Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1910-02-12
Free Traders KneH in Great Britain

Washington, D. c. Feb. The con-
test in Great Britain between the free
trade liberal party and the tariff re-
form (protection) unionists has at
tracted a great deal of attention here
in Washington, and the comparative
success of the unionists is somewhat
in power has made the election turn
on the house of lords which defeated
the supply bill passed by the house of
commons with an enormous majority.
The defeat of the budget was prac-
tically a stand taken by the lords in
favor Of upholding their own monopo-
listic privileges. They are supported
by the unionist party, not because it
wants to uphold the privileges which
the lords have been in possession of
since 1888. but for the reason that the
unionists favor what they call tariff re-
form, under which they propose to i'm
pose duties of from 10 per cent up
ward on foreign products.
Mr.. Chamberlain member of the
unionist government, some years ago
started this agitation for tariff reform
and he kept it up with sch success
that Mr. Balfour. the former unionist
premier, and practically the entire
Chamberlain in the fight. for a tariff
They have come to the rescue Of the
lords in order to promote tariff re-
form (protection). The liberals have
been diverted from their attack on the
lords to defense of free-trade, and
this complicated the situation for
them. They have lost great many
seats in parliament and have been
practically forced to depend on the
Irish vote to carry on the government.
Many liberal constituencies which
gave 5000 or 1000 liberal majority
in the preceding election have turned
over and given unionist majorities 10
about the same extent at this election.
The Swing Of the Pendulum.
All of this clearly means that Great
Britain is turning in favor of a pro-
tective tariff. 1t is fully expected by
the leaders here in Washington that
q tariff will be imposed in Great
Britain before many years If the
issue had been on the tariff alone in
the recent election it would have been
change of government The Irish
Pehl " Oh Y liCI q IL SO-Il tldC pdi ~ L u0y
have been wanting protection in Ire
land for long period. 1t was free
trade that the English and Scotch ;sn-
posed on Ireland that has been the
chief cause of the great loss Of popu-
lation in that country and the general
depression for long period Of time,
although "landlordism'' had its effect.
But when it comes to question of
tariff, free from other issues, the Irish
party, the so-called Nationalists, can
not be expected to support a free
trade measure.
The budget will take away from the
lords, If it becomes law, some of the
means by which they impose great
wrongs on the British people. For in
stance, not since 1888 has there been
valuation. or as it Is called in the
United States, an assessment, of the
land in Great Britain for taxable pur-
poses. The value placed upon the soil
312 years ago is that which now exists
for the imposition of taxes. There Is
no separation in the valuation of the
land and the improvements put upon
it, such as exists in the United States.
If piece of land was assessed at a
valuation of 500 in American money
in 1888, that Is still the valuation up
on which the owner is required to pay
taxes, although he may have put mil