The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-06-11
FIGHT ON
GRAIN TAX
Excitement In House Of Commons
Intense,
ASQUITH ATTACKS CABINET
Former Home Secretary Declares
That the situation Is sPoiiticaIiy
Inaecenf''-AsLs Chamberlain
Ii He Has Recanted.
AsQUITH ATTACKS CABINET

! London. June 11.-That the interest
in the political situation has been en-
HANGED BY the recent dramatic devel-
opments was fully evidenced by the
remarkable animation and alertness
of everybody in and about the houses
of parliament when the time ap-
preached for the resumption Of the de-
bate in the house Of commons on the
amendment Of Henry Chaplin (Con-
sentative, former president OF the
board Of agricultural to the budget
bill.
The amendment declares that the re-
moyal of the tax on grain involves a
needless and injurious disturbance of
trade and a serious loss Of revenue,
without substantial relief to the CON
sumner and that If any taxes are re-
moved it should be those levied on
tea and other articles Of general con-
sumption
The answers to the questions not re-
lerring to the great problem Of the
day passed almost unnoteed, SO keen
was the anxiety to get TO the all alb
sorbing topic.
The debate was resumed by Major
Seely Conservative, who, as a con-
WINGED free trader, rejoiced IN the re-
peal of the grain tax.
Sir Charles Dixie advanced Rad
ieaD contended that the house had the
right to demand an opportunity for
pronouncing judgment on this impor-
tant fiscal question. There was enor-
nous exaggeraton in the statement
that it was foolish for this country
to maintain a policy differing from
! that OF the rest Of the world
While the United States and Ger
many were reaping much prosperity
under protection Great Britain's fors
eign exports at the present moment
We're equal to the combined exports OF
the United States, Germany and
France, which, considering the enor-
nous expansion of the population Of
the United States was a truly surpris
ing thing. The speaker denied that
protectionist countries were cutting out
Great Britain from the markets Of the
world Germany had not even hurt
Great Britain's market Ia South Amer
lea. and when one considered the great
natural advantages Of the United
States, her size and her highly cultivat.
ed population il was marvellous that
she had not years ago attained the first
place in trade. The commerce Of the
United States had progressed indie
pendently of protection, but 1t had
been retarded rather t,lan advanced By
the adoption OF protection.
Asauith Sarcastic.
II. III. Asquith advanced Liberal
formerly home secretary, who follow
ed, declared that Tie reason for tho
abandonment Of the grain tax remain
ed an unsoived and inscrutable mys-
terry Mr. Chamberlain had told the
public that the tax did not fan on the
consumer If that was so its repeal
was magnificent display of internal
tional attachment" as 1t practically
meant that Great Britain was making
q present to the United States Of the
ST.. 100000 which the tax brought in
All the opposition's arguments against
the tax were employed by Mr.. Richie
yesterday evening TO justify the repeal
Never had small minority been 50
rapidly and completely justified
Describing the situation as polite
ally indecent Mr. Asqulth urged an
explicit declaration Of the collective
judgment of the cabinet in regard to
the larger question Of fiscal policy, and
turning toward Mr.. Chamberlain, who
at that moment entered the house and
sat down beside Premier Balfour, Mr.
Asquitk asked the colonial secretary
what was his position III view Of yes
terday's speech Of the chancellor Of the
exchequer. AIR Ritchie Was Mr.
Chamberlain a brand plucked from the
burning. a backslider brought home
again by the gentle, persuasive inhu
ence of the chancellor Of the ex
chequer?
He was glad TO see that Mr. Cham
berlain was still sitting on the cabinet
bench, although 1t was quite unprece
dented to see two ministers sitting Oh
the same bench and holding funda
mentally and irreconcilably divergent
views Ga 4 matter which affected more
vitality than any other the unity Of the
empire and It's fiscal ana commercial
prosperity # was unexampled and
IN entire departure from the traditions
and rules Of public life that upon mat
tiers. Of this kind two responsible min
listers should emit not only discordant
opinions on public platforms, but pose
as the respective propagandists Of two
wholly irreconcilable policies