herr Brand, and declared he had 'n never spoken against Prince Buelow, either in the highest circles or to friends or acquaintances, or done anything whdoh oould ul suggest he was intriguing against the Chan- cellor. Geheiinra-th Scheefer, one of Prince Buelow's secretaries, a typical Prussian official, corroborated tbe evidence. SENTENCE. After hearing seme further evidence, the court found Herr Brand guilty, and sen- tenced him to eighteen months' imprison- ment, at the same time ordering his imme- diate arrest to prevent the possibility of fii,ht.-Prem Association Foreign Special.

MUNICIPAL COAL. + DEBATE BY THE LLANELLY COUNCIL. At a meeting of the Llanelly Urban Dis- trict Council Mr. Tom Harries moved that the council should consider the advisability of adopting the principle of a municipal coal supply. The reason he had in moving this was to bring the purchasing of coal more within the means of the public. He maintained that of all the municipal ser- vices in this country, euch as the municipali- sation of the gasworke, waterworks, tram- ways, electricity, and other matters, the municipalisation of coal supplies ought to be in the forefront with every progressive body. It was often argued that when the price of coal went up it was owing to the advance in wages of the miners. That state- ment, he said, v as false and misleading, because miners never received an increase in wages until after the price of coal had advanced. 1he cost of producing a ton of coal to the pit's mouth did not exceed an average of &s.. but the consumer had to pay 25s., 27a„ and even 30s. per ton for it. If the council adopted this principle of coal eupplv. they would be able to sell coal much cheaper than it was sold at present. The poor people who could only afford to buy it in small quantities had to pay about 30s. per ton for it, but he had no hesitation in saying that under the scheme of municipal coal supply the same quality could be sold for "Iq. 6d. per ton. The fact was that the com- mercial system of the present time was so saturated with corruption that the whole population winked at acfions which would excn-e disgust in a nation of pirates. (Cries of dissent and "Withdraw.") "Some people talk about, municipal corruption," added 3Ar. Harries, "but we could not invent a system better adapted to roguery than the present competitive state of society"! The people of the town were anxiously waiting for the council to adopt a scheme of munid- pal coal supply. Mr. D. R. JO'2:1 seconded. IIr. TopMh Roberts: Would we require a a,! Act of Parliament before we could adopt this scheme? The rl7, replied in the affirmative. Mr. Richard Gueet said that, he was sur- prised at the readiness of some members to fall in with a scoome of this kind. What was the principle involved? If the council decided to supply ecal, where would The principle end? Why not sell bread, butter, a.nd aher commodities? These things should be explained now, and this scheme, which was called Municipal Socialism, should be fully dealt with. Mr. Harries made grave misstatements of facts. He only dealt with the actual price of cutting the coal, but he knew perfectly well that there were more wages paid tha-n the mere coet of cuttdug the coal. Mr. Harries dealt with the muuicipa-li- sation of the g-agworks, waterworks, and electric supply, but thefse things were pu services. A line had been drawn, but once the council overstepped that line they would have to supply erervthing.

SELECTION OF MA YOR8. MERTHYR. A meeting of the Merthyr Borough ODUCCU, sitting as a general purposes committee, wae held on Monday for the purpose of infor- mally selecting the mayor for the ensuing year. Mr. F. T. James nominated at.d Mr. W. Lewis (Treharris) sec-ond-ad Mr. Arthur Daniel; Mr. Oaradoc Jones iiorai-rated and Mr. Rowland Evans seconded Mr. D. W. Jones; Mr. David Evans nominated and Mr. D. W. Jones seconded Mr. F. S. Simons, the present mayor, and Mr. David John nomi- nated and Mr. D. J. Lewis seconded Mr. John Roberts. A vote was taken by ballot, and the result was as follows:—Mr. D. W. Jones, 11; Mr. Arthur Daniel. 7; Mr. P. S. Simons, 5; and Mr. John Roberts, 4. A second ballot upon the two first names eventuated thus: — Mr. D. W. Jones, 20; Mr. Arthur Daniel, 9, Mr. Jones thanked the committee, and said that nntil he came into the room he had no idea that he should be nominated. So far as he was concerned, he would very much rather be excused; still, his services were at their disposal.

