New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
COLONIAL PREMIERS MAh-
ING HISTORY.
Especial by French Gable TO The Tribune
rcoryrfrtt 1907: by The Tribune Association. J

events so n1omentous the colonial conference
and Mr. Asquith's budget Results IN eilheL
case cannot he estimated with true sense of
proportion until years have elapsed. Inc coIo-
NAL Premlers certainly are making history MANU-
over hand while they are feasting ana eXchahs-
ing compliments with leading men OF Ooth par
ties Their arrival has been the signal for an
outburst Of hospitality which has already IN
capacitated several of them for continuous So
cial endowment Enthusiasm for imperial inter-
ests has been aroused by a splendid series OF
banouets which is continued tonight at une
Prime Minister'S residence. The heads Oh the
eeIf-governing colonies are statesmen TOO prac-
teal to be satisfied with rhapsodIes on liberty
and loyalty. They want 10 take home Win them d
record of having accomplished something OF lar
reaching Importance TO the empire. 1t is not yet
certain they VIII do this. Preferential trade 'ney
cannot have when the liberal government mas
received orders from the country prohibiting al
teration in the free trade system. Coleman con-
tributions to imperial offences arc also barred
ont bv the reluctance OF Canada TO be drawn
into what Sir Wifrid Laurier has described as
the maelstrom of European ornaments the
creation Of some form Of imperial council Is the
host resu,. that can be hoped for. The problem
has not yet been worked out. Apparently Lord
Elgln prefers something like an Information nu-
reau responsible to the Colonial ONCE. ana SIT
Premier Deakin wants a permanent secretariat
and bureau independent Of the Colonial Office
and responsible 10 the conference itself, and he
is summarized b. the Freniers of New Zealand
Cape Colony and Natal These differences o.
opinion may be exaggerated through the lack OF
publicity Of the conference proceedings, but sew
erai sarcasns which fell from Mr.. Deakin's lips
at the Pilgrims magnificent banquet last night
denoted their existence. Otherwise he would
not have complained OF getting admonitions
rather than instructions from the Colonial Office
nor have expressed a longing for q council where
coionials can speak without bated breath be-
Gauss they are members of the same IaiIlIV-
Whatever is done in the way Of a council. one
result Of the conference is a foreGone concur
sion. that Is the speedy confederation OF South
Africa. All the representatives from that quar-
ter OF the empira favor II, although II will be
virtually Dutch confederation
uR. ASQUITHS BUDGET.
Mr. Asquith's budget is fresh proof OF the
Prime Minister'S unchallenged supremacy in the
Liberal party. Liberalism itself has been losing
ground in the country. bat the Prime Minister'S
prestige and authority have been steadily in
creasng. so that even the Whiggsh Chancellor
of the Excheuuer is swept INFO the current Of
radicalisin The tariff reformers have been APP
pealing for worixingmens support on the ground
that old age pensions and other social reforms
cannot be financed without tariff on manu-
featured goods. Mr.. Asquith has been forced
to promise old age pensions and TO find method
of financing them without a change In fiscal
policy. Income taxation. which once re-
zar6ed as a reserve for the purposes of war, now
becomes a rampant for the defence of free trads.
Behind It the Liberal party is massed fo- the
invasion OF unoonquered social territory. and
the advance will be made over the dead bodies
Of r1illionaries. The budget IS designed TO con-
ciliate the middle class. The provision for TAX
ing of the threepence on earned incomes under
$1,000 viii be a genuine relief measure for a
large class OF taxpayers of moderate means.
The diGereptial system Of treating earned and
unearned incomes viii involve inquisitionaI
processes The middle class that is not relieved
will be forced TO regard the shilling tax as a
permanent levy, especially when social reforms
must be paid for. The largely increased death
duties with super taxes on estates of million
aires will also be a permanent exaction. for no
Unionist Chancellor OF the Exchequer will re-
duce them The Whitley estate under the Har-
court schedules pays over 100000 into the
treasury in death duties. These would be in
creased 10 100000 under the new proposals.
Socialism will be financed az the expense OF the
very rich and the shrinkage in capital and real
lied wealth wifi be continuous and cumulative.
Instead OF devising a system OF pensions to
which the workers themselves contribute. as
has been done ia Germany, the Liberals and
tariff reforners are competing in crude propo-
sails involving gratuities, used 20 the discour-
agement of thrift.
THE SWETTEEHAlf LETTERS.
The publication OF the swettenham cor
regpondenee does not throw additional light
on that comedy Of manners. 1t disappoints
the partisans OF Governor Swettenhau. who
had hoped TO find ground for a fresh assault
upon the Colonial ONCE by cOnvicting Admiral
Davis OF some unwarrantabIe act.
There were no American speeches at the
Pilgrims banquet to the colonial preniers. but
the field OF operations OF the society was Wild
ened so as TO include the empire IN place OF
England as one OF the Joint partners in these
feasts OF good feeling. The American Ambas-
sador was present. and VIII also attend the
Prime Minister'S banquet tonight. He opens
Dorchester House next week for meeting of
the Dante Society. which will be attended by
the Prince and Princess OF Teck and a large
company Slgnor Ricci will read lecture on
Francesca da Rimini. and Earl Lytton Will
recite Byron's translation OF Daates "Fran-
cesca-"
ART AT TIE NEW GALLERY.
The New Gallery is crowded to-day at pri-
waite view OF over five hundred works Mr..
Sargent has a large portrait OF Dr. Ware. late
head master OF Elton, mastery character study.
and brilliantly painted portrait OF Mrs.
Harold Harmsworth IN black with flowing
lace scarf. J. j. Shsnnon's subjects include
Countess Stradbroi1e. with decorative back
ground. and Captain Joscelins Bagot. with a
strongly modelled head. John Lavery's por-
traits limitations OF WhistleF's methods, but
George Henry vindicates his election 20 the