The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-12

London, June 9.-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, u abolish the
corn tax, the debate ON which kept the
House of Commons today packed and
spell bound until midnight. Even if
Premier Balfour persuades Mr.. Cham
berlain to remain in the cabinet the
Colonial S~ecretary's preferential tariff
programme is hopelessly showed under,
and his influence as a policital power
IN Great Britain at least temporarily
eclipsed.
All the members OF the government
party who contributed to today's de-
bate vigorously declared themselves as
free traders, and frankly opposed Mr..
Chamberlain proposals. Except for Mr..
Chaplin, not a voice on either side of
the house was raised in effective sup
port of Mr.. Chamberlan's campaign.
Former members of the cabinets and
private members, irrespective of party.
protested against IN dickering with
Great Britain's fiscal policy. The union
lists WED with the liberals in decIar-
ing themselves out and out free traders.
All that was lacking in the complete
rout of the prOtectionist cabinet minis
ter was Mr.. Balfour's official pronounce
| 1nnnT ac prarniar apI On Irln1p - l.
government, that the cabinet as a
whole refused to adopt Mr.. Chamber
lain's views. Both the announcement
and the premier We're absent from the
debate, because according to report Mr..
Balfour was spending the evening en-
d~eavoring to persuade the Colonial Sec
retary to remains in the cabinet, not
withstandina his differences with his
colleagues.
The debate was adjourned at midnight
when, amidst a sensation, Chancellor of
EXchequer Richie said he hoped Mr..
Balfour would be able TO give the house
on Wednesday a definite statement on
behalf of the entire cabinet. though he
could not promise it.
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 Campbell Bannerman will
demand the right of the liberals to know
the Premiers' attitude towards free
trade, before they support him in the
repeal of the corn tax. Mr.. Balfour
will reply and Mr.. Chamberlain also is
expected to speak. There are many
members who believe tonight that
Premier Balfour also will resign and
that a dissolution of the house is in
Tolved. but these runors lack confrma-
ton, the best opinion being that a So
luton of the crisis will be arrived at
by Mr.. Chamberlain's resignation, or
by an open declaration that he is will
ling TO drop for the present his prefer
entail 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 af-
ternoon. Before facing the situation,
which must largely place them at the
mercy of the liberal and Irish votes,
the members of the government at
tended an important cabinet meeting.
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 re-
moVal of the tax on grain "involves a
needless and injurious disturbance of
trade and a serious loss of revenue
without substantial relief for the con-
sumer."
Before the debate opened Premier
Balfour ascertained from John Red
mond. the Irish leader. THAI the Nation
aIlst members of parliament would sup
port the government, as against Chap
lin.
This. with liberal support. practically
ensured the government from possible
defeat at the hands OF its own SUPPORT
ers.
The curious situation created the
keenest interest.
The, debate. by a reviewing OF the
speaker. was confined 10 the grain tax.
Mr.. Chaplin warmly attacked the
Chancellor OF the Exchequer, to whose
inaptitude, he said, they owed their
present remarkable position. In repeal
ing the grain duty Mr.. Chaplin said
Mr.. Richie had made an i~rretrievable
mistake. For q he appeared
20 have prevailed over Mr.. Chamber
lain, but his triumph would be short
lived. Mr.. Chaplin said the ministers
had thrown away a weapon which |
would have helped them to carry out
the new fiscal policy to which Mr.. Bal
four and Mr.. Chamberlain were COM
mitted.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach said he was
opposed to Mr.. Chaplin's amendment,
although he SympathiZed with the lat
ter's objection to the repeal of the
grain duty; put he believed the alter
native policy TO be q greater evil. Hav-l