New-York tribune., 1903-04-24
BUDGET SURPRISES.
SURPLUS INCREASED.
Reduction in Income Tar Also Er-
ceeds Expectations.

Especial u TIC New-york Tribune by French Caoie9
copyright: 1905: BIZ The Tribune Assohiaton)
London. April "a 1 a m.-The government
whips expected trouble over the Budget ana
warned their followers that important divisions
were impending at the opening Of the session
and during the evening on Budget resolutions
No summons was required for filling the benches
and galleries. Mr.. Ritchie is not an orator or
man Of original genius. but he had message
for nation of thrifty shopkeepers and over
burdened taxpayers. This handy man of the
Ministry won the stronghold Of power-the
Treasury-not by great talents. but by business
like habits dexterity in arranging details and
rlodding industry in mastering the subject IN
hand These qualities were revealed in his hrst
Budget speech, delivered quietly, almost me-
chanicaIIy as though he were making an an
nuaI statement 10 board Of bank directors
II was dry. precise. dull. without gleam OF
humor. In place OF the usual Budget jokes
about the mortality Of milionaiTes ano the
profits OF intemperance there was placid
optimism about the magnitude OF the war debt
and the decline in consols. so vacuous that II
excited frequent outbursts of laughter Mr..
Ritcbie's dexterity was shown in his manipula-
zion of the sinking fund and the permanent
debt charge so that the surplus available for
The remission OF taxation was increased to
EIoO16oo0 No expert calculator had forecast
so large an amount. The income tax payers
were favored with reduction Of fourpence, or
a penny more than had been expected Mr..
Ritchie being a new Chancellor, was bound 10
consider the traditions Of the Treasury. GUS
tom required that direct and indirect taxation
should share the benefits Of the reductions. Coal,
tea and sugar could not be touched. but the
abolition of the corn registration duty would
relieve the government from inconvenient agi-
tation over the bread tax. The protectionist
Tories were not pleased with the removal of the
corn duty. but the best politicians OF the House
agreed that il helped 10 make the Budget popu-
lar and would deprive the Liberals Of one OF
their most effective issues in the general cleo
tion. The registration duty not large
enough either to yield much revenue or 10 bene-
fit the agricultural industries OF the United
Kingdom, and the opportunity for making ois-
ordinations in favor Of the grain trade Of Can
ada and other colonies was wasted. The duty
is now abolished in order to balance the remis-
sions on income taxation, and convince the
vorkingnlan that something has been done for
him The Radicals, under the leadership Of Sir
William Vernon Harcourt, were very willing 10
quarrel with the Budget, but they could not
object 10 the remission Of the corn duty, and
the protests against the reduction Of the income
tax were too hollow 10 have foundation for
agitation. In the lobby the balance Of opinion
was that the Budget indicated an early dlssolu-
ton. The business men in the City were f5ubi-
lant when the tickers announced the reduction
in the income tax to IL pence. and they gave
practical expression 10 their views by rushing
consols up q. 10 %.
The levity excited by the Budget offered
marked contrast TO the portentous silence with
which the disastrous war news from Somali-
land was received. A British reverse IN that
quarter was entirely unexpected and inexplica-
bic.
The Ministerial announcement respecting the
Bagdad Railway was welcomed by all sides of
the House of Commons. a vigilant press,
Ewayed by an anti-Germau feeling. has given
the government timely warning.
Shakespeare Day celebrated not only by
Mr Benson's players at Stratford-on-Avon, but
also by unique entertainments in London, Or
gsnized by the new Shakespeare League Will
lam Pen and Arnold Dolrnetsch co-operated in
q production of Twelfth Night" with Eliza
7oethan costumes and music at the theatre at
Burlington House, and there was a dinner in
the evening at the Criterion restaurant, with a
selection Of Shakespeare's songs and Elizabeth
an scores. This quiet Shakespeare festival has
included a public meeting OF the Folk Lore So
ciety, and closes to-day with FaiTman Ordish' S
lecture on shakespearian associations and sites
in London L N z.