Evening journal., 1909-11-22
ENGLAND MAY
HAVE REVOLUTION
Rejection Of Budget Causes
Constitution to TrembIe in
the Balance
TAX QUESTION
FORCES THE ISSUE

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
LONDON. Nov 22-Whon the Lloyd
George budget Is moved for passage be-
fore the House OF Lords on
Thursday the constitution OF the
United Kingdom will tremble In
the balance for a moment, and then
fall with a crash into the melting pot
For the rejection OF the budget which Is
certain, will place before the voters Of
England two alternatives; first. the up
holding OF tho Liberal party and the Lloyd
George budget which will give an adde.
impetus to the marked Socialistic tenden-
cies of recent English politics. and sec
ond, the upholding OF the House OF Lorf
in It's rejection OF the budget. and the
consequent reputation OF the iron bound
constitution requiring that the House OF
Commons shall control the financial end
Of the government and the damming OF
the present sociallsuc tide. In either case
the result will be a revolution IN British
government and politics.
II the Liberals are returned 10 power.
it is almost inevitable that the House OF
Lords viii be iegislatod out Of existence
as government factor or that al least.
its power viii be greatly curtailed. II the
Conservatives are victorious IN the cleo
tion. the power OF the House OF Lords to
dictate the financial policy OF the country
will be established.
Great Britain to-day faces this revolu-
tion, one OF the most serious In her his
tory because OF the imposition OF new
taxes aggregating only S3.l250Oo. which
will require the expenditure OF 100000
by the government IN valuation proceed
lngs before a penny OF the tax can be coli
lected and which will demand an argre-
gate expenditure OF slO00OOOO before the
tax can become fully operative.
The struggle was precipitated by the
Liberals IN House OF Commons adopting
the budget, formulated by Chancellor OF
the Exchecquer Lloyd George with tho
express object OF "equalizing the load,
placing the heaviest taxes on tho heaviest
pocketbooks. The Commons thus imposed
20 per cent. tax on the unearnod incre-
ment value OF land which will amount "a
$4,000 in the first year; a 10 per cent
tax on all increased values Of land and
buildings at the end OF leases which viii
amount to $4,000. the first year; an an.
nual tax OF .OO2 per cent on all undevel.
oped land by which is plainly meant The
estates Of the landed lords; amounting e
about s750OO0 IN the first year an annua
tax OF per cent. on royalties and rem
received by mine owners, which would
amount TO 81. 10000 in the first year. In ad
dition to this the commons exempted fron
the operation OF these new taxes all agrl
cultural lands, property owned by trad
unions and fraternai societies flats an
tenements. public parks, athletic groundi
I and property belonging TO small investor
4 not exceeding s2,5oo,Ooo IN value.
d The result OF the operation OF thei
e taxes would be the shifting OF the bu
y den OF taxation OF tho poor 70 the ric
: from the rent payer and a small pro-
y erty holder TO the landed proprietor. n
Conservatives In the House OF Lords IN
b mediately took up the fight 20 prote'
10 their interests. declaring that the pro
o posed land taxes are -Sooiallstic. an
an attempt TO grab the money Of the ric
!, and that the step toward the nationalist
} tion OF the land and practical Socialism.
= The Lords declare that the voters mus
be consulted before 80 revolutionary
measure can become effective. and the
have announced that they will reject IN
bill when Il is moved for passage
thus holding up all sources OF govern
ment income for the year. AS a substitut
i for the proposed land tax. the Lords ar
4 prepared to offer a protective tariff.
e With the rejection Of the budget by IN
{ peers general election viii be calle
q for January, 1910. and the decision wi
a lie with the people The issues accordin
y to the liberals, are, shall the House ,
Lords, not elected by the people, and con
d posed Of rich land lords be allowed
Q veto taxes imposed by the representati'
. OF the people, thus injecting into Britt.
= government the acme Of class legialati,
:, and the predominance Of privilege.