The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-15
.ENGLAND'S FIGHT
OVER TARIFF
is OFF.
Chaplain Leads In Defense of the
Proposed Policy, but He Finds
Very Few Supporters.
Hicks-ceach's Strong
Speech.

| London. Juno 9--The rumored resigna-
| ton OF Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
IS tho most startling development OF the
proposal Of the chancellor Of the ex-
| cheQuer. Mr.. Richie, to abolish the corn
| tax, the debate on which kept the house
| of commons today packed and spellbound
until midnight. Even IL Premier Bal
| four persuades Mr.. Chamberlain to re-
main in the cabinet the colonial secre-
tary's preferential tariff programme Is
| hopelessly showed under and his In
| fiuence as g. political power In Great
| Britain, at least. Is temporarily eclisped-
| All the members of the government who
| contributed to today's debate vigorously
| declared themselves as free traders and
! frankly opposed Mr.. Chamberlaip's pro-
| posals Except for Mr.. Chaplin, not
| voice in either side of the house was
raised in effective support OF Mr.. Cham-
! berlaln's campaign. Former members OF
| cabinets and private members, irrespec-
| tive of party, protested against any DICK
! ering with Great Britain's fiscal poacy.
| The unionistS Wed with the liberals IN
! declaring themselves out and out free
| traders. All that was lacking in the
net minister was Mr.. Batours offclal
! pronouncement as premier. on behalf of
| the government that the cabinet as a
| whole refused 10 adopt Mr.. Chamber
| lain's views. Both the pronouncement
| and the premier were absent from the de-
! bate because. according to report, MT
| Balfour was spending the evening en-
deavoring to persuade the colonial Sec
rotary to remain In the cabinet notwlth-
standing his differences with his col
! leagues.
A Sensation Caused.
The debate was adjourned at midnight.
when, amidst Il sensation, Chancellor OF
the Exchequer Richie said he hopel MIR.
| Balfour would be able to give the house
on Wednesday a definite statement on
| behalf the entire cabinet, though he
! could not promise it.
| Upon the resumption of the debate, MIR.
| ChapIins' amendent to the budget bill.
which is the cause Of this sensational
| political crisis. will he taken up, Sir
| Henry Campbell Bannerman has modified
! his position, probably as result OF To-
| days proceedings and VIII demand
the right Of the liberals to know tho pre-
| mier's attitude towards free trade before
they support him in tie repeal OF the
| corn tax,
| Mr.. Balfour will reply and Mr.. Chamber
| lain is also expected to speak There are
many members who believe tonight that
! Premier Balfour will also resign ana
! tina, dissolution OF the house is in
| volYed. but these rumors lack conhrma-
| ton, the best opinion being that solu-
| ton OF the crisis viii be arrived at by
! Nv. Cbamherlain's resignation, or by an
| open declaration that he is willing 10 az op
I f,, ltnD rn preferential
| posals.
Mr.. ChapIip's amendment was scarcely
made today before it became secondary
considerat ion. its defeat was assured. IN
! til midnight the fight. if such an unde-
/ Tended struggle could he described,
ragged around Mr.. Chamberlain. "Oil and
vitriol is the only adequate description
OF Sir Michael Hicks Beach's speech.
silence this famous tory eXminister e&-
| tolled the colonial secretary's virtues and
| damned his programmes.
Black Michael" as he is familiarly
called, was never seen to better advAnt-
age. The ministers sat with troubled
! faces. Mr.. Ba -four looking especially de
! jected. Mr.. Chamberlain, deserving mis-
usual place, paler even than usual,
stretched himself nonchalantly at the end
! of the treasury bench. Throughout the
| afternoon he never exchanged a word
with his colleagues. After Mr.. Richie
! had renowned the colonial secretary's
ideas, Mr. Chamberlain stalked out Of the
! chamber without even q nod to Mr.. Bal
! four.
Wouldn't Eat Their Words.
Member after member rose from the
unionist ranks; some. who supported Mr..
! Chaplain, refused to "eat their words"
! with which they had previously sup
| ported the government when the corn
| tax was originally brought in; others
! lauded Chancellor of the Exchequer
Richie Tor his refusal TO pander to the
| spirit of protection; all demanded THAI
/ Mr. Balfour enlighten them regarding
! the governments view as a whole.
| Sir Henry Fowler. liberal, in an excep~
! Nonauy able speech dwet on Premier
! Balfours duty to the nation to ascer-
tain the opinion Of his colleagues and
| let the house and the people know the
| cabinets decision regarding q question
which was SO vital to the empire.
After the dinner recess the excitement
was heightened by the absence of both
/ the colonial secretary and the premier
bitter attack any tampering with
/ free trade was made by Sir John Gorst,
conservative. who declared that a great
/ portion Of the rising generation In the
/ United Kingdom was already so de-
generate and poverty-stricken that any
| thing tending to increase the price OF
James BrIce. liberal followed. declar-
Ing that the reference to the United
| States made by Mr., Chamberlain and
| other speakers in support Of the protec-
! ZIONIST argument was quite erroneous as
/ American prosperity was due greatly 10
fhe cheapness of food under system
/ by which free trade prevailed between
! all the great states composing the Amer
! lean nation.
The colonial secretarys idea. said the
| speaker. would disintegrate the empire
I and produce a network of protective
| tariffs such as that in which America was
now enmeshed.
Another Sensation.
Then came another sensation when the
Hon. Arthur Elliott the financial score
/ tary OF the treasury, replying on behalf
| OF the government to Mr.. Brice's inquiry
made a bitter attack on protectonists and
| preferential tariffs He declared that tho
financial policy Of the government was
| clearly exhibited by its decision to revoke
| the corn tax which savored of protection
Il ask the house seriously to consider
| what this country has to gain by giving
up its position of being country of cheap
| imports" said the speaker Il am sure
! that the more the people inquire into the
/ subject the more they find it is essential
to tho prosperity of the country that this
country should remain cheap country,
| and that they will be convinced that the
! basis on which financial and com
mercial system has been conducted scne
! the days OF Sir Robert Peel should not
| lightly be dismissed as of account"
This direct attack on Nh Chamberlain
| nv a member nj the Government who il