The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-10
{ HAMBERLAIN'S POLICY
RECOuS UPON HIN
He May Get Out Of the British Cabnet-Free
Trade Not Protection. the Cry

London. June s.-The rumored resig-
nation of Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain is the most startling development
of the proposal of the chancellor of the
exchequer. Mr.. Richie, to abolish the
corn tax. the debate of which kept the
House of Commons to-day packed and
spellbound until midnight.
Even if Premier Balfour persuades
Mr.. Chamberlain to remain in hte cab
met. the Colonial Secretary's prefer
entail tariff programme is hopelessly
showed under and his influence as
political power in Great Britain at least
temporarily eclipsed.
All the members of the government
who contributed to to-day's debate Wig
orously declared themselves as free
traders and frankly opposed Mr.. Cham
berlain's proposals. Except for Mr..
Chaplin, not a vote on either side of
the House was raised in effective sup
port of Mr.. Chamberlain's. campaign
Former members of cabinets and pri-
vate members, irrespective of party,
protested against any dickering with
Great Britains fiscal policy.
The Unionists Wed with the Liberals
in declaring themselves out-and-out
free traders. All that was lacking in
the complete rout of the protectionist
cabinet minister was Mr.. Balfour's Of
behalf of the government that the cab
Chamberlain's views.
Both the pronouncement and the
premier were absent from the debate
because, according to report, Mr.. Bal
four was spending the evening en-
deavoring to persuade the Colonial Sec
rotary to remain in the cabinet, not
withstanding his differences with his
colleagues.
The debate was adjourned at mid
night, when, midst a sensation, Chan
cellor of the Exchequer Richie said he
hoped Mr.. Balfour would be able to
give the House on Wednesday a def
mite statement on behalf of the entire
cabinet, though he could not promise
1t.
Upon the resumption of the debate
Mr. Chaplin's amendment TO the budget
bill, which is the cause of this sensa-
tional political crisis, will be taken up.
Sir Henry OdInpDell- bdnneTI1dn VIII
demand the right of the Liberals to
know the premier's attitude towards
free trade before they support him in
the repeal of the corn tax. Mr.. Bal
four will reply and Mr.. Chamberlain
is also expected to speak. There are
many members who believe tonight
that Premier Balfour will also resign
and that a dissolution of the House
is involved, bait these rumors lack
confirmation, the best opinion being
that a solution of the crisis will be
arrived at by Mr.. Chamberlain's resig
nation or by an open declaration that
he is willing to drop for the present
his preferential tariff proposals.
London, June 9.-The approach of
the first serious parliamentary brush in
the free trade protection fight filled
every seat in the House of Commons
this afternoon. Before facing the sit
uation, which must largely place them
at the mercy of the Liberal and Irish
votes, the members of the government
attended an important cabinet meet
ing.
Henry Chaplin, Conservative, former
president of the Board of Agriculture
and the malcontent Unionists, were ac-
lively engaged in rallying the support
ers of Mr.. Chaplin's amendment to the
budget bill, which declares that the
removal of the tax on grain, involves
a needless and injurious disturbance
of trade and a serious loss of revenue.