New-York tribune., 1909-05-15
THE BUDGET DEBATE
Dir. BalfOur and Mr. Churchill
The Millennium.
London. Nav :

London. May >.
There are touches of real comedy even in
budget debate. When Mr. Churchill follows
Mr. Balfour with audacous banter. his enjoy
ment Of the situation is so intense and his for
mer leaders annoyance is so evident that men
Of all parties have to smile When Mr.. Churchill
entered Parliament he welcomed benevo-
lently by his fathers friend and ally. and
seemed TO be in q fair way to get on He was
a young man in a driving hurry. and Mr.. Bal
four made the mistake of keeping him back II
used to be said that Mr.. Gladstone sacrificed
the Home Rule cause through his unwlingness
to put Mr.. Chamberlain a confidential foot
ing and to confer with him respecting Irish
policy. It may be equally true that Mr.. Bal
four armed Mr. Churchill with power and drove
him into the Liberal party by neglectng to
make a friend of him and to allow him to dis
tinguish himself The glances now exchanged
by them from opposite front benches are scorn-
full and hostile Mr.. Balfour does not conceal
his contempt for the reckless and irrepressible
,urncoat" Mr. ChurchiIrs happiest moments
are passed when he can harass the leader of
the Opposition with mocking gibe and turn the
laugh against him. This happens not infre-
quently. Mr.. Asquith makes full of Mr..
Churchills powers Of invectiye and readiness
In debate He knows whose voice the Labor
members like to hear.
Mr. Churchill is not a match for Mr.. Balfour
in serious argument The last word must be
reserved for Mr.. Asquith when the leader of the
Opposition has been humping the table and
denouncing with deadly lucdty measures for
frightening capitalists taxing land holders ex-
pectations and converting a budget into an
electioneering manifesto of the have nots
against the haves. But Mr.. Churchill fills the
pauses and creates atmosphere of gayety on
the government side by accepting Mr.. Balfours
market gardener a substitute for the super
animated Tory widows and by interpreting his
forecast of an immense surplus next year as a
triumphant vindication of Free Trade as a rev.
enue producing instrument. Mr. Balfours eyes
are closed and he does not deign to treat the
dashing debater as swordsman worthy or MS
steel: but the Labor members cheer every SEN
tence and the young minister's audaclty passes
on his own side for political genius. Certainly
he has the rare talent of saying ViVac1ously
what his audience wants to hear and of arous-
ing enthusiasm. The reasoning may be super
fetal, but the conclusion rings out with trumpet
tone that Free Trade finance. instead of being
on the verge of bankruptcy. is tnexhaustiole, and
that a complete policy of social reorganization
is practicable.
Mr. Iloyd-George sits beside Mr.. Churchill,
and his face lights up with a fine glow Of en-
thusiasm as his friend forecasts the ultimate
triumph of social reform. No attempt Is MADE
70 conceal the true inwardness of the budget
The deficit in current revenues has been ar
tifcialIy enlarged in order to justify extraordl-
nary measures of taxation, and the yield mas
heen underestimated because big surplus VIII
he required before a general election Mr..
Churchill proclams what will be done with II
..Our policy he asserts with emphasis, is not
70 Increase but wherever possible to decrease.
and ultimately to abolish altogether, taxes on
articles of food and the necessaries OF Ire
That is TO say the duties on tea, sugar and TO-
bacco are to be reduced to the lowest point be-
fore the next general election. Indirect taxa
ton which in Cobden's time supplied two-thirds
of the revenue, is 10 be largely reritted' ana
direct taxation is to be kept at the maximum
To old age pensions are to be added disability
nensons and other social reforms; and there is
to be money enough for every fad and every |