New-York tribune., 1901-04-19
STAGGERING JOIN BILL

MI Kruger. when he began his war against
"reat Britain. declared he would make his adj
Versary pay a price for victory which would
sfasger humanity The menace has not been
quite fulfilled. for the Boer war though bloody
and destructive. does not rank among the great
conflicts of the present generation But there
can be no doubt that the British taypayer
whom we may impersonate as John Bull him
Sell, is considerably staggered by the pecuniary
cost OF the war, as revealed in the Budget which
sir Michael Hcks-Beach yesterday laid before
the House Of Commons. II was known long
ago. or course. that the war was drawing heav-
lly upon the imperial treasury That knowledge
was met with the jaunty confidence of the
worlds banker, whose treasury was overflow
Ing and whose credit was ilimitable Perhaps
We should say, TOO. that ii was met with grim
determination on the part of the taxpayer to
grin and bear it, no matter how heavy the
burden might be. But comes a concrete
presentation Of the case which puts the cost of
empire far more forcibly than any of the gener-
aiizations which have gone before Briefly there
is deficit of more than s26G, 100000, which the
chancellor OF the Exchequer proposes 10 meet
py suspenein2 the operation of the sinking
fund and by borrowing S3oo.0o0.O0O Oh consols.
Ihere are also TO be various increases in taxa
non. including additional duties on tea. wine
and beer and the imposition of duties OH sugar
moiasses and glucose and al export duty on
coal. while the income tax-that ''temporary de-
vice" which has persisted unbrokep for nearly
fhIeescore years-is TO he raised from 1G cents
on the pound in 1899 and "a cents in 1900 10 %
cents III l.tol, a figure almost equal 10 the high.
water mark TO which Nr. Gladstone forced il in
the disastrous Crimean days
That is not agreeable Budget to lay before
tfax.t
promise that certain degree Of recoupment
VIII be made at some time in the uncertain fut-
nre AT The expense of the South African colo
mics. penny in the present tax levy looms
larger than guinea in Some unmeasured to-
morrows settlement. Moreover this stagger-
ing Budget is presented by a Chancellor who,
while possessing exceptionally high talent for
hnance. has none OF that witchery Of illusion
with which Mr.. Gladstone used to charm Brit
ish taxpayers into thinking II a blessing TO have
their pockets drained. Perhaps. however that
Is hest The British nation is in no humor to-
DAY for gazing at financial rainbows or for hear
Ing the beatstudes OF taxation intoned. Ii is
ready 10 hear the worst. and doubtless prefers
that il should be stated in a direct even matter
OF face. way. There VIII doubtless be much
grumbl.ng. which Is characteristic OF the race
There will also be much criticism from the Op-
position benches some Of II OF a caustic kind
for our London correspondent reported yester-
day that the Liberal leaders, including the great
free lance, Sir William Harcourt, were all on
hand In their best fighting trim. But the gov
ernment ranks are also firm and solid. and are
not lacking in leaders who are masters of de-
bate. That the Budget will be approved by
Parliament is not to be questioned How 1t will
be regarded by the country At large is yet to he
seen. But q matter OF fact. its worst feat
ures have largely been discounted I'm advance,
~ there u Dowbere any sign Of popular r..