any

from recommending scheme of old age pensions. The Commissioners signing the minority report dissented from the views of their colleagues, and advocated a system of old age pensions independent of the Poor Law. They pointed out that no actuarial evidence had been taken on the subject. They suggested that a small body should be appointed to deal with the subject of old age pensions in a judicial spirit. (See OLD AGE PENSIONS.) Agents-General.

Agricultural Depression.

In 1893 the Liberal Government appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into "the Agricultural Depression prevailing in that part of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Great Britain, and whether it can be alleviated by legislation or other measures. The Chairman was Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, M.P. An interim report (Cd. 7981) from which the Chairman dissented, was issued in 1896.

Upon its recommendations the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, (q.v.) was founded. The Final Report was issued in 1897 (Cd. 8540). The Commissioners found: (1) that there had been a large decrease of arable land from 18,104,000 acres in 1875 to 15,967,000 acres in 1895, and a corresponding increase of pasture land from 13,312,000 acres in 1875 to 16,611,000 acres in 1895; (2) that the rental value of the land had decreased; the gross annual value of land in Great Britain under Schedule A of the Income Tax (annual value, lands) had decreased from £59,568,255 in 1879-80 to £46,317,729 in 1893-4. It was calculated that the capital value in 1875 was £1,668,552,840 and in 1894 £883,719,122 — a decline of £784,000,000, or nearly 50 per cent. in 20 years; (3) that rents had been reduced in the depressed parts of England by 50 per cent. on the average, while on very poor soils in some of the eastern and southern counties no rents could be obtained, and farms had been thrown on the owners'

hands. Landlords had, moreover, incurred increased outlay for repairs, drainage and buildings. Since 1892they had paid the tithe frequently without any increase of rent; (4) that the farmers' accounts did not show a favourable result; (5) and that the number of agricultural labourers had diminished. diminished. An appendix (Cd. 8541) to the final report gave useful information as to the condition of agriculture in other countries, and in some instances, the charges on the land. Agricultural Rates Act.

Was first introduced in April, 1896, by Mr. Chaplin, President of the Local Government Board following the recommendations of the interim report of the Royal Commission on Agricultural Depression (q.v.). The folThe following is a summary of the Act: The Act is in force for five years from March 31, 1897. In 1901 it was extended until March 31, 1906, and in 1905, the Act was again further extended for five years until March 31, 1911. During this period the occupier of agricultural land is liable for one half

only of the rates payable on land. Agricultural land means any land used as arable, meadow or pasture ground only, cottage gardens exceeding one quarter of an acre, market gardens, nursery grounds, orchards and allotments. It does not include land occupied together with a house as a park, gardens other than above, pleasure grounds, or lands kept for for sport or racecourses. "Rate" means a rate of which the proceeds are applicable to public local purposes. The Act does not apply to rates to which the occupier of the land specially is liable to pay in certain proportions, nor to sewer rates, rates for drainage, or other work for the benefit of the land. Separate statements are to be made in the valuation lists, etc., of the value of agricultural land. The reduction thus created in the income of the local authorities amounting to over £1,300,000 every year is made up by a grant from Imperial Funds. It should be noticed that the relief and the grant is still based on one-half the rates existing in 1896, not on one-half the

times in the Cabinet. The work of the Board is dealt with by four divisions-the Animals Division; the Land Division; the Intelligence Division; and the Fisheries Division. The Board controls the administration of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts; Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts; Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1893; Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, so far as they relate to agriculture; Tithe Rent Charge Acts; Allotments, Inclosure and other Acts, nearly

80 in all, affecting the land. The Board also prepares leaflets and statistics on agricultural subjects, deals with agricultural education, and has under its control the surveys of the United Kingdom.-4, Whitehall Gar

dens.

Aid Grants.

Grants to poor elementary schools. They were first given under the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, to schools of that type and to school boards by the Elementary Education Act, 1897. These two Acts were repealed by the Education Act, 1902, and a new grant was given to the poorer local education authorities. (See NECESSITOUS SCHOOLS.)

Alabama Claims.

During the American Civil War, ships built by British firms, sent from British ports and sailing under the Southern flag, attacked Federal shipping. The most notorious case was that of the Alabama. The British Government had warning that she was to be used by the Confederates. But partly by neglect and partly by

misfortune, the authorities the authorities did not act in time. She sailed from the Mersey the day before the order came to stop her (July 28, 1862). She was not destroyed until June 19, 1864. During a period of nearly two years, the Alabama attacked the Northern shipping. The Federal claims for compensation against this country were the source of much ill-feeling. Lord Stanley tried in 1868 to come to an agreement, but he failed, through no fault of his own. Lord Clarendon, who succeeded him at the Foreign Office, concluded a treaty in January, 1869, submitting the differences to arbitration; but this was rejected by the United States Senate. Lord Granville took up the negotiations, and in 1871 a Joint Commission was appointed to meet at Washington to discuss the questions in dispute between the two countries. By the treaty of Washington various outstanding questions were settled, and the Alabama claims were referred to a court of five arbitrators sitting at Geneva. A storm was raised in England by the inclusion in the American

case of what were known as the Indirect Claims. These included vast sums, not alone for the damages caused by the vessels, but for the increased rates of insurance, for loss caused by transfer of cargoes from American to British ships, and also for the cost of the war after the battle of Gettysburg. These Indirect Claims occasioned great excitement and it looked as if the arbitration would fall through; but a solution of the difficulty was found by the Indirect Claims being repudiated by the Arbitrators. The award was issued on September 14, by which about £3,250,000 had to be paid by this country as compensation for the depredations of the Alabama and other Confederate vessels. The American claim was for £9,500,000, but they had difficulty in making a proper distribution of the much

smaller amount awarded them. Sir Alexander Cockburn, the British representative, did not sign the judgment. His judgment appeared separately.

of Geneva Tribunal of Arbitration. Papers relating to Proceedings Part 1. Protocols and Corres