The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-06
Great Britain,s New Fiscal Policy.

Ambassadors are treated IN their cOuIl-
tries?
Great BrItain's New Fiscal Policy.
1t is no longer open to doubt that the
British. Government IS about TO reverse
the traditions and practice OF more than
half a century, and in principle return TO
the protective tariff system, the deInoli-
ton OF which two generations ago gave
Great Britain the commercial supremacy
of the world Just at present only the
thin end Of the wedge is to be driven in.
\ despatch from London today quotes q
prominent member OF the House OF Com
mons as stating that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer VIII probably introduce
duty on sugar in the forthcoming budget
and VIII perhaps add = counterTaiiing
duty" questioned on this purpose. one
/ OF the ministers is reported as saying:
This serious departure from England's historic
principles OF free trade Is under DISCUSSION out
Z l can say more as the budget provisions
kept secret until announced IA Commons. The
movement IN Of such a duty due, tir5t, u
the almost utter decay q EnsanG's refining IN
dHStry; second. to careful study of the success
Of American sugar unaer the Frr.esat system, and
third, TO the necessity OF IL. Government TO
raise funds By Other means than Increasing the
already enormous direct taxation
An influential committee Of the House Of
Commons has Tor some tine been dealing with
the subject as result Of the rgeeHt controversy
between Russia and the United States sugar.
this committee decided 10 make the matter %:
/ debate IN the House of Commons on Aozlday-
! Mr. james Reid, member from (iTeenOck the
centre OF the sugar refining industry. APP
( pointed spokesman, bat at the la>i moment ME-
Ba4iOUr Was OblIsed 10 cancel has consent because
tine was needed for the debate on supplles-'
BIr. James Reid. a leading English au-
thority on matters connected with the
sugar interest. is equally convinced that
the destruction of the refining industry IN
the United Kingdom. through the sue
! cess Of American sugar under the pres
ent system and other competition from
the bounty paying countries Of Europe.
ought to be arrested, and that it can
only be arrested by the imposition OF
+ tariff. In a newspaper interview. Dir.
! Reid thus expressed himself:
-.Ye. a tax On sugar is practically protection,
but l way out Of it Indeed. the rein
ers OF ny constituency wiz not be satisfied with
mere import duty. arguing that this viii leave
them hut little better of than before What VIC
hope 70 get though l ref1ner mySeif. IS q
countervaiIin- duty which VII nullify the hgTIn-
ties afforded bs France Germany. and Be Eiuu.
I Twenty-Five years ago there were fourteen pros
porous refners n Greenoe&- Sow there only
four | do not think tax or countervailins
duty viii seriously Affect American sugar II IS
chiefly aimed al the cheap beet sugars OF the Con
tinent. which thanks TO the subsidy, can under
sell anything produced here
| The West InGiaH -sPse seriously ,Tected
and giving . null weight OF their IN
fuence- The chief opposition comes from English
cenfecuOEers and other USES % cheap sugars but
| do not think the Government VIII allow the
/ refining industry to die out the sake Of one
| particular branch OF the trade.
| In case the United States Government should
| sabsidize American bottoms I think theiT sugar
l'cargoes would be dangerously coming under
/ proposed cOunterFailins duty We are Tar
/ from DESTROYS 81 embracing the whole American
| policy Of protection but you have certainly
taught lis a Lesson REGARDING sugar and 50 long
| as the Continent insists upon substituting sugar
| TO ruin industries bound 10 retaliate''
| II viii be noticed that the last para
! graph Of the foregoing quotation conveys
! a distinct warning that, If this country
! should subsidize vessels carrying sugar,
| the act VIII be construed as the paying
| OF bounty to the Sugar Trust. and cOuH-
/ tervaIIing duties would be imposed It
| appears that Secretary Cages tariff war
| against Russia has excited interest and
! analytical study IN the capitals OF the Old
| World and has leu the British Govern
! Inent to study the basis OF the wonderful
growth Of the HaveTneyer monopoly Like
the other American trllsts-steeI, oil and
50 on-the Sugar Trust, with its pracuc-
| ally unlimited power TO make home con-
| surners recoup it for losses sustained il
the war Of competition abroad. is not re-
! earaed with any feeling Of affection on
| the other side Of the Atlantic The policy
| Of the Democratic party 20 place trust
| products on the free list perhaps might
! as well haze been adopted by the Repub-
! icans: since they are likely to see much
| the same thing accomplished by the sub
| lection Of such commodities to prohibitiVe
| duties by the commercial States Of
| Europe.
| Return TO the protective system by
| Great Britain even if at first IL be con-
daed to a few articles. Will mark great
and almost revolutionary change in the
| economic doctrines and policy of that
country. Nevertheless the Indications are
that the reversal has been finally decided
| lpon. The London Times today e6ito-
| rally discusses the advisa bility Of plac-
ing a duty not only on sugar. but on ce-
| reals and all other agricultural produce.
| IN view Of the fact as il states. that
taxes viii have to be doubled during the
| next three years This utterance is taken
| to mean that Lord SaIisbury's Govern
| ynent IS trying TO manufacture public
| ointment in favor of protection in ad-
| vance. There is yet a considerable com
| nerciaI element IN the Kingdom TO which
| free trade is an economic religion. and
the ministry may have trouble with It
when the proposal shall be laid before
| Parliament 1t viii be interesting to
| watch the outcome
| II is understood that the British Foreign
| Office is preparing note to this Govern
| rnent. in which the Senate amendments to
| the -Pauaeefote Treaty will be dis
| cussed, and some proposal or suggestion
| made relative TO the negotiation OF d new
| convention. This movement IS most prob
| 49iy IN pursuance Of an understanding
! with the State Department Of long stand
| ng. The Administration perhaps enter
taiEs the idea that another treaty no mat