The San Francisco call., 1904-07-15
WOULD CHANGE
FISCAL SYSTEM
Liberal UnioniSts' Council
Reconstructed and Cham
berlain Chosen President
BALFOUR MUST EXPLAIN
Opponents Demand TO Know
Why Two Cabinet Members
Are Allowed i'm Movement

LONDON, July l4.-Joseph Chamber
lain was elected president and Lord
Lansdowne vice president Of the newly
reconstructed Liberal Unionists' Coun-
ell at a meeting in London to-day.
which was attended by 1900 delegates
from all parts Of the kingdom. A res
oiution was passed in favor Of a COM
plete reform OF the British fiscal sys-
TEN, approving the Premier's demand
for-increased powers to deal with hos
tile tariffs and dumping. and ex
pressing sympathy with the proposals
for preferential arrangements between
the colonies and the motherland. The
resolution was adopted with practical
unaninity and Chamberlain. who pre-
sided. pointed out that IL must fairly
represent the views Of the Liberal
Unionists. as no fewer than 27S sepa-
rate associations were represented at
the meeting
The part taken by Lord Lansdowne
and Lord Selborne in the new organi-
cation. which the Evening Standard
calls the Annex Tariff Reform
League" evoked much interest. The
STANDARD considers the fact that the
principal member Of Balfour's Cabinet
have become vice presidents Of an cleo
pioneering association of which Cham
berlsin is chief raises grave constitu-
uonsl question, and il is said that the
opposition intends to raise the question
IN the House Of Commons and invite
Balfour TO explain how two members
OF his Cabinet come TO be supporting a
policy so different from that enunciated
by the Premier himself
Chamberlain presided over and de-
livered a speech at an immense meet
ing in Albert Hall tonight under the
auspices Of the Liberal Unionist Coun-
Gil In beginning his speech Chamber
lain. who was given a tremendous ova-
ton. said that the organization Of the
Liberal UniOnist Council was primarily
for the maintenance Of the union be-
tween England and Ireland under the
control Of one supreme council. There
was nothing in the present circum-
stances TO justify the relaxation of Wig
flance in this direction.
After discussing at length the finance
question on practically the same lines
as in his former speeches, Chamberlain
returned 10 the Irish question and said
that the council was impressing upon
the Government the necessity of re-
form in the Irish representation. The
leader Of the Nationalist party in the
House Of Commons controlled some
eighty votes which were swung from
side TO side without regard TO the
merits Of the case and with the avowed
object Of making the British Govern
ment impossible and coercing the Brit
ish Parliament to give him what he
wanted.
He viii fail where greater than he
failed before him." said Chamberlain,
who then asked why should Parliament
play into the hands of John Redmond
by giving him power to which he was
not justly entitled.
Chamberlain concluded by ridiculing
the opposition.
Lord TennysOn moved a vote of con-
fdence in the Government and the ap-
proval Of its finance policy, which was
unanimously carried.
Lord Lansdowne briefly acknowl-
edged the resolution and said it would
greatly strengthen the hands of Pre-
mier Balfour