BRECON. At a private meeting of the Brecon Town Council on Monday Dr. G. P. Francis was selected mayor for the ensuing year. The retiring mayor. Councillor John Wil- liams, has decided not to hold the usual leet banquet on the 9th inst.

LLANDOVERY. At a meeting of the Llandovery Town Council on Monday (Alderman T. Watkins; presiding) Mr. C. V. Pryse-Rice, of Llwyn-y- Brain, was unanimously nominated as mayor.

NEWPORT. At a private meeting of the Newport Town Council on Tuesday Councillor Thomas Parry was selected as next year's mayor. The salary was fixed at C450. The new mayor will attend in state at St. Wooloa' Church on Sunday next, the Vicar of Caerleon being the preacher.

STOP PRESS.

THE CAMDEN TOWN TRAGEDY. f j WOOD AGAIN IN THE POLICE- COURT. Robert Wood, 1 he young artist and designer, charged with the murder of Emily or Phyllis Dimmock, who was found dead in bed with her throat cut in her lodgings at Camden Town on September 12, appeared before the magistrate, Mr. Bros, at Clerken- well Police-court on Wednesday. Wood has already been committed for trial on a coroner's warrant. Sir Charles Mathews and Mr. Arnold Ward appeared for the prosecu- tion, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Arthur Newton. Counsel proceeded to describe the dis- oovery of the crime. From Dammock's room, he said, some property had been mining, including a couple of rings, which had been taken from the deceased's woman's fingers, a. watch chain, and silver cigarette case. He suggested that this might have been arranged as a "faked" robbery, with the object of suggesting a motive for the crime. At any rate, that was possible. Sir Charles next went into the relationship between the prisoner and Ruby Young, an artist's model, who had been described as Wood's sweetheart. As soon as the fact of the crime became known the prisoner (counsel suggested) soemed to anticipate that he would be accused of this crime, and. under that anti- cipation, he took a number of steps for the purpose of creating a defence if (and when) that imputation came to be launched against him—a perilous road for anyone to embark upon. He approached a Mr. Lambert, one of the witnesses who saw him with the deceased on September 11, and asked. him to say there was no young woman with him on that occa- sion. He also approached Ruby Young, and asked her, if questioned, to say that he always met her on Mondays and Wednesdays (September 11 was a Wednesday). Prisoner and his sweetheart arranged a story as to how they spent the evening of September 11 together, and she agreed to adhere to it. Approached by the police, however. Ruby Young was not true to him in the sense she had promised. Counsel went on to deal with the statement made by Wood after his arrest, in which he set forth his alibi, and the plan adopted by him of sending a state- ment of his association with the deceased girl to the poste reetante at St. Martin's, written ostensibly with the view of asBisting the polioe. The letter (said counsel) was of little or no use for that purpose, as it could have been recovered from the Poet Office by Wood or his brother if nothing came of the matter. HOW SHAW FOUND HIS GIRL. Evidence was then called. Bertram Shaw, a young railway cook, wit! whom the deceased woman lived at Camder Town, deecribed how he found the decease* lying in bed with her throa.t cut on his return from work on the morning of Sep- tember 12. From their rooms were missing the deceased's purse, and gold watch and :1 silver chain, silver cigarette case, and other things belonging to witness. A chest of drawers was turned out, his razor lay on top, and the keys were missing. Witness went on to say that he also missed two rings which belonged to the deceased—one a wedding ring and the other a gala curb ring. The door keys were also gone. A fortnight later, when cleaning out the chest of drawers, beneath a sheet of newspaper he found a postcard, which he handed to Inspector Neil. I Mr. Newton: Did you find this in the room which four or five police-officers had searched ?—Yes. How much a week did yon give this woman?—A sovereign. You have since ascertained that she was of immoral character?—I have. SHE WAS NEARLY BEHEADED. Dr. John Thompson, who was summoned to examine the body of the deceased woman, stated that he found it lying in a nude con- dition on the bed. The blood had soaked through the bed and had dripped on to the floor. The bed clothing had been used to mop up the blood and lay heaped on the body, which was in the easy and normal position of sleep. The wound on the throat was a terrible one, extending practically from ear to ear, the veins, artery, and windpipe being severed; in fact, the head was very nearly severed from the trunk. The wound must have been inflicted with great force, and dath would ensue within a few seconds. Decidedly, the wonnd could not have been self-inflicted. He had no doubt the woman was asleep when attacked. The head had evidently been raised just sufficiently to allow the instrument to get underneath. Would the assailant get much blood on him?—His hand must have been covered. In a wash-hand basin in the room was a petti- coat in some water tinged with blood. In I this the assailant might haTe cleansed his hands. Mr. Newton: Do you agree that the wound I was probably the work of a person of con- siderable physical power?—Not necessarily. The hearing was adjourned at this 6ta.p until Tuesday next.

