Evening star., 1923-02-11
LLOYD GEORGE IN SADDLE.
opposition Chief Expected to Make
Capital Out of Ruhr.
BY Cable to The Star and New York Tribune.
CoDyrigbt 1922


By Cable to The Star and New York Tribune,
Copyright 1923.
LONDON, February 10.-Parliam ent
Will meet Tuesday with the usual
scenes OF pomp and pageantry which
always attend the stated opening of
that body. Very soon after the state
robes and gilded coaches have been
put away for the next formal occa-
sion, however, Great Britain's legis-
lators will settle down to what is
confidently expected to prove a very
interesting session.
Ihe immediate concern of the mem
bers of parliament will. of course.
be the foreign policy. 1t is antici-
pated that in the debate on the ad-
dress from the throne the govern
ment will be pressed for a state
ment of its policy in regard to the
Ruhr situation, and there is certain
to arise demand for the withdrawal
OF the British troops from Germany.
m opportunity for Lloyd George. in
particular to take a stand on the
most important question that has
arisen since he has been on the on
the tenor of the former premier's
newspaper articles. 1t seems inevita-
bic that he will challenge the ad-
ministration at once. Should he
enunciate a demand for Great Brit
aims definite dissertation of herself
from the French policy, he would
havo the support not only of most
liberal and labor members, but prob
ably a considerable number of the
unionists as well, thus confronting
Bonar Law with a considerable bloc.
Reference to near eastern affairs
will depend largely on the events of
the next few days, but the Kings
speech is certain to contain some
mention of that particular question.
The governments program of legis-
lation for the coming session is
very moderate one, dealing chiefly
with rent restriction and housing. the
policy of agricultural credits and ad-
ninistrative economies.
Although tho next budget is two
months off. the question Of finance
will be a dominant one. The funding
OF the American debt. while it greatly
reduces the theoretical British pay
ments. nevertheless calls for an ap-
preparation of approximately 10000
900 moro than in the current year,
when only installments were paid.
Tho cost of maintaining troops and
varships in the near east has also
been heavy. and the chancellor of the
exchequer recently pointed out that
in periods of prolonged trade depres-
sion revenue has tendency to
shrink. Notwithstanding all this.
there is an imperative demand from
the country for lower taxation, espe-
cial1y for the beer duty. Organized
industry is pressing for another shil-
ling of the income tax. making the
basic rate shillings in a pound, or 20
per cent.
The only practicable way to bring
this about would be in capitalizine
the cost OF war pensions, which
hitherto has been betrayed out Of the
current taxation and which this year
will amount to s0.ooo.0o0 pounds. It
10 claimed that raising half that
amount by way Of a loan would per-
NIT the desired tax reduction and
SpIed0 Iuc Shdi 80 ONCE lOHS terms of
years.
The governments recent request of
the channel islands to contribute to
the imperial exchequer, even though
it would be only 100000 pounds an
nually, shows that no possible sources
Of revenue are being overlooked.
Coincident with the reports from
America that bootleggers are being
taxed on their profits. there is an
unofficial suggestion here that taxes
on horse racing bets. even though
bets are Illegal, total an enormous
figure.
The labor party will concentrate
next session on opposing any cur
tailment in state rent restriction,
and on the housing and unempIoy-
ment relief schemes. while both Lloyd |
George and the Asquithian liberals
expect to attack the anti-dumping
iegisiation now on the books. which |
they claim amounts virtually to q
protective tariff