The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-10
to the position Of private member caused
He dissociated himself from Mr.. Chaplin.

.
He ASSOCIATED himself from Mr.. Chaplin,
but at the same time attacked the Govern
ment for inconsistency In taking OF tax
which did not increase the price Of bread,
which had no effect on wheat imports and
which did not touch the consumer 1t
so enormously that he had proposed the
tax as permanent one.
1t was grave thing that in time Of peace
they had still to retain the additional tax
alton on beer, spirits, tea. tobacco and coal,
OF war. II was because Of the enormous
annual growth of the country's expendi-
ture that he had proposed when ANNOUNCE
ing the corn tax in 1902 that II ought to be a
permanent addition to the sources Of in
direct taxation. He added:
AS Chancellor of the Exchequer I pro-
tested for years against that growth. I
tested to the House. I endeavored to
show the country what I thought were
the great dangers Of that growth to our
finance, because it must never he for
gotten that that growth has been far in
revenue.
ceived With indifference e s Had they met
with more sympathy | might not now he
addressing the House from this place"
ness and with a tremor Of the voice, stirred
the House, and evoked a prolonged out
burst Of Opposition cheers.
Sir Michael adjured Mr. Richie to do his
utmost to reduc" the grow ing expenditure.
especially that worst and most extrava-
giant of ALL that on the army. II appeal
to the Prime Minister" he added impress.
sivey, ito look into this increase OF normal
expenditure himself and stop it. 1t can
be stopped IL he is determined to do So"
He referred to Mr.. Chamberlain's scheme
ing that it would disunite, rather than unite,
the Empire. He believed that Mr.. Cham
berlain speech at Birmingham was only
blowing on Of steam. and that Mr.. Cham
ber!ain was spea king for himself unofficially;
but Mr. Balfour's subsequent speech was
far more important.
The position Of the Prime Minister in re-
gard to this subject. Sir Michael said. was
absolutely impossible. 1t was neither
fair to his party nor to his colleagues nor
to the House. which expected light and
Leading. from a united Government Sir
choose the less of two evils and support
the budget against the amendment.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Richie
spoke in justification. OF the repeal OF the
corn tax He said that although he was
preferentis tar IL he might ,s say in behalf
Of himself and his colleagues what he and
they thought. Those members OF the
Government who had spoken had done 30
for themse Ives and not for the Government.
All that had been said was that the sub
ject Of preferential tariffs should be dis
cussed and inquired into. For his own
part he was hound to say that he would he
greatly surprised II any inquiry showed
practical means of carrying out this policy.
He was convinced free trader and did not
means could be devised for carrying out
this preferential tariff policy. Loud OPP
position cheers.
Mr. Richie went on to say that he would
not be partner to policy which he believed
would be detrimental to the empire and
the corn tax was a war tax, and for that
reason should be removed now that the
war was over
Thunderous applause from the Opposi-
ton followed the Chancellor's utterance.
which was read from paper in a nervous
II had been most carefully prepared
Prime Minister Balfour meanwhile sat,
sometimes fdgetting and looking uncom-
Portable. and at other times languidly wait
impenetrable and impressive face through
out the sitting, only evincing interest in part
OF Sir Michael Hicks Beach's speech,
scanned the House "a Mr.. Ritches words
fell and noted unmoved the wild joy Of
his former colleagues on the Liberal benches
and those no less wild from the Minister
ialist free traders
Shortly afterward the Colonial Secretary
left the House. OF the subsequent speeches
the most important was that OF Arthur
Elliott. the new Financial Secretary Of the
Treasury, who avowed himself convinced
free trader.
The debate was adjourned until to-
morrow, when Mr. Balfour's reply is ex-
pect ed. 1t is doubtful whether Mr.. Cham
berlain will speak.
Mr.. Ritchie's Reputation OF a prefer
entail policy has caused sensation IN p ar
speculation regarding the outcome of the
new situation thus created.
Richard W. F.. Middleton. chief agent OF
the Conservative party since 1885. who
resigned some time ago, has been sue
ceeded by Capt Lionel Wells. chief Of the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade. This, 1t is be-
lieved. proves that Parliamentary disso-
lut ion liz not ontemnlate ed immediate ely.