New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-15
A BLOW AT FREE TRADE.
RRITOSS STIRRED BY CHANCELLOR >
PROPOSALsEFFECT IN Rf.-
GARD TO PEACE
Copyright; 1902, BY The Tribune Associaflon)
1s...asiai IN 1rta Tribune hv French Cable-l

Ir,o,vrIsht. 1902, BY Tribune Assoc1at1on)
ISpeciai TO The Tribune by French Cabie-l
London April 14-Mr- Kruger, besides stag
sering humanity has driven the last nail IN
the coffin of free trade Sir Michaei HICKS
Reach mas required considerable pressure, and
he has Welded reluctantly. Sir Robert Gl1eh'
who was once the hope of the stern unpendihs
Cobdenftes has been coaching him in the col
umns of THE Times" and at last his cue Is
taken.
The taxation of corn is resumed. although the
abolition of the corn laws was the supreme emu
of Cobden's agitation. which converted Eng
land into a pioneer free trade nation Inc
hands on the dial plate. as deVout Coouee'
will say are now turned back
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach sought TO nihiiii%e
the importance of new taxation by describing IL
as q revival of the registration duty on wheat
and flour which Lowe ought never 10 nave
repealed and which had nothing TO do WIN
a prot4etfs@-.sxsk~aa~- srnoh
Harcourt did not allow the House TO De deeeiEe"
tv sophfstres and characterized the ta&auoh
of food as incompatible with the Tree Uaoe
system
The budget speech created great sensation
in the House of Commons. where the extent oi
the deficiency and the nature Of the new taxes
.,-ers surprises Experts had estimated the
deficit inaccurately at f2O.OO0.O0O or t23oooooo
II was E26 S24 600 and was increased TO tfl'-
900 900 by the sea transport OF soldiers ana 'iie
eratuities at the close of the war The Chan-
cauor of the E,xchequer declined to tax sugar
tobacco or wine but added a penny 10 the IN
come tax. a penny TO check stamps ana intro
duced a three pence registration duty on grain
and five pence on flour and meal After pro-
viding for f51JOOo0 by this new taxation ne
,ronosed a fresh loan of E32, ,000.00O. covering
the balance by EXchequer bills
The budget speech contained fewer jokes than
usua1 for Sir Michael Hicks-Beach appreciated
apparently the seriousness of the departure
from the policy handed down by two genera
tions of free trade financiers. 1t was received
with mixed signs of doubt and approval on the
government side and with evidence of delight
and relief bv the Opposition benches. the de-
moraIized Liberal party having at last found
an issue on which all factions could unite The
,,euaI comment made an expression OF
surnrse that the government had waited until
Deace was in sight before abandoning Cosdehs
nrincfnles and had restored the registration du-
ties on grain and flour for the sake of raising
f265n0 900 which might have been obtained oy
increasing the sugar duties
This budget speech was clear evidence that
Sir Michael had yielded to pressure from Jo-
eorb Chamberlain The Secretary of the Colo
,ios a,.;dentlv- was determined to have duties on
foodstuffs ordered before assembling an imperial
conference when the colonial prerniers arrive
here for the coronation so that there could De
some basis for the preferential treatment Oh
Canada and other colonies
Mr. RaIfour's admission that communication
had bee,, received from the Boer leaders through
Lord Kitchener served to explain the extraordl-
,arv Cabinet conferences. Attempts were made
h,- nous associations and by dispatches from
Holland 70 minimize the message AS a demand
for direct wire communication with Utrecht was
successful the British Government evidently
has been sounded respecting preiiminaries OF
naaca The press is guard against Illusions
but there is a hopeful feeling that the end OF the
,,..r ic near Lord Kitchener's budget of war
news with British successes in three sections of
the theatre of war that in General Delareys $
quarter being more decisive. ought TO De neipiu
in convincing the Beers of the hopelessness OF
the struggle.
The Canadian lacrosse team. under the lead-
ership of Captain Wheeler and Vice-Pres1dent
Keller with MeIrose MacDowell as stage man
aeer opcned 4 series of over fifteen matches
with English and Irish teams. The first match.
against Kent Yesterday, won hands down.
the brilliant passing of the Canadians being
snrrrtse 10 the spectators. The players after
ward dired with the head master OF ST. Dun
s,ar,s College There will be contests at Ok
ford Cambridge Leeds Manchester. Belfast
and other districts. and determined eHor' VIII
ha made IN nopuarize the Canadian game.
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