The Washington times., 1915-05-28
HAD RIGHT TO EXPECT SUPPORT.

, carrying on the war. He reminded the
house how he had been driven from
proposal to proposal. how he had been
forced, to drop the taxes that would
have been the most effective remedy
against the drinking of spirits.
And am l to be driven back once
more?' asked Mr.. Lloyd-George. All
| that | can say he added with some
passion. 'is that If the interests Of
these two firms are allowed to stand in
war
He reminded the house of the steps
that Russia and France had taken, and
| now the interests of absinthe makers
| had been voted down In the French as
| sembly
but look at the pitiabie spectacle
business! There is always some difi-
| Guilty with some interest behind it
| he was. however, prepared to do
what he could to meet this new claim.
| the whisky distilers of Belfast, while
he could nct imagine that the country
could not supply sufficient casks to
store this whisky in bond for two years.
Carson Is Bitter.
This did not satisfy Sir Edward Car.
son. He was very bitter about the unjus
and unfair proposals of the Govern.
ment. He professed of course, to be a.
eager as any man to abate the evil ol
drinking and declared that he woulc
not object SO much to seeing whisky
prohibited altogether during the war
But (shade of Captain Cra.g) If thi!
proposal were pasSed the two firms
which were the pillars and pride Of
| Belfast, would not be able to sell any o.
their raw whisky for two years. Horribl,
thought! Sir Edward did not attemp
to suggest that this whisky was not raw
and immature, or to defend Its sale ir
the munitions area. The one point thai
| was present to his mind was that the
interests of Belfast would suffer. Mr.
Lloyd George then made another offer
to refer the claim of these two flrmi
Tor compensation to the commission ap
pointed to award compensation to brew
ing firms in the munitions areas. Thi!
seemed fair and generous, but it did no
satisfy Sir Edward Carson. He contin
ued TO protest: These firms would b'
ruined, their business would go L
others. and they would never regain II
II was not case for compensation
This came perilously near to a decree
supported by the front opposition
bench that this raw spirit. the produc
! OF Belfast. must be forced down tn,
throat of the country at all costs.
Lloyd George Amazed.
"Mr. Lloyd Georges face was a study
He looked amazed and angry. But he
kept his temper. Mr.. Bonar Law, who
supported or fuWaru carson 3 brief FOL
the whisky distilers of Belfast, was
evidently a little ashamed of the par
ne felt bound to play. He blamed tn.
government for running from pillar tt
post in the matter, without arriving a.
an agreement acceptable TO the trade
he suggested surtaX on immature
whisky for the first year. and afteI
That was willing that the government.
proposal should be brought into effect
lie was angry with Mr.. Lloyd Georg,
for compelling him to make speeches o.
the kind that placed the opposition in
position that might be misunderstood.
| Mr. Lloyd George pointed out tina
this proposal would not do. His objec
was to prevent the sale of such spirits
and this could only be done by higf
surtaX. which would prevent it from
being sold. a small tax would be O.
no use. A surtaX which enables then
to sell this stuff is what l want tt
avoid he said. He pointed to the ex
ample of the brewers. They had con
sented to the government controllint
the supply of liquor in the munitions
areas. and were content to submit thei
claims for compensation to the com
mission. Could not these whisky distil
lers be as reasonable and patriotic
Finally. Sir Edward Carson. who begaI
to see that he had the general opinion
or the house against him, In spite o
the support of the front opposition
bench. climbed down a little. lie wa
ready to consider the idea of compen
sation. but as he wanted to know NOR,
about 1t. suggested that the discussion
should be adjourned. Mr.. Lloyd Georg,
VIII thus. no doubt, get his way at
price. 1t seems that the taxpayer will
have to pay heavily to preserve th
party truce in the house of commons ol
the liquor question"