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Show WHITEWASHING A LORD. A committee of tho British houso of lords has whitewashed a member, Lord Murray, who, when ho was chief 'Liberal 'Lib-eral whip in the house of commons, invested in-vested some of tho Liberal party funds in American Marconi shares. The finding find-ing of tho committeo is-that Lord Murray Mur-ray committed "errors of judgment," but that there was nothing in his conduct con-duct "which reflects upon his personal honor." As a matter of fact the Liberal party, being in power, was given a chance to raiso a little campaign money by tho Marconi company, legislative favors bo-I bo-I ing expected in return. The committee, having exonerated the Liberal peer, recommended rec-ommended that "there should henceforth hence-forth be an inflexible rule to preclude those who hold public office from entering en-tering upon any speculative transactions transac-tions in stocks or shares under any circumstances cir-cumstances whatever." Tho people of tho United States havo had some experience along tho same lines, but corporations are no longor allowed al-lowed to subscribe to campaign funds and thcro is less tendency among senators sen-ators and representatives in congress to accept presents of stock than thcro used to be. Lord Murray was fortunate in that his party was in power when the exposure came, thus preventing the house of commons from taking any action. ac-tion. Tho houso of lords, of course, always al-ways stands by tho wearer of a title, irrespective of part', when a crimo has been committed, tho idea being that conviction would subject tho lords as a class to contempt and contumely. Lord Murray is not guilty, but neither ho nor anyone else must do it again. |