Evening star., 1899-03-30
CRISIS IN JAMAICA
People Excited Over Arbitrary Action
of Crown Officials.
TROUBLE over THE TARIFF BILL
Clash Between the Elective Branch
and the Governor.
REPRESENTATIVES, TO RESIGN
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
KINGSTON. Jamaica, March 22.--The po-
litical crisis in Jamaica that was foretold
in the Associated Press dispatch of Febru-
airy q, has developed. The colony entered
the acute stage yesterday evening, and
what the next week or day may bring forth
1t would need wise prophet to forecast.
The legislative council met on March IA
and the governors address proved, appar-
emily, most conciliatory manifesto to the
people.
The papers accepted it with joy.
Within twenty-four hours, however, 1t
turned out to be waste paper. At the next
days session the government introduced a
new tariff bill making drastic innovations,
such as taxing at IS 3-4 per cent sewing
machines, typewriters, printing material,
stationery, printed books, newspapers,
magazines, school books, etc, and putting
on the free list luxuries, including photo
graphic appliances.
House Would Not Discuss 1t.
The elective house declined to discuss the
bill, of which they had no notice, and by
a solid, unanimous vote threw out the first
reading. By a quibble the governor ruled
that the bill from that moment went into
operation, adjourned the council until
March % Ctoday), and instantly convened
the privy council, which sustained his rul-
ing and ordered the new tariff in immedi-
ate operation concurrently with the exist
ing one, which expires March 81.
This act caused commotion in commercial
circles. The general public were not less
excited. The newspapers raved and proph-
esed no end of evil. Even the Cleaner,
perhaps one of the most conservative and
non-commital papers in the British col
onies, and which receives government
money, set aside all restraint and said:
Plain Talk by the Cleaner.
"One is inclined to ask whether we are
living under British rule or under the
dominioE of some eastern potentate. The
thing is preposterous. What is really de-
sired? Is it dsaffection and riot among
the people? There is no surer way of bring
ing this about than by pursuing a course
that will make it appear to them that their
social and material elevation is undesired.
and the consequences may be disastrous.
1t was understood up to yesterday, that
the elected members had determined to
unanimously block all further business un-
til the government yielded to their consti-
tutional right to accept or reject financial
measures, and withdrew the outrageous
ruling, they expressed it, by which the
new tariff had been forced on the country
and whereby every conceivable mechanical
aid to industry and literature had been sub
jected to heavy taxation.
The governor yesterday evening took
steps to block this program. He issued a
proclamation proroguing the council and
another conveniEg it to meet today at 2
o clock. At the same time he issued a man
ifesto declaring that with the concurrence
and under the instructions of Mr. Cham
berlain he would by this step be enabled to
reintroduce the tariff bill and carry it
through, taking such steps as are neces-
sary and as he is authorized by the consti-
tuition to take to secure that object.
To OutvOte the Electives.
This means just what was forecasted on
reliable information in the dispatch of Feb
ruary q, and toward which the government
has been working. That is, the numerical
Increase of the official side so as to out
vote the electives and force the government
measures against which the representatives
are unanimous.
The tariff bill thus passed crown COL
ony bill is expected to follow, 10 be similar
ly forced through. To meet this crisis it is
this morning reported that at a private
meeting of the representatives held late
last night it was unanimously decided that
If the government brings in new official
members and declines to withdraw the new
tariff altogether they will resign their seats
in body, thus compelling an appeal to the
voters.