Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-13
TAX is DENOUNCED
Opposition to the British Cabinet
Demonstrates Against the
Corn Duty.
TEN THOUSAND MAKE A PROTEST
One Tax Is Abandoned-Newsp
Hysteria Over the Ship Merger
Hardly Justified.

London, May 13.-About 10000 peo-
pie took part in an anti-corn demon
stration which has just been held at
/ Hyde Park. Numbers of trade un-
ions. democratic bodies, and friendly
societies marched from all parts of
London to the park. Banners were
borne with inscriptions such as mo
Protection" and Down with the Bread
| Tax" \ resolution denOuncing the
government for imposing the tax was
carried with tremendous enthusiasm.
y large force of police was present,
but the proceedings were quite Or
derly.
One Tax Is Withdrawn.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, chancellor
of the eXchequer, has yielded to the
diSapprOval aroused by the feature in
the financial bill affecting checks, and
| yesterday announced in the house of
commons the withdrawal of the extra
tax of one penny placed on checks. He
added that he reserved the right to
impose another tax to meet the result
ing deficiency. On the second reading
of the finance bill Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, Liberal, moved that this
house declineto impose duties on grain,
-four. and other food of the people"
Sir William declared that the innOva-
ton contravened the fundamental prin-
ciple of sound finace.
Hicks-Beach Replies to Sir William.
The chancellor of the eXchequer de-
clared that while it was necessary for
Great Britain to obtain wheat and flour
from America and other quarters, it
was necessary for them to send their
products to this country. 1t was alb
Surd to suppose that the three-penny
duty on grain could cause an acre to
go out of cultivation in America. She
must send her wheat here on account
of the protective duties elsewhere. The
production of grain throughout the
world was increasing ut Il greater
ratio than the demand. He believed
that the producers and carriers of
grain would pay the new tax if there
was Il large crop. 1t was necessary to
impose additional taxation on the
masses that they should be made to
realize what war preparation and war
involved.
In Regard to the Ocean Merger.
The president of the board of trade.
Gerald Balfour, Informed n queStiOner
that. after considering the agreement
of Feb. between the MorganS and
the White Star and Dominion lines,
it had been concluded that the vessels
concerned were not precluded from re-
tanning their BRUSH register. The
financial secretary of the admiralty,
AR ld-ForSter. added the infOr-
nation that the agreement of the ad-
miralty with the White Star line was
about to be renewed. with an addi-
tiOnal provision. as follows:
Provision Already Agreed To.
THE company shall not, without the
previous written consent of the ad-
miralty, transfer to a foreign flag any
vessels subject to this agreement"
This provision. the secretary added,
had already been agreed to. and an
inStallment of the subsidy. on the
terms of the new agreement. had been
paid The admiralty had been advised
by the law officers of the crown that
there was nothing in the agreement of
Feb. + which would interfere with the
admiralty's right to enforce the terms
af the agreement with the White Star
line