The Washington times., 1902-01-12
ANGL0-GERMAN BITTERNESS.
Continued from First Page.)

week, will be of sensational character.
Orthodox free trade lines will be departed
from, and the bulk Of the money required
to cover the deficit caused by the war
may be obtained from indirect taxation.
The Governments best friends, the
liquor makers and liquor sellers. will not
be further veXed by higher duties. and
their well-to-do supporters are to be re-
lieved of anxiety in the matter of the in
come tax, which will not be increased be-
yond the present high figure.
Preparing the Public Mind.
All this is made clear from the official
and semi official utterances of the last
few weeks. 1t is clear, also, that the pub
lie mind is being prepared for something
in the nature of protective duties.
One Radical member of Parliament has
just declared himself in favor of an i'm
port duty of shillings per quarter upon
wheat, and the most eminent of the Lib
eral economists and statisticians, Sir
Robert Giffen. a man whom Mr.. Gladstone
often consulted in fiscal matters, has also
pronounced for the same duty. which, un-
til today, has been regarded by all Lib
erals es thing accursed
May Establish Wheat Tax.
With such encouragement, how is it
possible for a Tory Chancellor of the
Exchequer to resist the temptation Of OBJ
tanning millions from this long-neglected
source of revenue? Sugar had until last
year been regarded by Liberal financiers
as little less sacred than wheat, but the
duty imposed last year has been easily
collected, has yielded we'll, and has ap-
parently hurt no one. Therefore it will
be retained, and in all probability doubled.
Duty on Canned Goods.
An import duty upon canned goods is
practically settled, and a tax on petro-
leum is under consideration. Money must
be raised, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach is
not afraid Of offending either individuals.
trades, or corporations in his search for
new sources of revenue.
The Liberals. as party. will fight any
proposals for grain taxation, but that fact
is not prospect which need cause Sc
rtous alarm to the present Government.
The Telephone Fight.
The one thing which Ministers have
cause to fear is the general indignation
caused by the agreement of the Govern
ment with the telephone company. Strong
opposition to its ratification by Parlia-
ment has been organized. There will be a
stin fight and desertions from the Min
isterial camp, but the Government will
doubtless surmOunt even this obstacle.
Fears of Sugar People.
The sugar people have not the least
doubt that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has his eyes upon them once more
and they are vigorously preparing for the
worst. During the last month $50, 900 bags
and 125,000 cases of sugar were imported,
which is about 80 per cent beyond the
average. while during the first
week Of this month 225, 900 bags and cases
have arrived in London. Almost equal in
creases are reported from Hull, Liver
pool, and other importing ports.
A Gamble in Sugar.
In fact, a vast gamble is now in prog
ress in sugar, the chief gamesters being
the German bankers, who have been ac-
customed 10 finance the German beet in
dustry.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach is well aware
of what is going on, and has doubtless al
ready decided what steps to take to pre-
vent these enormous quantities of sugar
from escaping payment of duty The
House of Commons has full power to
make new or increased duty retroactive.