New-York tribune., 1909-11-17
THE BUDGET CRISIS
Toctics FoHo1red bu Forces on
Each Side.
London. November s

London. Novsmber 8
An sr-1istice OF sixteen days in the
battle over the budget is useful for tao
tics and uaneuvres- On the govern
ment side there has been a material con-
centration OF forces The majority FOR
the budget on the final reading in the
Commons was go. or considerably larger
than on the second reading Stragglers
had been whipped into line. the govern
nent forces rallied and reunited. and. in
the Prime Minister'S wsighty phrase.
there was an impressive muster of the
only authority which under the constitu-
ton could regulate the finances cf the
nation" No financial measure Of r.
cent times has been discussed more ez-
haustively OF with less constraint OF
closure. and never have there been larger
concessions 70 critics and opponents in
the revision - highly controversial
measure
The Chancellor has been justified II
claiming credit for an enlargement Of the
financial sources q Free Trade. so that
$4,000 600 can be supplied this year for
cid age pensions and the navy, with go
100000 the next wear and subsequent
increases for Insurance against sickness
and unemployment and various develop
nnent grants. Bitterly as the Prime Min
ister and the Chancellor have been at
tackled for revolutionary courses, they
can proudly assert that they have kept
faith with the general electorate. which
III 4r- -
Trade snd 70 enlarge SIS revenue re-
sources. They can also forecast an early
appeal 70 the country without reference
20 what may be done by the Lords. 50
that the people can decide whether they
want 20 have the new system Of taxa
ton maintained or 10 have Tariff Reform
substituted for IL.
The government has not made any
serious mistakes in tactics. II individual
ministers have lacked enthusiasm for
certain sections Of the budget. and the
sympathies Of moderate Liberals have
been estranged BY the land duties and
by the extOrtionate death duties. the
Cabinet has been kept together. an ef-
fectlve coalition with Labor has been
maintained and strong ground has been
occupied for giving battle 70 the Tariff
Reformers and the Lords The chief
Liberal whips declaration this week that
the general elections viii he held early
in January impairs in advance the main
argument Of the Lords for the rejection
OF the budget.
Unprecedented. II not unconstitutional
methods for forcing the general elections
viii not be needed in order 20 secure
popular judgment on the radical sys-
tenn OF finance. The budget has already
been discussed al thousands of public
meetings throughout the kingdom, and.
let the Lords do what they please. IL viii
be submitted 10 the country for ap-
proval or rejection. The Lords viii not
be allowed 20 pose as unchaIleuged
champions Of the democratic electorate
Ministers look upon the responsibilities
Of Office as a national trust and them
selves seek z vote Of confidence from
the kingdom. They may have misread
the signs Of the times and be doomed to
early and disastrous rout. but At least
there has been no breach Of faith with
the electorate In sturdy John Rright's
simple phrase. they have trusted the
people.
The opposition tactics are not so
clearly defined as the government STRAIT
eEv. Mr Balfour has offered strenuous
resistance 10 the budget AZ every stage
during the last six months. and, not sat
isfied with destructive criticism. he has
improved The measure constructfveIy.
both as a financial bill and as a series
OF projects OF social reform II has not
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