New-York tribune., 1893-12-10
ny CABLE TO TIKI TRIBUNE

co,v,,oM; 1898 Bs The Tribune Associahon-
Tondon Dec 9-The anXieties Of the Govern
went are undoubtedly increasing. The monthly
returns Of the Board of Trade strengthen the
rrevang fears Of a large National deficit at the
end OF the financial year. If the current reports
IN official quarters are true. the deficit is to be
met not out Of the pockets Of that section OF the
community where the majority Of votes is 10 be
found but by the payers Of the income tax. 1t
&c asserted In well-informed circles that the
trv may expect a further impost Of three and
one-haf pence and a further addition to the
same tax in order to provide for strengthening
the navy 1t Is expected that any substantial
addition to this easily imposed tax will be re-
earded as a justification for altering the cond-
tjons under which it is levied. The Chancellor
OF the Exchequer has been credited for a long
time with a desire to introduce graduated IN
come tax and this will possibly be attempted
The subject is surrounded with great difficulties
and ought TO be undertaken by a non-partisan
commission. rather than by Ministry which
cannot possibly ign the claims of It's support
ers in the poling-booths.
This impost was originally purely
tax. Since Mr. Gladstone's triumphant achieve
ment Of tariff reform, very few articles were
left upon which to raise revenue. The income
tax thus afforded the most facile means of rails
ing money It's imposition does not disturb trade,
like the introduction Of new tariff. and 1t has
the further advantage that ii raises money from
that body of people whose fewness makes them
least dangerous at the polling booth. The work
ing classes pay only as consumers by indirect
taxation. The upper classes have Just the same
tariffs but with the tax upon incomes as an
additional burden There is no unfairness in the
- l~o,, Itcft vCtfA
between the rich man and the poor man. The
danger is that in bidding for the poor mans
vote Governments are tempted to make undue
demands upon the middle and upper classes
the very classes who at the present moment are
the most strongly opposed to Mr.. Gladstone's
Government Any attempt to recast the income
tax by a graduated scale. If introduced by the
present Ministry. is sure to arouse the suspicious
of those who already pay the tax.
The Government have made another change OF
front on the Parish Councils bill. and the final
passage Of the measure seems to be further OF
than ever. The weeks disputes have RACED over
the distinction between parish charities which
are ecclesiastical and those which are temporal
or secular In the earlier stages of the bill Mr.
Fowler, who had charge Of the measure. opposed
the dispossesson OF existing trustees. who are
in most cases clergymen or church wardens
but the disestabshment party, who sit behind
Mr. Gladstone, not content with Mr. POWERS
tenderness toward the Establishment. though
Mr. Fowler himself Is strong dissenter; and
therefore this party got up cabal to bring
pressure upon Mr. Gladstone to change his at
ttude.
Sir William Harcourt got up 70 throw over
board his colleague, Mr.. Fowler. and at a later
odd
the change of front forced upor him by one OF
those bits Of political jugglery which are some
times needful when politicians try to explain
questions He had to show that
the extinction Of the power Of the original trus-
tees was consistent with Mr.. Fowler's undertake
ing to leave their position unaffected. In con-
sequence Of this step. the Opposition have been
and clergymen, because they belong to the
prospect of the bill passing into law becomes
surrounded with increasing difficulty
As the measure stands churchwardens
and cergymen. because they belong to the
Church are incapable Of becoming trustees of a
parish charity; but this inequality does not ex-
tend to Catholic priests to dissenting min
listers. or to dcacons Moreover. II churchman
desires to leave any charitable funds for the
benefit Of his community. so simple q thing as
reading room attached to the church buildings.
OF an ecclesiastical trust.
The Parish Councils bill, which originally
promised to be a simple measure is likely to
provoke as much anger throughout the country
as did Home Rule. The Opposition intend to
fight the bill at every clause. and 1t will be no
easy matter for Mr. Gladstone to arrange how
far the session Of 1893 shall run into 1894. The
next parliamentary session will also have a
formidable crop OF trouble The Prime Minister
Is already piling up a multitude of promises,
such as Evcted Tenants. Welsh Dsestablish-
ment Registration, and Scottish Dsesta blish-
ment bills and this week n powerful deputa-
tion of teetotallers induced him TO speak more
strongly in favor Of Local Veto than he has
generally done. or his promises were
not without ambiguity, but the deputation
passed a resolution declaring that they regarded
them as an acceptance Of their demands.
1t may also be necessary TO legislate for the
Scotch fishermen The Government measure of
this year has been turned inside out by the
House OF Lords. and oddly enough, at the re-
quest Of deputations Of Radical fishermen from
Aberdeen. Dundee and Forfarshire. all constitu-
enctes returning Gladstonians In this matter
the Lords posing saviors OF the country.
just as in the Home Rule debates. The same
scene was witnessed last night, in regard to the
Employers Liability bill. when the Peers, in re-
Bponse to deputations Of workingrnen. introduced
the contracting-out clause. already described. by
the large majority Of 14S against 2S. The Lords
also n,inimized the drastic application of the
bill to the shipping trade. Lord Salisbury de-
clared that shipowners even doubted II 1t would
be possible TO conduct their industry Under such
conditions as were originally pro-
posed.
The commission appointed to inquire into the
so-called Featherstone outrage has presented a
report which entirely exonerates the action Of
the military during the recent colliery riots 1t
will be remembered that the soldiers were called