New-York tribune., 1901-04-14
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
THE BUDGET SPEECH FACEErV
AWAITED.
REVIVAL OF SOCIAL ACTIvITY-PUBIIsu.
ERS AND BOOKSELLERS MORE FRIEND
LY-LEss RELIGIOUS STRIFE.
tcopyright: 1901: BY The New-Yors Tribune,
LBY CARIE To THE Tprsr-~r 7

tCooyright: 1901: BY The New-York Tribuneo
IBY CABLE THE TRIBuyEI
London. April 13.-The Chancellor Of the ~.
chequer has made no sign and the country does
not know whether sugar will be taxed or corn
laws imposed. or a few simple sums in addition
De worked out In the taxation of incomes. tea,
tobacco and spirits. 1t may be a COMMONPLACE
budget with feeble expedients for widening the
area OF taxation. may be the most I'M
portant budget since the corn laws were re-
pealed- In any event. TIE political effects OF
this budget speech must be considerable There
Will be revival of Liberalism if imported food
be taxed whether sugar or corn. and there will
De generalization the government side IL the
chancellor OF the Exchequer continues to finance
the war feebly and fails to readjust the burdens
OF direct and indirect taxation
There are also personal elements in the poItt-t
cal equation The present Cabinet has been
nominally directed by Lord Salisbury but Mr.
Chamberlain's will has been the strongest force
in regulating its policies. Sir Michael Hicks
Beach has been the only member Of the Cabinet
capable of offering resistance to the will OF Mr.
Chamberlain. The Treasury has been the.
stronghold of the old Toryism. where the Secre-l
tary for the Colonies could not exert the pressure
Of superior political capacity Sir Michael;
Hicks-Beach and Mr.. Chamberlain have been
antipathetic ever since the present government
was formed. and their Emergencies OF opinions
have widened during recent months while they,
have remained colleagues with Lord Salisbury
as Prime Minister. 1t is doubtful if they cam
work together when the amiabihty OF Mr. Bal,
four is transferred TO the upper house. Mr.
Chamberlain clearly cannot lead the Commons
if Sir Michael Hicks-Beach remains at the head,
of the Treasury. His budget speech will be a.
decisive proof OF the Chancellor's capacity or
incapacity as fnancier. and will have a direct
bearing upon the political fortunes of Mr.. Cham
berain. If it exhausts the patience of the coun-
try the ascendency Of the masterfu1 will of Mr..
Chamberlain will be complete. and the way Will
be opened for his leadership OF the Commons
and for the revision of the tariff system in thor
early future on the lines of imperialism in the
business relations of the mother country and the
colonies There will be a feeling of relief among
business men when Parliament reassembles for{
the budget speech. Budget gambling based upon,
rumored changes in the tariff has become a
source Of serious disturbance Tea. tobacco and
spirits have been taken out OF bond in immense
quantities TO forestan increased taxation. and
enough sugar for eighteen months supply has
been dumped into England from Hamburg.
Boulogne. Antwerp ard Rotterdam. Unless the
sugar duties can be made retroactive the Treas
ury will draw little revenue from this source
during the next fiscal year, and IL the Chan
cellor declines 70 levy them the speculative
movement OF the importers may involve some
business failures The grocery. confectionery
and allied trades have been holding meetings TO
protest against the taxation of sugar and TO
advocate the inalienabIe right OF the British
workingman to have cheap raarmalade and jam
on his breakfast table. Income taxpayers can
only stand and wait for they have no resource
for agitating against the crushing weight OF
direct taxation. The budget speech will be the
signal for a reaction against the prevailing dull
ness during the holiday interval when the news
papers have been filled with thieves romancesl
over stolen pictures and croaking lamentations
over the sinister tyranny OF American steel kings
and trust engineers.
Already there has been a revival OF sociah
activity for an unusual number of West End
weddings has brought fashionable idlers bach-
70 London There will be two important art re-
ceptions next week and Sir Henry Irving and.
Mr.. Forbes Robertson will open their theatrical
seasons Mr. George Alexander. by a tour der
force has brought the curtain down triumphant-
w upon Mr. Esmond's play at ST. Janess
Theatre THE Wilderness lacks power. but
has charm and is likely TO prove popular Mr.
Maurice Hewlett in The Forest Lovers showeds
how a. man might fall in love with his wife ALTERS
marriage Mr. Esmond explains how wornarS'
NAV fall in love with her husband after marry-
ing him in a sordid way for his money and fnci-
dentalIy he contrasts the Sayety or a bond-st-
tea room, with the seclusion of a sylvan retreat
in the country, where children prattle prettily;
about fairies
There will be an interesting dramatic experf~1
ment at the Grand Theatre. at Islington. Mon;
dav NIGHT uelodrana entitled The Man.
DARN " bv Miss Alicia Ramsey and Mr. Rudolph
De Cordova will be produced. with English and
Chinese characters in the cast. which includesi
Mr. RrdoIuh De Cordova. Miss Dorothea Bairds
Mr. Cecil Morton York and Mr. Charles Fulton
The play may help to revive public interest In
the Chinese tangle-
The booksellers have usually given spring.
dinner in London. and invited publishers and
authors There will be an innovation this year.
Tbsra will he Joint dinner of the publishers'i
and booksellers associations Mr.. Frederick
Macmillan will preside. and the vice-chairrnar
will be Mr. II. w Keay. OF the booksellers as
sociation. This is Indication OF closer rela-i
ttons between publishers and booksellers similarl
10 those prevailing in the United States a
strong effort has been made to enforce the rule
respecting the net price; in order 10 prevent.
underselling the price of the book is lowered.
by the publisher and the bookseller is pledged
not to cut under the catalogue figure. Publish
ers who find that the trade is undersold refuse
TO deliver books 10 those booksellers taking un-
fair advantage OF their rivals This policy has
brought the two associations into more cordial
relations than formerly. and the joint trade din
ner this spring is proof OF better feeling The
tendency is in the direction OF lower prices
for books especially novels; Mr. Hall Caine. for
example has strongly favored a lower price
than six shilIings for The Eternal City which
he is now finishing in Rome. but decision has
not been reached
.The Guardian and The British Weekly"