New-York tribune., 1909-11-17

posed the rejection OF the bill by the
avoiding the question Of the impending
conflict between the houses He has
preferred 70 speak OF the crisis as more
or less hypothetical and has waited for
II 70 arise before giving the cue 70 the
Lords as the leader Of the Opposition.
Lord Lansdovns has been equally
circunspect.
While they are likely 70 take the same
view in the last resort. they may not
reveal their purpose until the constitu-
uonal struggle comes. toward the end OF
November They may not b able 70
control the situation When three hun
dred peers are said 70 have leagued
themselves 70 destroy the budget men Of
such sobrtety of Judgment as AR Bal
four and Lord Lansdowne may be IN
able either 70 enforce discipline Or 70
direct the policy Of the upper chamber
One thing Mr.. Balfour has succeeded
IN accomplishing He has reunited his
party On the basis Of tariff reform as
the substitute for what he has con-
denned as socialisttc finance The free
food faction has been reconciled 10 the
Inevitable supremacy 81 the majority ~
the party. The Opposition now presenrs
2 united front in favor Of 2 large in
crease of indirect du-les that ts i-s
method OF financing great navy md
various measures Of social reform The
Lords. II thev throw OUT the budget
VIII favor an appeal 70 the country 70
reverse SIS former Judgment against
finance
The tactics NAV not be 50 clever "a
Ny Baltour would contrive with his s11-
pericr subtlety. II he were left 10 him
self. There cannot be q dissolution on
the budget. II the peers reject II, as they
are now expected to do The Prime
Minister knows his ground. and will
make the veto power Of the Lords rhe
supreme issue He may not carry TIE
country with him. hut he will raise an
issue which viii remain uppermost in
the liberal party until II is settled bv
an overwhelming majority. The Lords
viii be badly advised n they allow the
constitutional question % he raised. II
will be unnecessary. since they can get
get itself-bv sancJioning the measure
after protesting vigorously against il.
The Prime Minister would be under
moral obligation 20 dissolve Parliament
IN January and 70 ask for popular an
proVal OF the budget The issue would
not be complicated with the relations Of
the two legislative houses. The Union
lists would have a better chance OF sue
cess i'm obtaining a majority over all
parties and this they must have II they
are even 20 introduce TariT Reform.
Destroy the budget they cannot do. for
a. soon as they reject II the necessity
for rescUing large portions Of il will
arise. and conferences between the two
houses will be indispensable. and there
viii be a series OF legislative rnakesIifts.
The tea duties and income tax schedules
viii he legalized. and various other ar
rangements for filing the Treasury will
be allowed 10 stand
The land section and the excise duties
will probably be set aside as obnoxious
and impossible. and the increased death
duties may also be ruled out: but The
bulk Of the budget viii have 70 be saved
AFTER the Lords have imposed their veto
royal diplomacy will come in without
doubt In ordering this compromise. and
when the ad interim arrangements are
made the Lords will be convicted Of
high handed action IN pulling the finance
bill To pieces. protecting their own inter
ests as land owners and delivering The
puhlicans from taxation ruinous 70 the
10
advantage In appealing 10 the country
against the refashiCning Of the budget
by the self-interested Lords. Yet -rese
blundering Unionist tactics seem TO be
inevitable The collective intelligence of
the Lords disappears when extremists
are eXaspersted and furious
l. =. F