New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-01
BALFOUR'S REASONING
4 Tariff for More ReOenue-TOO
Much Government.
London Sentennher %

- t..s- feil hack upon Il last week at Brming-
-. - answering Lord ROsebery's destructive
.s,ism Of the sociaIistic budget and in justi-
g. new levies Of taxation The leader of the
l,s,.ion also has recourse 20 Il in attempting
- che same platform TO reconcile Free Trade
...-,s-s 70 the Chamberlain tariff. Each has
O.-,,-red that national expenditures for naval
'.-snts. general administration and social
-s,--,s are steadily rising and that retrench-
-. m & large scale is impracticable. Each
= ,ontended that the money must be found
: s,esh expedients and more comprehensive
or,cses than have been employed during the
-, seventy years. They agree in declaring that
--.,ce is the most important issue now before
-. COUNTRY. but differ in their methods OF wild
.s,r che circuits Of tax gathering. AS resource
- ra-tv leaders and clever tacticians they are
..-,hing for the line Of least resistance TO their
s,sncial proposals and seeking 10 keep the main
80 n their followers together.
AZ Balfour has taken full advantage OF the
.h.,re Of ground since Mr.. Chamberlain's con-
r,-sor ic tariff reform. It has not been neces-
-, Tor him 10 restate the case for colonial
-.ss-ence or retaliatory duties. but merely to
,---hss;ze the fact that millions OF additional
.,rsnye are required and that the most effective
..ho5 o. raising the money is that OF broaden
- indirect taxation. A tariff for more revenue
..,n has previously been raised under Free
,-sss is what he advocates az Birmingham.
-hs. il virtually his answer TO the Prime Min
,,,srs challenge for the production Of alterna-
tive scheme Of financing naval construction and
,,soI reform. Free Traders. whether in his own
ns-tv or independent in politics, viii not be re-
rsuss by this line OF argument although they
nav not have been convinced that preferential
~ rstaliatory duties are desirable either for the
colonies or for the mother country. AS Mr..
~1-a - .1,s~ R,e-v-
admitting 10 the existing budget with its
-0rronate levies upon land. capital. incomes
snd dead mems estates and obtaining larger rev.
srues from & broader tariff. This is a smooth
and plausible method Of overcoming prejudice
against tariff reform. Resistance is rnininized
and oldtime arguments in favor OF preference
and retaliation are not repeated. Men Of all
uarties who dislike the Radical budget and the
revolutionary tendencies OF democratic finance
are invited 10 support revenue tariff a a sub
s,itute for II. The necessity for larger revenues
being admitted. the choice OF evils remains as
8 bsggarly privilege and an effective argument.
The tariff for more revenue can also be recon-
rended by Mr.. BaIfour and his associates as
more economical method Of hnancirs natl nal
administration than the costly schemes now
advocated by Mr.. George and Mr.. Churchill. The
mechanism OF customs examinations and collec-
ions has been IN operation for generations and
the tariff can be broadened without involving
material addiri 70 the STAFF O. inspectors and
scoountsnts or increasing the cost Of the service.
TIE money VIII come into the Treasury without
considerable proportion Of the new revenues
eng wasted in cost Of collection. Superior
economy has always been strong argument in
favor ~ tariff for revenue in place Of direct
rszstier. TIE taxes on coal. sugar and other
s-t.-es ~ great bulk which the present govern
werr hes ~enirted. have been among the cheap
~ i- cost % collection. The land taxes and
cher -eries which have been proposed for eking
r- The resources OF Free Trade finance. are
emor- RE most expensive. Much is said about
tre rc5enca # new taxation. whether upon the
a.re- classes or the masses but little is made
~ t--f- net -ield in proportion 10 their face
ra.le. one Of the stror gesl points made by Lord
Easetrrv and Mr.. BalfoUr against Radicalism
cf tr- DAY il the increase Of bureauCra ma
clne~y. Every new measure involves the enrol
meur Of fresh contngents Of officials The dras-
Or budget itself. while producing with Ger
lstntv not only the fl6O00OHO Of extra revenue
required, but also d surplus for financing social
reforms, viii multiply tax gatherers and render
the- more vexatious and harassing than they
are aI-ea6y.
Radical writers themselves being witnesses,
TINS bureaucratic evil Is one OF the inevitable re
As couectivism has created a horde Of clerks,
inspectors and officials for the conduct OF local
services. 50 also the introduc- on Of Radical
labor devices for the improvement OF the masses
involves q considerable expansion Of the Civil
serrice. The old-age pension system has made
more work for officials. and there Is a large
additional force 10 keep abreast with il. The
establishment OF a network OF labor exchanges
requires another reinforcement Of the army OF
eirl servants. the trade boards bill author
lies the employment OF another contingent Of
inspectors and medical officers; the town plan
mig act, the small holdings system, the re-
vised Irish land bin and the development policy
brng with them swarms OF experts, and the
Eck funds, insurance against unemployment,
disability pensions. creation OF state-aided for
sEt-y, naturalization OF the Irish railways and
other soc:sHstic projects are likely to increase
enormously the number Of permanent officials.
The land valuation. which is the main feature
q the budget, viii cost five times as much as
new taxes win produce at the outset; and there
Efl be permanent addition TO the staff Of otfi-
cEE To observers like Lord Rosebery and Mr..
bslfoUr, who are already convinced that Eng
snd Is governed too much. Radicalisn, with its
Countless administrative schemes and social ex-
periments. is opening appalling prospect OF
onea Interference with individual rights. At
any rate, the cost OF government is rising stead
iT and with II is expanding the leisurely ON
cal class withdrawn from productive industry
and supported by taxpavers themselves without
competitive lahors. The state, ike the Judas
ne, is strangling itself with its own activities
This is a field OF retrenchment, on which an
noependeut free lance ike Lord Rosebery can
more outspoken than a responsible party
ssdsr Ike NJ Bslfour. The I-nionists have not
Pposed the old-aze pension scheme, nor can
pnsy sftord 70 ofier strenuous resistance 10 any
0saberate project for improving the condition
p" ne masses. They must revive the tradition