Parliament's Week

P:John Potts (Laborite) suggested that a tax be imposed on all titles. Stanley Baldwin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying, said that the revenue from such a source would not be great and that it already costs a duke nearly $3,500 in duties on creation, or elevation to such rank, while baronets paid something under $1,400. (The grant of Letters Patent alone costs, for a duke $1,625; a marquis, $1,400; an earl, $1,150; a viscount, $930; a baron, $700; and a baronet, $465.)

P:Ronald McNeill, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, announced that a strong note would be sent to the Soviet Government of Russia protesting against a series of Soviet actions against the British and demanding the release of a British trawler captain whom the Bolsheviki have imprisoned for fishing in Russian Avaters. Asked by Colonel J. C. Wedgwood (Laborite) whether the Government was aware that the British people is not anxious to precipitate another war, Mr. McNeill answered : " I am perfectly aware of that; it is for that reason that the Government has taken the action it has."

P:The Government secured its largest majority when the House of Commons, after a two days' debate, defeated a motion to reject the Housing Bill by 340 to 140 votes. The second reading of the bill was subsequently passed. The opposition came almost entirely from the Labor benches. The Laborites' main objection to the Government's scheme is that it is inadequate and does not make effective proposals for the clearing of slum areas.

P:The chief excitement in the London political forum was an announcement that Premier Bonar Law will take a holiday. Statements concerning Mr. Bonar Law's health have lately been charged with optimism, and the news that he is about to take a month's sea voyage came as a surprise even in Parliamentary circles.

The temporary retirement of the Premier renewed rumors of his impending resignation. People in close touch with him state that he has no intention of permanently retiring from office. Others who, with justifiable scepticism, point out that official denials are almost valueless, say that Mr. Law himself never expected to hold the Premiership for long, and that his state of health renders his position precarious.

If the Premier does resign, there seem three candidates for the vacant position: 1) Stanley Baldwin, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, from the nature of his position, has been more in touch with Bonar Law than any other man in the Cabinet. He has also considerably increased his prestige by his handling of the budget. 2) Lord Derby, the Secretary of State for War. Lord Derby's knowledge of the continent and his known sympathetic understanding of the Ruhr problem would make him a popular candidate. He is also regarded as an excellent politician, having held many important Cabinet posts in former Governments. 3) Lord Curzon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who, while his valuable qualities are appreciated, has gained much unpopularity from his handling of the first Lausanne Conference. Anything calculated to remove him from the Foreign Secretaryship might conceivably meet with fairly general approbation.