The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-28
FORE On FLASHES.
INDIAN IMPORT DUTIES ON COT
TON.
Create a Stir in the House of Commons
Rioting Students Arrested in ST.
Petersburg-News of the Capt
IRE of Wei-Hai-Wei.

tho Government for information in regard
to the proceedings of the commission
which is making an inquiry at Moorish
into the alleged atrocllles on Ain n'
by the porte A.. e.o;., A.,
ogotae are to be in constant attendance
mon the commission and are to be in
formed 10 all Of it's Investigations. They
con call for correction in the daily re-
norris. can, if necessary, direct the course
of the inquiry by indicating the places to
he visited or the persons to be examined
and can secure any question to be put
in satisfactory form, or, failing in that
n1t the question themselves in the form
they desire.
boon cleared away the discussion began
mon the motion of Sir Henry James
for an adjournment of the house in order
to call attention to the Indian import
duties on cotton. 1t was 5:12 O'Clock
when Sir Henry obtained leave to sub
NIT his motion. The house was then
crowded and great excitement prevailed.
On beginning his remarks, Sir Henry
called attention to the recent imposition
of cotton duties in India.
Sir Donald Macfarlane IiberaD asked
whether the motion was one contem-
nlated by the standing orders, the sub
ject being of no more Importance now than
week ago.
The speaker ruled that the motion was
within the spirit of the standing orders,
inasmuch as it referred to the importa-
tion of duties in India, which, it was
alleged called for an instant remedy.
The decision Of the speaker was greeted
with loud Conservative cheers.
In his speech Sir Henry said that
India was the greatest market %hat Lam
cashire has for her cotton and textile
goods. The prosperity of Lancashire
depended upon that of India. The cot
ton industry in India was fiourishing
and had largely supplanted the trade
of Lancashire from China and Japan.
The industries in Lancashire consequently
were decreasing. No profits were made
by the cotton masters and working people
were thrown out of employment by the
stoppage of mills or curtailment of pro-
duction.
He charged that the secretary of state
for India had listened to the appeals of
agitators in India while he had neg
lected to consult the manufacturers in
Manchester. How could the govern
ment in the future urge upon Germany
anu anu IHc lJuSllou COlOulcS
advantages of free trade, when it had
port duties in India. (Cheers.) The pro-
posed duty would fall on British manu-
facturers; 10000 looms in the mills of
Great Britain in which 1000 working
people were employed have stopped run
ming, and those people were idle.
Sir Henry Fowler, secretary for India,
emphatically denied the existence of any
agitation or conspiracy on behalf of
any class of persons in this subject. He
had not listened to the views of agitatOrs,
but had taken counsel with the highest
and most distinguished servants of the
crown in India.
Sir Henry James had charged him with
sacrificing the interests of England, but
he had failed to give the slightest proof
in support of that accusation. Duties
had previously existed in India from the
time that country was handed over to
the crown until it was abolished, because
they were considered protective. The
house of commons, by a resolution, in
1877, declared in favor of their repeal as
soon as the financial condition of the coun-
try would allow The duties were re-
peated in 1852. Last year, however, the
Indian government was confronted with
deficit of 100000 of rupees and pro-
posed to meet it by the imnosition of inn
port duties on cotton. The home gov
eminent at first refused to consent to
this suggestion and the result was that
the famine appropriation fund and the
provincial grants were suspended and
there was ultimately deficit in the bud
get of 100000.
Mr. Fowler then quoted statement
made in the house of lords by Lord Cross
while he was Indian secretary in the last
administration of Lord Salisbury, that
the imposition of duties was not for pro.
lection, but must be decided by the gov.
eminent with regard to Indian finances
That was the last statement made on the
subject by any of the opposition leaders
Q4iberal cheers.) The proposed duties
were to be levied on the higher class OF
goods in which there is practically ne
competition. What we have recon-
mended to foreign countries was not the
abolition of import duties, but of pro
tective duties. There is no protection
when duty is accompanied by an equiv
alent excise duty. The duties on cottor
would be paid by the people of India aftel
the tea duty was paid by the people o.
Great Britain. He did not believe tina
the former would reduce the cotton il
India.
Mr.. Fowler declared that it was thu
deliberate conviction of the government
that a widespread and dangerous feel
ing of dissatisfaction would have beef
created if the feeling of the people of In
dia had been disregarded in this matter
He had to do his duty as secretary o
state. The house knew what conse
quences would follow if it refused to sane
| ton the administrative acts of the gov
eminent, which it did not shrink iron
| accepting the conclusions if censure wa
| inflicted, but it must not be forgottel
| that if the government was responsible
| to the house the latter was responsible 7
the people of India. (Cheers.) If it coul
be shown that the rate of excise dut
would have any effect the government
| would act in concert with the INDIA
| government with view to prevent sue
an effect.
Mr.. Goshen, chancellor Of the excheque
in Lord Salisbury's last administrator
admitted that the question was yer
large one. There was much to be sal
on both sides and the feelings of the Ii
dian people ought to be taken into a,
count. Members of the house ought
arrange themselves boldly on the side
the executive. The question should I
| arranged by conference with a view
remedying the deficit in the Indian bu'
get. Surely it was not beyond Statesman
ship to find an alternative to these impol
duties. He urged the government to el
deavor TO bring India and Manchestt
into harmony.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said i
recognized the lofty spirit of Mr.. Goshen