The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-10

10 nave ore vaiIeSi over Mr. Cha Gnb@Tlain. out
his triumph would be shQrtliyed.
Mr.. Chaplin blamed the Government for
yielding TO Ny. Richie. saying the Ministers
had thrown away a weapon which would
have helped them carry out the new tSc4I
policy to which Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Cnain-
bsriain were committed
Mr. Chaplin referred to the extra ordinary
position in which The followers Of the Cow
eminent had been placed by the indecislon
Of the. Ministers. 1t was useless: ne adc d
TO seek guidance or leadership frCm them.
He closed with formally moving his amend
inert on which he said he meant TO divide
the House The motion was seconded.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach followed. He
commenced by saving that his view OF the
general fiscal and political situation W.
quite different from the view held by NJ
| Chaplin.
Duty Unpopular.
Sir Michael continuing. said his colleagues
are perfectly aware that the grain duty
was unpopular when he had inaugurated
it. but it had been a success, and he had
heard the proposal to repeal the duty with
surprise and regret H considered that the
duty was necessary because OF the growth
of expenditure against which he had pro-
tested. Had his protests been received with
greater sympathy by his colleagues ne
would not now be speaking from bcGcI
above the gangway. II was impossible for
a Chancellor 10 reduce expenditure with
out The hearty and continuous support Of
the Premier.
No money. he said. was worse spent than
money expended on the ARM He earnestly
appealed to the Premier to assure the House
that he was determined to stop the increase
in the normal expenditure.
Sir Michael said he was opposed to Mr.
Chamherlaiu's amendment. though he sym
pathiZed with the latter's objection to the
repeal OF the grain duty: but he believed
me alternative policy To be a greater evil.
The Lesser Evil.
| Having to choose between evils. ne would
choose the lesser and would support the
budget bill.
tariff. the former Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer said.
Il yield to no one in appreciating the
splendid work OF Mr.. Chamberlain No
TO bind the colonies 20 the mo.herland. or
so much 10 make. the colonies feel their po-
s'ti9n and duties as part of the empire.
- WISH. however. to know u neither Mr.
Ghamberlains opinion is that of the united
cabinet The repeal Of the grain duty ap-
pears 10 ME to be direct bar to the adoI-
ton Of preference principles. therefore
| conclude that the opinion of the Cabinet
as whole is the same with regard to these
principles as when l was a member OF it
| opposed colonial preference with regard
| to wines. sugar and grain, and / am con-
WINGED that matters cannot last long in
their present indefinite state.
"A continuance of the Premier's attitude
of suspended judgment is impossible. 1t IS
not fair TO the members Of the party Whose.
constituents want information. The aIIes-
ton is dividing the Unionists and making
the opposition happy family. Mr.. Cham
berlatns proposals VIII do more to disurite
! than. 10 unite the Empire, and if ne persists
| in them they will destroy the Unionist
party
Frank Free Trader.
Mr.. Richie, who made a general reply,
read a carefully prepared statement.
The Government he said thinks there
should be an inquiry into the manner of
preferential tariffs, but I will be surprised
| if the inquiry shows any practical means
| OF carrying out q policy OF preferential du-
| ties.
Il am an out-and-out free trader. and
! with my present knowledge could not he a
party to q policy which l believe would be
| detrimental TO the interests of both Great
| Britain and her colonies; and believe that
| the inquiry. from which shall not shrink
| will confirm nv present views.
| Mr. Richie justified the remission of the
| grain duty and commended that the millers
and farmers had not benefited by the tax
| In his opinion. the consumer had paid
| the tax which had pressed most heavily
J on the poorest classes He added:
Although / am precluded by the Speak