The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-30
GREAT BRITAIN'S BUDGET.
an INCREASE or $1,000. 900 ron
TROOP IN SOUTH AFRICA.

bN Wv"
The TrnHsvnaI Accused or Violating tho LoB-
don Convention-Mr. Chnmberinin says
Fnsinnd win Maintain Her RIEhts In
South A~frica-Chenper Foreign Postage.
LONDON. April 29.-Ir tho House Of COMMONS
to-day Sir Michael Hicks. Beach, Chancellor of
the Exchequcr, upon rising to submit the an
nual budget was greeted with prolonged cheer
Ing. lie said that the national prosperity for
the past year had even exceeded that OF the pre-
vious year. There had been un increase Of 3
per cent. in the foreign trade. and The home
trade had been equally satisfactory. During
the past year, he said, the people OF England had
smoked, drank, and earned moro and had also
paid n greater aggregate sum In income tax and
death duties than in any previous year.
In 1895 he had forecasted that the revenue
would amount to R10O, 1901 900. whereas 1t had
actually been R103, $50. 900. That forecast, ho
said. had boon made with great caution, and no
would again DO cautious in making another, in
view Of the storm cloud which had just broken
over Europe, the duration and extent of which
no man could foresec.
Including the supplementary estimates,
amounting to 60, 10000 the total expenditure
had been a1O2, 1886, 900. Tho expenditures Of
tho House OF Commons had made the worst
showing. II was noteworthy that since 1892
the increase In the expenditures Of the House had
boen over IL per cont, while the increased rev
enues, which, had been partially raised by In
creased taxation. had been only, o per cent.
The budget proposals include R500. 900 for
Increased naval estimates and 5000, 600 for In
creasing the British garrison In South Africa
and for the establishment OF a series of postal
reforms.
The expenses for the navy. tho Chancellor said,
had been increased 40 per cent. since 1892, and
the saline period had been Increased IS per cent.
After deducting the ENcheouer issues from the
I rs's7s'od she an spTB Bn, ba fSF bes sho d pSst ye io nn waf
tiqnaI debt had been reduced BY s7.s5s4,ooo:
ton would celebrate the sixtieth anniversary Of
2 great reign, and 1t would be of interest to look
which had taken place in the condition Of the
country within sixty ! tyyoyo years 96 IN 1897 the total
double that amount. In the early period Of her
Majesty's reign three-fourths Of the revenue of
the country was raised from taxes imposed upon
commodities, but In the later period only ~ per
cent. OF tho revenue was raised In that way.
Within the same length Of time the expendi.
doubled. and the number of men and boys in the
Sir Michael said that the Government had
carefully considered the responsibilities of their
position, as the powerin South Africa
Necessary neS to materially Increase the strength Of
the British garrison there. loud cheers from
the Government benchcs;J This step has not
tend to fulfil to the utmost all OF our obligations
and we expect others to do the same" Tire;
lthuOu tlCClillk ny IL 4l Del
The reforms mentioned by the Chancellor in:
clude the reduction of the foreign and colonial
rate OF postage to two ponce and, the parcels
oot Hss re ehan 70 Sae WHEN Rsiahn' VIII Pir le pS"nG; sS r plus Of Of
1903, 600 to be devoted to educational purposes
in Ireland and Scotland and the entertainment
Of foreign and colonial guests at the Queens
jubilee. The budget bill does not propose any
changes in the taxation.
Sir Michael estimated tho expenditures for
the coming year at lol.79o'oOo. and the
Sir William Harcourt, the leader of the Or
position, complained that the Governments
policy was to fore2o n reduction Of the taxation
In order to carry out their war policy in South
for the Colonies, he declared, had endeavored to
bring about a racial war and failed, and his war
policy had been condemned by the Cape Parlia-
Nj. Chamberlain defended the action of the
Government, whose policy in South Africa. he
contended. had been conciliatory. The Trans
London Convention of 1884 and had spent mil
lions in strengthening the ornaments of tho
Boer republic, which were now greatly dispro-
portionate to those of the Cape Colony.
would be grateful that the Government recog-
niZed the position OF Great Britain as tho para
mount power In South Africa and was deter
mined to maintain her rights.
The debate continued for some time upon
South Africa.
Mr.. Leonard Courtney. Liberal member for the
Bodmin division of Cornwall, said he did not be-
lievc that the Transvaal Government was ag-
gressiye.
This remark provoked Mr.. Balfour, the Gov
ernment leader. into characterizing the speeches
tending to aggravate the situation. The Gov
eminent, he said, only desired their actual ex-
listing rights and would regard 1t as a disaster IL
Il should be necessary to go to war with the
Transvaal.
Sir William Harcourt thanked Mr.. Balfour
for his healing words.