The Washington times., 1914-04-30


the great dukes, earls and barons
and their landed and enmillioned
allies against the unshakeable little
man who was reared in a humble
cobbler's house among the bleak
Welsh hills, Is the supreme outcry
OF ancient British privilege In its
death agony.
David Lloyd George thinks and
speaks for a new and unafraid de-
mocracy tlat Is stirred by its senses
of irresistible power and has learned
to look upon aristocratic heredity,
yes, and upon royalty itself, with
a bold heart and unwinkins eyes.
The deep, prolonged cheer that
swept the house Of commons a few
days ago when Mr.. Ward cried in
the home rule debate, "we want no
interference from the King or tae
army" was an unmistakable out
burst Of the spirit that has taken
possession of the British masses. a
spirit Of progressive. political, eco
nomic and social 1eveling that re-
spects the monarchy only as an obe-
dent and neutral servant Of the
public will.
For all the pomp and splendor and
heavy ecclesiastical formulas of coro-
nation ceremonies. the theory Of the
divine right Of English kings Is az
dead as Julius Caesar.
King George is merely q heredi-
tary moderator who may not even
express his own opinions aloud.
Forces Hand Of Lords.
Five years ago when Mr.. George
in his now famous budget, proposed
his great plan Of compulsory disabiI-
fty and sick insurance for the 1900
600 toilers Of the United Kingdom,
from the age Of sixteen to seventy,
an additional insurance against un-
employment In seven precarious
trades; q tai. of 20 per cent on any
increase IN the value Of land due to I
the action or expenditure of the
community: a tax of 10 per cent on
the increased values falling to a
landowner on the renewal Of an ex-
pired lease: tax Of about one-fifth
of per cent on the value Of vacant
land within a building area and
various other taxes. including a su-
per tax Of more than / per cent on
incomes of more than $5,o00 900 a
year, and a distinction between in
and income derived from in
vestment-when this sweeping meas
ure appeared. 1t was at first de-
nounced and rejected by the house
of lords. but finally forced on the
statute book.
That terrific battle. in which the
chancellor was the central figure.
resulted in a bill which, after two
general elections, the lords were
compelled to accept. providing that
when the house Of commons passed
a bill three times in successive ses-
sions 1t should become a law, on
the assent Of the King. notwith-
standing its rejection by the house
Of lords.
Staggering Increase Of Income.
1t was predicted that Mr.. Georges
plan, coming on the heels Of the
radical old age pensions law, would
produce national disaster and result
in a deficit
force for five years, and 30 sue
ccssful hss been the financial
policy of the social dreamer-a
dreamer whose only business ex-
perience was got as . small town
lawyer and in two years service
as president of the Board of Trade
that without the Imposition of .
sirpgIe new tax the national In
come has been Increased In that
n - g.
of s2ss, s,OOO,OcO.
And never was British prosperity
SO great as now.
The incomes on which taxes are
collected in the United Kingdom
have risen in volume many hundreds
Of millions Of dollars.
For instance. in the year 190e-10.
when the new budget with its insur-
ance scheme and additional taxes
went into effect the grand total of
incomes subject to taxation amount
ed to s5.o55. sol. rs.
Instead Of decreasing. these in
comes have swelled In the year 1913
"A to S5.750. .00O. 600. a year gain Of
nearly s7.0Oo.0O0 a year.
Not only that, but the total OF in
dustrial wages which are untaNed
has amounted to S4,pWp,Ue, an
enormous gain.
During the five years of this budg-
cts operation the nation has paid
of s505, 900, 900 of debts, the great
est debt payment ever made in
British history.
Daring National Finance.
The yield of the income tax in
1909 was SOO, 10000. Under the new
budget it has risen to So, 900 in
1913, and this year 1t has reached
s236, ooo, 900.
This extraordinary success in dsr-
Ing national finances by a man
cursed from one end Of the country
to the other as a wild and imprac-
teal demagogue. who would de-
stroy business confidence and wreck
the affairs of the nation, has con-
founded his enemies.
Nothing like it has been seen be-
fore.
Business confidence has increased
by leaps and bounds.
The amount OF capital subscribed In
Great Britain for governmental and
private securities alone shows the
financial condition of the country.
rhe following figures represent the
Investment sums tho