20 DECEMBER 1919, Page 3

The Government's economic measures have fared badly. The Coal Industry

Bill, to limit the coal-owners' profit to fourteen- pence a ton, came up for second reading on Thursday week, but it was attacked so violently by all parties that Mr. Boner Law virtually agreed to drop it. He observed that the miners' opposition released the Government from their pledge to accept this strange proposal, when it was made by the Coal Commission on March 20th last. The Anti-Dumping Bill, which has also offended all parties and pleased none, is understood to be dead. The Electricity Supply Bill, after passing the Commons and being read a second time by the Lords, was on Tuesday reduced to a mere fragment, at the instance of the Lord Chancellor. An Electricity Commission is to be set up without powers and without money, except for salaries, but the ambitious scheme for district boards and central power-stations has gone, apparently because it would cost too much. We do not blame the Govern- ment for abandoning these projects. But Ministers might think before they propose to legislate.