898, the sub-committee appointed
to enquire into this modest request, decided to recommend its rejection.
Mr. A.D. Wolmarans said that "the council would be the means of placing
over the heads of the agents of the State, a commission whose members
were not in possession of the franchise; and that the Volksraad would
practically be adopting the proposition of home rule, and autonomy, put
forward by Mr. Chamberlain in 1896."

On September 12th, the question was revived. A member of the Volksraad,
named Lombaard, said that: "Johannesburg would never be satisfied until
it had a little government of its own"; and that, as for the sale of
liquor, as far as he was concerned, he saw no reason why Kaffirs should
not drink themselves to death, if such was their taste.

The request was rejected by 14 votes to six. Four-and-twenty hours later
the government passed a measure for an additional tax upon mining
profits; then the Lombaard and Edgar cases occurred. The Chamber of
Mines remained calm, notwithstanding.

4.--_Timidity of the Chamber of Mines._

In his report of January 26th, 1899, Mr. Rouliot seems to have but one
aim, and that is to dissociate the Chamber of Mines completely from the
agitation excited among the English workmen by the murder of their
comrade, Edgar, at the hands of policeman Jones. I quote his words:--

"The Chamber of Mines has never taken part in any political
agitation, nor has it encouraged or organised demonstrations of a
political nature. We take our stand solely upon an economic basis,
endeavouring by constitutional means the alleviation of our
burdens, and offering our advice upon questions that affect the
State, equally with an industry, our thorough knowledge of which is
undeniable. We ask neither for concessions, nor for monopoly. All
that we ask is fair treatment for our business and our
shareholders. I may here express my disappointment at seeing that
all our efforts to bring about good feeling and union between
ourselves and the executive, meet with nothing but contempt on the
part of the latter."

He then goes on to allude to Hollander officials; and possibly, to
certain members of the diplomatic body:--

"Those act in bad faith who unceasingly encourage the executive of
this country in their retrograde policy, and constantly tell them
that all they do is well done."

He concludes by pointing out the manner