Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-30
OPPOSED TO EXTRA
DUTIES ONL|QU0R
Division in Parliament on This
Question Is First Since
Outbreak of War.
PLAN OF LLOYD GEORGE
Generally Believed That New
Taxes Will Have to Be Moder-
ated Before Accepted.
PLAN OF LLOYD GEORGE


LONDON. April 29.-Rcsolutions in
troduccd in the House OF Commons to-
day by David Lloyd George. Chancellor
of the Exchequer. to double the duty
on spirits. quadruple the duties on
wines, and to institute an increase by
graduated tax on beer, to encourage
the use OF lighter beers. were strongly
opposed. and II is generally believed
that the new taxes will have to be
moderated before Parliament will ac-
ccpt them.
Tho OBrienitcs, as a protest against
an additional taxation on Irish whis-
kies and beers, brought about the first
division in the house since the out
break of the war by voting against
the provisional resolutions, which
bring the taxes into force at
once, so as to prevent spirits being
taken out Of bond while Parliament Is
dealing with the resolutions.
The resolution relating TO spirits
was passed by vote of SO to 5, the
minority being composed Of O'Brien-
ties. The Nationalists also protested
against the measure. but did not vote
until all the facts could be placed be-
fore them. also abstained from voting
The provisional resolutions imposing
tax on beer and wine also were passed
the Unionists abstaining from voting
and tho O'Brienites opposing the beer
tax. The new taxes come into force
Immediately. but are subject to con-
frmation by the house when the
budget Is passed.
Usually these provisional resolutions
are carried without division, for,
should Parliament refuse TO sanction
the taxes. they are refunded to those
who may have paid.
LABORITEs TO ANSWER
CHARGE ABOUT woRKMEN
The Laborites promised to reply to
the chancellor's charges that a minor
ity OF the workmen. lured away by
drink, were not putting their hest into
the work Of producing war material.
The extra taxes will be included in
the budget which Chancellor Lloyd
George will Introduce ir the House OF
Commons OH Tuesday, and the BILL
which is an amendment to the defense
OF tho realm act, Will be postponed
for the second reading at a later date
when the debate on 1t will take place
Before that time, the chancellor has
promised to place in the hands OF the
members series of reports of indie
pendent Investigators on whose find
ngs the government decided to take
the action 1t has.
Besides the Irish opposition to the
spirit duties, many members oppose the
new wine taxes on the ground that
these strike at France, Australia and
South Africa. The proposed appoint
ment of n board OF control, and the
proposal to take over for cantcen pur-
poses the saloons in the munitions of
war areas. and to compensate all in
terests. are generally approved by the
members.
Under the resolutions, in areas pro-
ducing war materials or In which
transport work is performed, and In
some camp areas, the government
would have complete control of the
sale OF drink
The chancellor estimated that the
double duty on spirits would yield the
same total as heretofore, allowing for
decreased consumption.
Beer would bring In FL 100000 (ss,-
ooo,ooo) extra. and wines fl.5oo, 900
ts7,5oo,oo extra In the camp areas
the government would have power for
the period OF tho war to close any
saloon considered Injurious Compen-
sation would be paid to all those whose
property was appropriated.
TIME LOST EQUIVALENT
TO WORK OF 10000 MEN
Lloyd George dealt at length on
the loss OF time due to drink, showing
that in some cases men were doing
fewer hours than in ordinary peace
times. The time lost by drinking, the
chancellor says. was equivalent to the
services of 10000 men.
In introducing his plan, the chan
cellor said he was not proposing n
solution Of the temperance question.
but only an act of discipline during
the war.
Lloyd George said that the govern
ment had said 1t would not justify in
stitutinG prohibition until It had tried
everything else. 1t would be too
serious an Interference with the habits
of the people.
John Redmond. leader of the inde-
chancellor's proposals as prejudicial
to 1reland's trade.
Mr.. O'Brien declared the chancellor
was killing the trade of Ireland by
increases. If he succeeded in his new
tax. the results would be as horrible
for Cork as If that city were bonn
barded and sacked by the Germans
The only Just and logical course was to
exclude Ireland altogether from OPERA
tion of the plan, ne said