New-York tribune., 1910-02-25
lASQUITH WINS;
MAJORITY SMALL
THE TARIFF REFORM
AMENDMENT LOST.
irish .4bStaiH from Totlns, but
La0o1tes Support Free
TRADE Government.
IPv Gable 70 The Tribune |

n, cable 70 The Trbune.l
London Feb 2s.-The first DIVISION III
tho now Parliament, taken to-day oss-
closed a narrow majority Of thlrty-ohe
for the government against tariff REFORM
The result was close because there were
-i,e Liberal vacancies and ten or dozen
Liberal ahsentoes were impaired. The
labor members voted with the govern
n5ent for free trade. and Redmond Ma
1lcnahsts abstained from the division
The Conservatives rnassed their forces
and gave full support 10 Nr. Austen
Chamberlain's amendment Lord Hugh
Cecil was the only Free Trader remain
ing on that size. his associates having
either joined the Liberal party or been
defeated in the general election
s-,e announcement Of the vote was
r.a....s under the stress Of great excite
Dreit, and was received with uproariouS
dsiIght on the Conservative benches.
T-,.e vaunted coalition majority had
e.se- heavily reduced before 4 single vote
hsd been taken on the budget, and while
tce ministers themselves were unable 10
ssiee on the fate OF the upper chamber
oErien's guard Of independents were
among the happiesG witnesses Of the hu-
Tniliation OF the government
The debate preceding the division was
rsmarka bic for the closely reasoned
speeches on both sides. Samuel Storey,
once q stalwart Radical. made a vigcr-
ous reply. TO Alfred Monds amazing
statement that tariffs were 3. failure
everywhere and were in constant need
Il repairs He declared that the protec
tionisr legislators changed the tariffs
because they We're sensible, scientific
men and wished t. profit by experience
and the influence Of production.
Nr Balfour who was in fine fighting
form laid the strongest stress on the
fact that tariff reform would increase the
productive powers Of the country and
4nlargo its resources Cor employing the
population MI Runciman was not a
match for him in the defence of free
7rade. but Mr. yd-George was more
successful in making effective use of
hstches OF statistics and speaking with
iuciditv and power The debate Was
olInd up in z husinesslike style by Mr..
Bonar Law
While the Conservative whips made
strenuous efferts 10 drum up every sup
porter they would have been seriously
,7r,,asarra ssed if they had upset the gov
ernu1enr An election is not wanted by
the Opposition for six. or even twelve,
mouths Mr. Balfour would have been
compelled TO order one during March if
ne hai succeeded Mr. AsqUith after car
rving the tariff reform amendment, and
the chances Of gaining hundred seats
and obtaining a secure possession Of the
stronghold OF power would have been e1-
ceedingly doubtful.
The government is going badly because
the Cabinet is not united on either tac-
tics or policy. One faction, headed by
the Chancellor of the EXchequer has
wanted aggressive action against the
Lords before financial order is restored
and has demanded veto measure. pure
and simple.
The other faction, headed by Lords
Crepe and Morley. and supported by Sir
Edward Grey, Mr.. Haldane and John
Burns, has taken the ground that d COM
Trehensive measure is needed for re
adjusting the relations of the houses.
and that it must include q definite
scheme for the reconstruction of the
Lords and converting it into on impair
tial revising chamber. The argument of
this section Of the Cabinet has been that
since the Lords VIII certainly reject it
the bill must be d statesmanlike basis Of
settlement on which the government can
appeal 10 the country with confidence.
The oissensions Of the Cabinet on this
vital question may explain the uncertain
leadership and the general bewildcr- &
rnent on the Radical benches.
Toni ight's narrow division may be d
tnlely warning that d compromise must
he effected and the revolts of the Radi-
I'll extremists and the Scottish malcon-
tents, like Sir Henry Dalziel, promptly
suppressed