The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-10
BALFOUR ALSO IN TROUBLE
DISSOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS is POSSIBLE.
Premier Also May Resign-SensatiOnal
Debate on the Budget-sBlack
MfchaePs" Speech.


debate on which kept the House of Com
mons to-day packed and spell-bound until
| midnight. Even if Premier Balfour per-
suades Mr.. Chamberlain to remain in the
Cabinet, the colonial secretarys preferen-
tial tariff programme is hopelessly showed
under and his influence as a political power
in Great Britain at least temporarily
eclipsed.
All the members of the government who
contributed to to-day's debate vigorously
declared themselves as free-traders and
frankly opposed Mr.. Chamberlain's pro-
posals. Except for Mr.. Chaplin, not voice
on either side of the house was raised in
effective support of Mr.. Chamberlain's cam
paign. Former members of cabinets and
private members, irrespective of party,
protested against any dickering with Great
Britain's fiscal policy. The Unionists We'd
with the Liberals in declaring themselves
out and out fre--traders. All that was
lacking in the complete rout of the pro-
tectionist Cabinet minister was Mr.. Bal
fours official pronouncement, premier.
anu Oh Dtlldll VI the SONeTnIueHt tHdt inc
Cabinet as a whole refused to adopt Mr.
Chamberlains views. Both the pronounce
ment and the premier were absent from
the debate because, according to report,
Mr. Balfour was spending the evening en-
deavoring to persuade the colonial secre-
tary to remain in the Cabinet, notwith-
standing his difference with his colleagues
The debate was adjourned at midnight,
81,
Exchequer Ritchie said he hoped Mr.. Bal
four would be able to give the House on
Wednesday definite statement on behalf
of the entire Cabinet, though he could not
promise 1t.
BALFOUR MAY RESIGN.
There are many members who believe to-
night that Premier Balfour will also resign,
and that a dissolution of the House is in
volved, but these rumors lack confirmation.
the best opinion being that solution of
the crisis will be arrived at by Mr.. Cham
berlain's resignation or by open declara-
tion that he is willing to drop for the pres
ent his preferential tariff proposals.
Mr.. Chaplin's amendment was scarcely
made to-day before II became secondary
consideration. and it's defeat was assured.
Until midnight the fight, If such an unde-
Tended struggle could be so described, ragged
about Mr.. Chamberlain. "Oil and vitriol'
is the only adequate description of Sir Mi
chael Hicks-Beachs speech. which started
the revolt. Amid intense silence this ia
nous Tory ex-minister extolled the colonial
gramme. BLACK Michael" as he is famil-
iarly called was never seen to better ad-
vantage. The ministers sat with troubled
faces, Mr.. Balfour looking especially de-
Chanhprlain dpSprfinO
usual place, paler even than usual stretched
himself nonchalantly at the end of the
he never exchanged a word with his col
leagues. After Mr.. Ritche had renounced
the colonial secretary's ideas Mr.. Chamber
lain stalked out Of the chamber without
Member after member rose from the
Unionist ranks. Some, who supported Mr..
Chaplin refused to eat their words with
which they had previously supported the
government when the corn tax was origi-
nally brought in. Others lauded Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer Ritchie for his refusal
to pander to the spirit of protection. All
demanded that Mr.. Balfour enlighten them
regarding the governments views as
whole.
James Bryce. Liberal, declared that the
reference to the United States made by
Mr.. Chamberlain and other speakers in
support of the protectionist argument was
quite erroneous. as American prosperity
was due greatly to the cheapness of food
under a system by which free trade pre-
vailed between all the great States COM
posing the American Nation. The colonial
disintegrate the empire and produce net
work of protective tariffs such that in
which America was now enmeshed.
CHAPLIN's MOTION.
When the House convened Mr.. Ritchie
formally moved the second reading of the
budget bill Mr.. Chaplin, who was re-
ceived with cheers, then moved an amend
ment, which declares that the removal of
tax on grain involves needless and in
furious disturbance of the same, and
serious loss of revenue, without substantial
relief for the consumers, and that If any
taxes are removed it should be those levied
on tea and other articles of general con-
sumption. He made vigorous speech in
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach replied. say
ing he considered the duty was neces-
sary because of the growth of expenditure
protests been received with greater SYM
pathy by his colleagues he would NOT now
be speaking from a bench above the gang
way. 1t was impossible for a chancellor of
the exchequer TO reduce expenditure with
out the hearty and continuous support of
the premier. No money was worse spent
neStly appealed TO the premier to assure
the House that he was determined to stop
the increase in the normal expenditure.
The repeal OF the grain duty appeared to
the speaker to be direct bar to the adop-
ton of preference principles. He therefore
concluded that the opinion of the Cabinet
as a whole was the same with regard to
these principles. when he was a mem
ber of it he had opposed colonial pref
erence in regard 10 wines, sugar and grain.
and he was convinced that matters could
not last long in their present indefinite
state. A continuance of the premier's at
titude of suspended Judgment was impos-
sible. Ii was not fair to the members of
the party whose constituents wanted in
formation. The situation was dividing the
Unionists and making the opposition a
happy family. Mr.. Chamberlan's propo-
sails would do more to disunite than TO
unite the empire. and If he persisted in
them they would destroy the Unionist
party.
Mr. Ritchie, who made a general reply.
read a carefully prepared statement The
be an inquiry into the matter of preferen-
tial tariffs. but he would be surprised IL
the inquiry showed any practical means OF
carrying out policy of preferential duties.
He avowed himself TO be an out-and-out
free-trader, and added that with his pres
ent knowledge he could not be a party
TO a policy which he believed would be- det-
rimental TO the interests of both Great
Britain and her colonies, and he believed
that the inquiry, from which he would not
shrink. would confirm his present views.
Mr.. Ritchies outspoken reputation of
Mr.. Chamberlain's proposal caused an i'm
mense sensation In the lobbies of the
House. No such situation has arisen In
the parliamentary world since the men,