The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-03
Reply of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach,
Who Thought English Coal Could
Easily Bear the Tax.
ALLOTMENT OF NEW CONSOLS
j. Il. MORGAN e. co. AWARDED FIF-
TY MILLIONS WORTH.
RcOrSn nization of the German Cab
met Probable ON Account of De-
lay of the Canal Bill.

LONDON, May 2-There was a large at
tendance I'm the House of Commons to-day.
In anticipation of the discussion of the new
export tax on coal, but before this stage
of the days proceedings could be reached
143 questions had to be disposed OF. The
government has issued an urgent whip
to the Unionist members, who are largely
pledged TO vote against the tax. The gov
ernment is standing firm and is taking
strong precautions to secure a majority.
Lord Cranborne. the foreign under secre-
tary, replying to Sir Charles Howard Vim
cent, Conservative, said rumors had
reached the : government. from various
sources. of the intention of the German
government to increase the duties on steel
and various other goods. The government
was alive TO the Importance of such in
formation. but i'm the absence of definite
knowledge of Germany's intentions the
Ministry was unable TO make any state
ment I'm reply TO the members suggestion
of withdrawing free trade from Germany.
The full House and galleries had to wait
until nearly o'clock for the beginning of
the debate on the coal tax. Sir William
Vernon Harcourt, Liberal. led with a
we're, almost violent, arraignment OF the
government. He said the tax would throw
the coal trade into chaos and confusion. 1t
reckessly dsregarded existing contracts
and was a most unbusiness-like way of
dealing with great trade. Ii was an ex-
traordinary and vexatious piece of bung-
ling. IL WIS nonsense to say the foreigner
would pay the tax because he could not do
without coal. The government of Italy had
answered that plea by taking coal from
America instead of this country. The trade
of France was equally divided between this
country, Germany and Belgium
The chancellor of the exchequer, Sir
Michael Hicks Beach. interrupting. said:
1--WE are beating the others"
''Then go on beating them,r said Sir Will
liam Vernon Harcourt. why throw shill-
ing into the scale against this country"
Sir William contended that it was class leg
islation and that the tax would ultimately
come out of the miners wages
The chancellor of the exchequer ad-
mitted that the tax, like every tax, was OBJ
struction on trade. The real question was,
Gould the export trade i'm coal bear the
taxi" 1t could English was of so good
quality, there was much of it, and it could
not be got in any other country. Thus to
a large extent, it was free from competi-
ton.
The chancellor submitted statistics which
he summarized showing 325. .O00, 600 tons
were mined i'm 1900, of which, after deduct
ing GlS,00o,000 in wages more than In 1897.
the coal owners had a net profit of e29-
100000 on capital of f1l0,0O0 900. As to the
competition of the United States Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach said: Last year the
price of our coal at the port of export rose
very much higher than the price of coal i'm
the United States. but in spite of that. our
export of coal was IS, 600 900 tons. or $500
600 tons more than the previous year The
United States exported little over l6.0 :
600 tons. If the United States could not
compete when the price of our coal was
very high. ii would be absolutely impossible
for them to compete when the price of our
coal was low"
John Redmond, the Nationalist leader
said the coal tax did not affect Ireland.
and in that respect it was the beginning of
a new era. On general principles, however,
he urged Irish members to do everything
possible in their efforts to defeat tha
budget.
The debate adjourned to Monday
next, when, according TO the arrangement
a division will be taken.