The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22
ENGLAND TRIES TO
SOLVE PROBLEM
Raising Revenue for Govern
ment Expenses Is a Fight
PROTEST ON LAND TAXES
Clause of Exemptions From Land
Taxes Causes Discussion But
Concessions Are Made to the
Labor unionlsts.
PROTEST ON LAND TAXES

London, August 21.-Having succeeded
by means of all night sitting of the house
of commons In passing through the COM
mittee of the whole those clauses of the
budget imposing tax on land values, the
government has given members a weeks
release from their armuous labors dur
ing which time less contentious meas
ures will be considered. The fight over
the budget, which will fairly revolution
lie this system of tax IN England, has
been one of the most strenuous in the
history of the parliament. A mere hand
full of unionists, as compared with the
huge liberal majority, has been able to
hold up legislation week after week un-
till the government, though loath to In
troduce guillotine methods in order to
limit the situation, was forced to bring
in new rules of procedure which au-
thorized the chairman to decline to con-
slider purely blocking amendments.
The last of the land taxation clauses
has been passed by the committee, but
their form is quite different from that
originally introduced. The chancellor of
the exchequer has made a number of
very important concessions, chief among
them being In regard to the valuation of
land.
Exemption from Taxation.
The property of friendly societies which
own lands valued at upwards of $500, 000-
900 is also exempted under the new taxa
ton. This is a concession to the labor
unionists who form a large majority of
-t,o IL
Another amendment made to the bill
came as a result of criticism by the lord
chief justice. 1t was originally proposed
that the valuation placed upon property
by commissioners appointed for that pur-
pose should be final but the lord chief
justice pointed out that this would be in
dire ct contravention of the British con-
stitution, which expressly gives the right
of appeal in all cases. The government,
right of appeal.
Another much criticized provision of the
bill imposing a tax upon unmined min
erals was also withdrawn and a tax on
mining royalties and rents was substi-
tuted. The government, however, MAIN
tanned the principle of the taxation upon
land values and it is now attempting to
justify its policy in the campaign through
out the country in which all the cabinet
ministers are taking part. The unionists
are just as busy in opposition to this
policy and the country Is occupied with
the discussion as to whether or not the
budget will be popular.
Masses Favor Measure.
The masses seem to favor the measure
and some unionists newspapers, recogniz-
ing this are urging the party to give up
the fight and turn its attention to tariff
reform. The leaders are supported by
majority OF the party, however, and are
insisting that the contest go on until the
bill reaches the house of lords, when the
hope Is expressed that the upper house,
ignoring all presidents. will either amend
or throw out the measure, and thus, they
believe, force the government to appeal
to the country.
1t is doubtful whether the lords will
take the extreme step of interfering with
taxation, which has heretofore been con-
sidered the prerogative of the house of
commons Even if they did take such
step 1t is considered doubtful whether a
general election would follow. Lewis
Harcourt, first commissioner of works, in
a speech yesterday, said it would be
rash to assume that only one course Is
open to the government. II the house of
lords by refusing to pass the bill plunged
the country into chaos, the cabinet, he
said, could be depended upon Ito tender
such advice to the sovereign as would
best conduce in the immediate future
with the predominance of the will of the
electors" In some quarters this is taken
as a threat to confer enough liberal peer
ages to overcome the unionist majority.
There are still many clauses of the bud
get to be dealt with, and upon these the
opposition promises to continue its fight.
The first of these deals with the license
duties, which are at present based upon
one-half the value of licensed premises
The holders of licenses object to this, and
in order to meet their views the gov
eminent probably will propose a tax to be
levied on the amount of liquor sold. Other
clauses deal with changes in the death
duties, the income tax, the stamp customs
and like duties.