New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-20
HIGHER BRITISH TAXES
THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.
House adopts additional Duties on
Tea and Tobacco.

London, April 1o.--An Increase in the income
tax and additional duties on tea ana tobacco
were the features Of the budget presented Dy
she Chancellor OF the Exchequer. Austen Cham
berlain, this afternoon. Long before he arose
every part Of the House OF Commons was hlled-
Joseph Chamberlain vas present 10 hear his son.
90 was Mrs. Chamberlain The former Colonial
Secretary. whose first public appearance * was
since his return from abroad. had great re-
ception from the occupants OF the ministerial
benches while the Nationalists invited him to
sing RUE Britannia" and greeted him with
shouts OF ''Pigtanr'
The House after considerable discussion
sdopted the increased tea and tobacco duties %
rna,orities OK - and %. respectively.
Austen Chamberlain opened HIS speech by eX-
ratiating on the difficulties OF his position, the
great wave Of prosperity which Great Britain
had enjoyed 50 long having apparently spent It's
force and given place to a less prosperous cycle
The industries OF Great Britain. especially the
cotton Industry. were depressed ana foreign
competition was keener than ever. The mar
kets in which Great Britain heretofore had been
su,preroe were increasingly threatened The
commercial depression in the United Kingdom
was aggravated by the conditions In South
Africa The revenue for 10000 was SlS.o-V'-
600 below the estimate. while the expenditure
exceeded the estimate by S15.O35.0O0. The re-
neal az the duty on wheat had been more costly
rhsn anticipated, without affording the con-
surner the relief expected. The net total deficit
FOR the financial year was S24.OI5O1O
Mr.. Chamberlain proposed to realize from IN
claimed government stock S5OO00oo toward the
deficiency. He refused to suspend the sinking
fund, considering Il bad policy.
M Chamberlain estimated the expenditure
for foo4-'05 at S7l44Oo.O0o and the revenue, on
che basis Of the existing taxation. at S69o,3O1-
600 leaving deficit of S19I000G0 to be made
up. He proposed, therefore. 20 increase the IN
come tax by two cents. This would give So
100000 additional revenue
The Chancellor further proposed readjust-
n1ent Of the tobacco duties. Imposing duty Of
81 cents on tobacco stripped before imported;
also IN additional duty OF J. cents on cigars
and an additional p cents on foreign cigar
cites.
The moisture limit was to be raised 10 o. per
cent, and 1t was planned TO introduce three or
four different rates in the drawbacks, which, II
was hopeo. would increase Great Britains to-
hacco export trade. especially 10 the colonies
The net gain by these tobacco changes was est
mated at s. 10000.
Mr.. Chamberlain also proposed an additional
tax OF four cents pound on tea, which would
amount TO 100000 bringing the total esti-
mated revenue up to S1lS.oJOOOO, or SUI Plus
The announcements Of the Increase in the In
come tax and in the tea duty were both received
with loud protests.
on the motion to Increase the tea tax the Lib
eral leader Sir Henry CamQbell-Ba Zimmerman
s,ong,rs tulated the Chancellor o. the EXchequer
on Tie lucidity Of his speech. he said he had
DISCHARGED a difficult task IN manner 10 com
mand general admiration, notwithstanding the
fact that The Chancellor found himself in IL
somewhat incongrUous attitude between the po-
siti0n which he held and his fiscal aspirations
which he did not conceal
IN conclusion the Liberal leader referred to
the greatly increased expenditures Of recent
years and said Il the first duty OF the House
OF Commons TO check this extravaganza.
Charles T. Ritchie, the former Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. also congratulated Mr.. Cham
berlafn but he defended his estimates Of last
wear. which, he said, were based on expected
prosperity, the failure OK which could not be
fnreSeeD.