New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES.
POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL RELATIONS
BETWEEN THEM
fDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

Washington. May l4-Britsh colonial methods
and the existing relations financial and otherwise
between the home Government and the colonies are
tersely and interestingly outlined in letter re-
Gently received by the Treasury Bureau Of Statis-
tics in reply 10 series of questions this sub
tect The letter Is written by S. G. Hobson Editor
of The Hardwareman" and THE Hardware Ex-
porter" Of London and presents in brief space so
much interesting and important information re-
gardng the business relations between the British
Government and its colonies that It will doubtless
prove interesting TO many people In the United
States. The letter is as follows:
In reply TO your question concerning the relations
of the mother country TO the colonies You ask;
any considerable sums Of money in the earlier his
tory of the colonies ,, 20
have been refunded by the colonies.
Third-,Whether the large sums which have been
expended in permanent improvements. such as
railways telegraph lines public Ss nv ,g ha aar
Government Cove r and if So n about what proportion
Fourth--Whether the troops in the colonies are
enues of the colonies themselves; and
Fifth-Whether the colonial system is generally
looked upon by the people OF the home Govern
In reply the the first question: No. The Gov
money In the earlier history Of the colonies. so
ibs has been 5en Of heT n
discriminate carefully between colonial expendi-
p er for defence wherever public works
have been OF strategic value either from a milf
ment always expends a fair share. For example.
the harbor Of ST. Lucia, in the West Indies was
WSdh the eu w eonbusd and R
ike manner many OF the harbors throughout our
waters. have been partially subsidized by the
But so far as colonization is concerned It has
been natural process the home Government only
sufficiently to warrant sef-soyernment.
Then again there are Occasionally grants is IN aid
muneratve grant in aid is made to them and 1t
onies have been en- unable to meet their Iaby and
the Government wipes out the the debt .-
lines PsOs I s. a far ,Ss
Eminent win Often meet the case by giving guar
in colonial protects Of this description capital Is
N The o sy fn
IN my 10 E Of Se Taf bnd Gn but
q general rule it is perfectly accurate to assume
that the Government guarantee always meets the
ton in South Africa for railway from Cape
Se to So G M Eods has 6 Sssn for
but for guarantee. m. Government viii p only
Commercial value. and has given its guarantees for or
one section 6, Of III; project M Rhodes win
nation, for i is covered by the guarantee
,Fourth,rhe troops in the colonies a,e paid
colonies pay the Government proportion. The
amown, neweyer + propSrtonstey very small and
do not. ''''
Cape Colony has recently offered the homo Gov
eminent the price Of hrst-class battleship But
the payments on the part OF the colonies are en-
tirely voluntary. the general principle being no
taxation without representation There II n move
rncnt here calling for imperial federation. and
doubtless in the future this question will be put
upon proper foundation.
In reply to question No 8, the opinion here nuctu-
ates 10 the value or otherwise OF colonial
panson. Roughly spea king the average Britisher
is ready to accept responsibility. but he IL not
particularly enthusiastic about II.
The fact IS We colonzins nation, and among
the weto-do classes IL s quite the usual thing for
the younger 10 try the colonies for few
years The law Of primogeniture is partly respon-
si5le for this. while cur industrial system Is con-
tinuaily throwing out large bodies Of men who al
once emigrate. OF course the emancipation OF the
slaves wss capital investment Of $4,000 900 which
the colonies have never repaid and never will.