The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-19
COST A BILLION.
That Is the Figure That the
British Taxpayers
Find Staring Them in the Face
ON Account Of
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Profitable Limit Is Reached ON
Alcoholic Drinks.
Coal Duty Causes CONSERVATION
Among Dealers.

New York. April ia dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
Mr.. Redmond's comment on the budget
speech mot much Mafeking now was,
perhaps, the most judicious reflection
which found expression from a crowded
house. Sir Michael Hicks Beach made
a most distressing speech which sober
ed both sides of the commons. The cost
Of war, the magnitude Of the deficit and
the extent to which recourse must be
had to borrowing powers were on a
larger scale than had been expected
and the new burdens of taxation were
more serious. The estimate of a14s.O0o,-
600 as the net cost of the war would
have staggered the taxpayers even II
the end of the military operations had
been in sight, but with the resources
of guerilla warfare apparently mex
haustible there was a general cOnvic-
ton in the comm Ons that it might ex-
ceed 8200, 600 900 before a settlement
could be reached. The permanent debt,
already increased, would be enlarged by
$50, 600 600 with a suspension of all ar
rangmsnts for a sinking fund Con-
suners of beer, spirits, tobacco and tea
WeI e spared further increase of taxation
because the limit of profitable rev&nue
had been approached, but 811,t0O,Oo0
was estimated as the outcome CT IN
creased taxation, with fresh taxes or
incomes. sugar, mOlaSSeS, glucose and
exported coal The main burdens will
be IA pence instead of a shilling on in
comes the duty on sugar, averaging
half penny on the pound to consumers
and the export duty on coal, Which con-
stitutes L per cent of the export trade
of the United Kingdom
"A crowded house heard this speech
with mingled feelings of dismay and
satisfaction. Many conservatives would
have been better pleased if the sugar
duties had been doubled and the two
pence dropped from the income tax
The liberals would have been delight
ed, from a party point of view. if the
area of indirect taxation had been VI
deneG on corn and manufactured goods,
so tnat there could have been a grand
rally of the opposition in free trade. As
it was, Sir William Harcourt was en-
abled to make a strong protest against
the revival of antiquated export duties
which would embarrass shipping inter-
ests and also against repudiatiOn of the
tariff policies of Peel and Gladstone.
There was general satisfaction over the
u bIrs ~ - s1,iritsssn5 q t6,seca m
pOrters had been warned by treasury in
polarizScope methods and had been al
lowed to overstock the market and make
for the greater part of the year.
There was intense excitement in the
prevaiied that the wedge would be driven
into the free trade tree and that II would
further in another year.
On the whole. the budget proposals have
papers. The coal duty has. however, al
really caused CONSERVATION among coal
owners and shippers. The shipments from
Newport, Wales amount TO 5-OUO,UuO tons
annually, and the proposed tax well, II
of f150.0o0 a year An organized effort
will be made to bring pressure on the
not likely to be successful. With regard
to the sugar duty. there is a strong feel
been granted differentiaI. treatment.
Although nothing was known during
about the new loan, fair number Of
transactions took place in II at y to = |
was bound to advance to substantial |
level above the issue price. as it was
the exchequer would give the public good |
Inducements to apply
menting hourly The chambers of com |
merce in the coal Districts are protesting |
t,,red M American and German coal Tic |
themselves that the effect of the tax will /
be to lower prices and lessen competition I
The grocers advanced sugar half
penny per pound this morning in London. /
and Jumped 2s to .. Cd. a hundredweight. /
The Scotch manufacturing confectioners /
and preserve makers advanced prices IS. |
snectiIel- The Scotch sugar refiners 7
have put on 3s to Is and have abolished I
There was practically no business today !
on the GreenOck sugar exchange owing to /
the extensive buying prior to the budget /
The president of the refners'. association |
expresses the opinion that the tax will /
work out beneficially.
A steamer with cargo of continental ]
sugar arrived at Greencck last evening +
after the custom house was closed and /
was refused permission to unload. The Z
duty on her cargo amounts to $4,000 The I
importers claim that the duty sugar !
had not been imposed when the steamer |
arrived. and therefore they Will contest
payment Of the duty.
BUSINESS AT A STANDSTILL
London, April 19-The export coal
business at Cardiff docks was at
standstill today. Merchants refused to
ship and take the responsibility of the
new tax, while the colliery owners re-
pudiate any liability
The Scotch reporters of coal are of the
opinion that the United States are bound
to capture the West Indian coal market. !
The ship owners of Glasgow anticipate
that portion of the duty win come out
of their pockets
The comments of the afternoon news
papers here follow the lead of the morn
ing papers generally in anticipating that
the more acute irritation will soon pass
off
The Irish newspapers condemn the in
come tax feature Of the budget and they |
think the sugar duty will press specially |
hard on Ireland- owing to the general |
poverty of the people The Dublin inde-
pendent remarks The imperial tax |
gatherer viii thereby be, ena bled to draw
out Of ireland an additional half million /
for the South African war which as a |
nation, we have emphatically condemn |
ed