MUNICIPAL BUNGLES AT MONMOUTH. + ELECTRIC LIGHT ACCOUNTS IN QUESTION. Mr. H. P.. Hooper, Local Government Board illspect<}r, resumed at Monmouth on Tues- day the inquiry, which had been adjourned from October 3, respecting an application from the corporation for power to borrow £10.roJ for expenses already incurred in connection with electric light works. A good deal of local interest was taken in the matter, and a large number of ratepayers was present during the inquiry, which lasted over four hours. The Town-olerk said that the application was for the loan of £10,()J, or as much of it as the Local Government Board would grant. The Inspector then asked for particulars regarding the expenditure of previous loans. and the town-clerk and town treasure1- supplied particulars as far as they could gather from the accounts of the last eight, years. There was one item for laying elec- tric cables in the street, and another for taking up these and using them in another part of the town. It appeared in the course of further state- ments tnat certain work had been done two or turee times over, and that large sums of money had been paid without proper inveati- i gation having been made. Money had been paid on the certificates of the engineer, but the officials had been unable to produce the bills showing how the expenses had been incurred. Cables for electricity had been laid in oertain streets, but as there were lO I customers forthcoming for the light, tney had been pulled up again. The Inspector condemned the system of laying down cables where they were not wanted, and said the action was inept, extravagant, and a waste. The accounts were also unsatisfactory, he said. The cor- poration appeared to take the engineer's ceitificate, and pay the contractor whatever hs told them was due. He reminded the town-clerk that putting full confidence in their engineer did not remove the respon- sibility from the council. They had paid £51,388 on all the contracts for drainage and electric light, and there appeared to be only one book used in keeping the accounts (a cash-book) The present position was that they owed the bank overdraft, for which the loan was required. SHARP QUESTIONS BY INSPECTOR. At the close of the inquiry a. sharp passage took place between the inspector and the town-clerk. The Inspector asked for the original contract with Mr. Weldon. The Clerk replied that he nad only a copy- the original had been mislaid. Upon being asked for the account, so ae to give details, the Town-clerk replied that they had paid at the certificate of the engineers. The Inspector: Nothing but the certificate of the engineers! Do you oonsider that suffi- cient safeguard? You are without one single detail to show how £7,OOJ was spent. You never have checked to see that accounts were not paid twice over. You have nothing in a ledger or journal. The Town-clerk: Nothing beyond the cer- tificate of the engineers. Then, really, you had no account at all from Weldon? This £7,000 was spent without seeing one single account. There are accounts, amounting to on which I have not received details. After a few remarks from Mr. H. T. Sim- monds, the inquiry closed. It may be stated that the work hegau eigh* years ago. and that about has been spent.

HEAYY WELSH LOSSES. + TIN-PLATE CREDITORS IN TROUBLE. It was stated on SWansea Exchange on Tuesday that as a result of the financial crisis in America some large buyers of Welsh tin-plates have been involved, and that South Wales manufacturers have lost about during the past few weeks, xhe creditors were chiefly Swansea manufac- turers. In tho particulars given of the failure of P. Macfadyen and Co., whose liabilities were a little over a milhon, Messrs. Gilbertson and Co., of Pontardawe. are set down all creditors for fe. 4d.