New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
THE NEWS OFTWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
SAMOAN COMPLICATIONS LIGHTLY RE
GARDED-TAXATION PROBLEMS.
FREE-TRADE ORTHODOXY WEAKENED
THE STELLA DISASTER-NOTES OF
SOCIETY AND THE STAGE

lBY CABLE To TIE TRBUNEl
London. April 1.-The Samoan crisis has ex.
cited comparatively little interest in England
The chief feeling is unalloyed satisfaction over
the fact that British and American officers are
working together in close harmony It is felt
that even deplorable loss OF life in the course OF
the operations at Apia has a certain compensa-
tion, since the Anglo-Amercan entente has been
illustrated by Joint sacrifices OF the troops Of the
two nations fighting side by side for a common
object. The attitude OF the German officials In
Samoa is not expected to lead 10 serious inter-
national complications II is noticed that the
comments OF the Berlin newspapers even of
those not usually very friendly toward this
country, are couched in extremely reserved and
cautious language. and that the semi-oflcial
statement published In the Berlin press care
fully avoids expressing the opinion that the
American and British commanders were in
fringing upon German rights under the Samoa
act in cooperating to suppress disorder
Several German journalists urge that under
the treaty no rearrangement Of affairs in the
islands is allowed without IL, consent Of the
representatives OF all three Powers: but on the
other hand. it is urged here that this provision
does not and ought not to Apply 10 temporary.
measures necessary to protect life and property
and suppress disturbances. At any rate, II Is
not for a moment believed that Germany would
quarrel with the Anglo-Saxon Powers over
Samoa
For the rest. Englishmen have grown accus.
toned to regard minor warlike operations in q
remote part of the world with considerable
equanmty An occasional bombardment like
that at Apa is merely looked upon as a meas
ure by which semi-civllized native potentates In
/ the Pacific and elsewhere have TO be poced into
order AS for Samoa. the British Foreign Office
has never been too anxious 70 press It's claims
against Germany. and has frequently evlnced
unaccountable meekness In the face Of the high
handed pretensions OF German officials the
spot The is altered. now that the United
States has developed a serious interest In the
affairs Of the country. and there is no doubt
that the initiative of Admiral Kautz Will be
energetically supported by Her Majesty's Gov
| ernment. This is quite understood in Berlin,
where probably arrangements are already being
! made to dsavow or explain away the acts OF
| Raffel and Rose
The financial year which ended yesterday
closed better than was expected. Sir Michael
| Hicks Beach, the Chancellor Of the Exchequer.
| has again been lucky. The revenue receipts dur
! ing the year have exceeded his budget estimate
by nearly IL 2j0000 The abounding wealth OF
| the prOperted classes is again demonstrated by
substantial increases in the yield from the in
! come tax and estates duties, and there s an ex-
pansion in the returns from excise and the post
Office.
! Sir Michaers difficulties Will begin, however
when he comes 10 deal with the budget for the
coming year. which will have TO be produced
soon after the House of Commons meets after
the Easter holidays. owing chiefly 10 the de-
mands of the Admiralty for new shipbuildng
and the increase in the army votes, the esti-
mated expenditure for the ensuing year will be
nearly 1900 900 above that Of the last twelve
month There is no available surplus 10 carry
forward so that the Treasury will be compelled
to find new sources Of revenue. The Cabinet
must now be regrettng the unnecessary reduc-
tion Of the tobacco duty by sxpence in the
| Mound which means loss to the Exchequer or
nearly II 100000 In we-informed quarters 1t
is rumored that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach will
! again fall back on the stereOtyped eXpedlent OF
! adding something 10 the income tax. the con-
venient impost by which the English middle
classes are made to defray so large a portion OF
the expenses Of governing the country.
But there must be a limit 10 this direct tax
I alton and there is growing feeling that the
whole English fiscal system must before long
undergo considerable modification. The in
| crease Of indirect taxation or, I'm plain words,
the imposition OF duties on imports. has been
openly advocated in quarters which have always
been regarded hitherto as strongholds or free-
trade orthodoxy. The change Of opinion on the
| subject is illustrated by the complete failure 10
arouse an agitation against the decision Of the
Indian Government to impose counterVailing
duty on foreign bounty-fed sugar The cry Of
| protection has been raised by few ardent Cob
denites. but no one takes any notice Of it,
gg
ord Curzon has sanctioned would have evoked
a storm in England: now the protests Of free
trade nurists have fallen fiat and elected no re-
sponse from the public.
\ gloom has been cast over the Easter holI-
davs by the wreck Of the steamer Stella off the
Channel Islands with the loss Of nearly one
hundred lives II is the worst disaster that has
hornenad 70 any passenger vessel in the waters
surrounding the British Isles for several years,
,,tb the exception of the laundering OF the
Ncbeoan on the Cornwall coast last autumn.
M exclamation is yet forthcoming as TO why
the ship was run through dense fog al speed
Of nearly nineteen knots an hour In the heigh-
| borhood Of most dangerous rocks and cross-cur-
.,,,,. and as the captain and his chief officer
went down with the vessel the world Is Hkey
mover 10 know their reasons for what looks IKE
reckless navigation. At any rate nothinB couia
exc ed the splendid coolness and discipline exhib-
ted by the officers and crew and BE quiet cour-
age Of the passengers after the ship struck. There
anpear TO have been No Americans on board ex-
| cent Mr. James Parton. the London manager
of the American Line. and his wife, both OF
whom were saved after night OF exposure ana
suffering in open boats. on inquiry al the onces
OF the American Line to-day II was leatheo
that Mr.. and Mrs. Parton are still in Guernsey
no
| experience Mr.. Parton says that the De-
no..,or -, all concerned struck him as a mag
,,Iocar, example OF British coolness and pluck
Tho sailors were all English chiefly from
| cou,bamnton. The conduct OF the passengers
| they a mtscel.