The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-23
WAYS AND MEANS.
For Carrying on the War Discussed
In the House of Commons.

London, Oct. 23.-In the house today.
the chancellor of the excheQuer, Sir
Michael Hicks Beach made state
ment on the question of the eXpendi-
ture entailed by the TranSvaal war He
said the expenditures for the year had
been increased by the supplementary
vote to a total of &21, ,205, 600, but he ad-
ed the revenue had increased and he
expected there would be an increase of
&3,O00,O00 over his estimate. There
would be a considerable contribution
towards the unforeseen expenditure
and would leave about 87 600 900 to be
provided He thought there should be
no addition to the fixed debt but that
the money should be raised by a tenn
porary addition to the floating debt.
The chancellor of the excheQuer had
asked for the power to raise &4 ,0O0, 900
the whole question of repayment and
the question OF fresh taxation to be lett
over to the last financial year. Sir Mi
chael also pointed out the present war
differed from past ones and that the eS-
Inmates had been more carefully drawn
up. No one could foresee what the to-
tai would be; but the British troops had
met with brilliant success and the coli
onies were loyal. Although there might
be something in today's news to given
cause for anxiety yet he saw no reason
to anticipate that the campaign would
not be brought to a successful close
within the period for which the esti-
mates were framed. AS British colon
les had been invaded he considered it
to be consistent with all the laws of war
If when it was brought to successful
termination the TranSVaaI taxpayer
should at any rate bear part of the
cost. The Transvaal he continued was
wealthy in it's gold fields. There had
been complaints from those interested
in the gold fields that there had been
excessive taxation but he believed from
the best information that under a pure
and honest government it would be per-
! fectly possible for the Transvaal to
! bear not only the ordinary expenses of
government and of providing for the
| maintenance of peace and order within
! its territory, but also to provide a rea-
| sonable sum towards the expenses of
| the war, with a reduction at the same
| time of the taxation of the gold fields.
| Continuing Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
said:
! IF these anticipations are not full
| filled and the sum borrowed proves to
/ be but part of the total cost of the war
| we shall appeal to your patriotism next
/ April We believe that those who have
| supported US in the prosecution of this
/ work will not fail US when it somes to
! pay the bill. If fresh taxation were in
| troduced now it might prOlong the de-
! bate and produce division which
! might be entirely misunderstood
| abroad. / shall not take any course
| which will promote a division, or pre-
J vent US from presenting united front
! in this crisis"
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, the
| leader of the opposition agreed that
| this was not the proper time to discuss
| the financial question and that it was
not desirable to show a sign of disun-
! ion.
The proposals of Sir Michael Hicks
| Beach were agreed to by vote of 1886
| to 22S.
The reference of the chancellor of the
! excheQuer to the anxiety as to the lat
est news apparently referred to Lord
| WOlseley' S announcement that the Brit
| ish were falling back from Dundee be-
| fore superior forces.
The departure of the various contin-
| gents of the army corps was continued
| today and was affected smoothly.
| There were striking scenes of en-
| thusiasm wherever the trooDs were
| embarking and the Second Royal Irish
/ fusileers had an especially noteworthy
! sendon at Colchester where they had
! almost to fight their way to the rail-
| road station.