19 APRIL 1913, Page 12

[To TR& EDITOR 07 TUN "SPECTATOR.") Stn,—Possibly no one accuses

Sir Rufus Isaacs of more than thoughtlessness in the matter of the American Marconi shares. But what thoughtlessness ! A magistrate, if he holds the smallest fraction of stock in his neighbouring railway, cannot adjudicate in any matter concerning it, not even deal with a rogue some official has caught travelling upon it without a ticket. He is supposed to be biassed. The disabilities of magistrates with regard to the licensing trade are well hnown. Why should a Cabinet Minister be credited with greater virtue than a J. P.? Again, Sir Rufus Isaacs by chance gets possession of a property, by means of which he could, if be had chosen, have gained an increment of £20,000 in two days. A struggling country builder, speculating in his legitimate trade, gains an increment on his speculation of 2100 in two years. He has to pay one-fifth to the Government. Is it not.