The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-06-10
THE BRITISH
TARIFF TALK
First Brush In the House Of Com.
mons.
GOVERNMENT IS CAUTIOUS
Obtains Assurances Of Irish and Lib
eral support Before Debate He
gins on Ritehie'a Proposal 10
Remit Gxain Duty.


every seat IN Of commons.
Before faeinf uation. which
must largely r,qsa chem at the mercy
Of the Liberal and Irish votes, the
members OF the government attended
an important cabinet meeting, at
which all the ministers were present
except Gerald Balfonr the president Of
the board of trade. who was i'll.
Henry Chaplin, Conservative. former
president Of the board Of agriculture.
and the maleontent Unlonists were ne
lively engaged early in the day in and
around Westminster in rallying the
supporters Of Mr. Chaplin's amend
ment to the budget bill, which declares
that the removal of the tax on grain
involves q needless and Injurious dis
turbance of trade and a serious loss Of
revenue without substantial relief for
tile consumer and that if any taxes
are removed it should be those levied
on tea and other articles of general
consumption
Before the debate opened Premier
Balfour aseertained from John Red
mond, the Irish leader that the Ma
tionalist members Of parliament would
support the government as against Mr..
Chaplin. The Liberal leader. sir Hen
~ Campbell-Bannerman, had already
announced that his party would also
uphold the proposal Of Chancellor OF
the Exchequer Richie to remit the
grain tax. This practically insured
the government from possible defeat
at the hands Of its own supporters.
The curious situation created the
keenest interest.
At the opening Of the sitting a little
excitement was caused by John Red
mond asking that a committee be ap.
pointed to inquire whether the arrest
of z. A. McfIugh, member of parlia.
ment for Sligo, on Saturday last under
a warrant for contempt Of court issued
a year ago In connection with the com.
ments of his paper, the Sligo Cham.
pion, was not a breach of privilege.
This the speaker, William Court Gully
refused to do, and William Redmond
wound Up the discussion by loudly AMI
ironically deploring the fact that Mr.
Ntzhugh,, who Is now III Sligo iail
would not be able to receive King Ed !
ward when his majesty visited Ire
land
Tie asking and answering of aues
tlons 10 the house followed. aud then
Sir Michael Hicks Beach (Conserya.
rive formerly chancellor Of the ex.
che1neri invited the speakers decision
rs % whether the opportunity could |
De taken Of the debate on Mr.. Chan. |
Inns amendment FOR a full discussion
Of the fiscal policy suggested by Mr.
Chamberlain, the colonial secretary
not for present. but for future adop
tion. The speaker replied that he had
very carefully considered the matter
and had arrived at the conclusion that
il WAS not relevant to the budget Bill
as the question of preferential tariff
rates between Great Britain and her
colonies was not raised IN the bill
Tie scope Of the debate was thus
largely curtailed ait the outset.
Mr. Richie, having formally moved
the second reading Of tile budget bin.
Sfr. Chaplin. who was received with
cheers, rose TO make his amendment
and proceeded 70 warmly attack the
chancellor Of the excheauer. to whosal
inaptitnde he said. they owed Their
present remarkable position. IN re-
pealing the grain duty Mr.. Chaplinl
said. Mr. Richie lad made an IRE.
trievable mistake and had preeipitatedl
q movement for which neither his
party nor the country was prepared.
For a moment he appeared to havel
prevailed over Mr.. Chamberlain, but
his triumph would be short lived.
Inc motion was seconded and SIT
Michael Hicks Beach followed. He
commenced with saying that his view
Of the general fiscal and political stu.
atlon was quite different from the
view held by Mr. Chaplin.
Sir Michael, continuing, said bis col.
leagues were perfectly aware that the
grain duty might be unpopular when
he inaugurated 1t. But it had been a
success, and De had heard the proposal
to repeal the duty with surprise and
regret He considered that the duty
was necessary because of the growth !
Of expenditure, against which lie had
Had his protests been 70.
aeived with greater sympathy by his
colleagues he would not now be speak.
ING from q bench above the gangwav
Z was impossible FOR a chancellor Of
he exchequer 70 reduce expenditure
without the hearty and continuous sun.
lort Of the premier.
Mr.. Richie, who made a general re.
n.y. read q carefully prepared state.
nent The government he said
bought there should be an INQUIRY
nto the matter Of preferential tariffs,
'ut be would be surprised IL the III.
uiry showed any practical means Of
arrying out policy Of preferential
uties. He avowed himself to be an
ut and ont free trader.
Speaking at the Essex agricultural
how, Lord Rosebery remarked thai
here was lively situation IN the
ouse Of commons. Heaven alone
nows what is coming next added
le former premier. Startling devel.