Quite unintentionally, of course, Mr. BOTTOMLEY did the Government a
real service in the Commons. Every day since his return from Paris Mr.
BONAR LAW has been pestered with inquiries as to when, if ever, the
House was to be allowed to discuss the Peace terms, and has evaded
a direct answer with more or less ingenuity. This afternoon Mr.
BOTTOMLEY, after hearing that the LEADER OF THE HOUSE had "nothing to
add" to his previous replies, asked if he was right in supposing that,
when the Treaty came up for ratification, the House must take it or
leave it, and would have no power to amend it in any respect. Mr. LAW
joyfully jumped at the chance of ending the daily catechism once for
all. "That," he said, "exactly represents the position, and I do not
see in what other way any Treaty could ever be arranged."
In anticipation of the debate on the Finance Bill Mr. SYDNEY ARNOLD
sought an admission from the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER that the
income-tax on small incomes was hardly worth retaining, owing to the
cost of collection. Not at all, said Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. It costs six
hundred thousand pounds and brings in eight million. Of course, he
added, it costs more proportionately to collect small amounts than
large. If the whole of the income-tax could be paid by one individual
the cost of collection would be _nil_. One imagined the CHANCELLOR
on the eve of the Budget wishing, _à la_ NERO, that the whole of the
British people had but one purse, into which he could dip as deeply
and as often as he pleased.
The debate on the Finance Bill was largely devoted to the proposed
"levy on capital," which a section of the "Wee Frees," who already
display fissiparous tendencies, have borrowed from the Labourites.
After their amendment was framed, however, Mr. ASQUITH spoke at
Newcastle, and ostentatiously refused to say a word about the new
nostrum. Sir DONALD MACLEAN, anxious to avoid displeasing either
his old leader or his new supporters, contented himself with the
suggestion that a Commission should be set up to consider the subject.
The CHANCELLOR had little difficulty in disposing of the amendment.
He might, indeed, have contented himself with quoting the War Bond
advertisements, which daily inform us that the patriotic investor
"will receive the whole of his money back with a substantial premium."
The Preference proposals which Mr. ACLAND had described as bred "by
Filial Piety out of the Board of Trade" received the unexpected aid of
Sir ALFRED MOND, who disposed of his Cobdenite prejudices as easily as
the conjurer swallows his gloves, and unblushingly asserted that the
tiny Preference now proposed, far from being the advance-guard of
Protection, was in reality a very strong movement towards Free Trade.
Comforted by this authoritative declaration Coalition Liberals helped
the Government to defeat the amendment by 317 to 72.
_Wednesday, May 21st._--The Peers being as usual rather short of work
at this period of the Session, the LORD CHANCELLOR introduced a Bill
"to enable the Official Solicitor for the time being to exercise
powers and duties conferred on the person holding the office of
Official Solicitor."
The rumours that have lately appeared in the papers, to the effect
that the FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS was contemplating revolutionary
alterations at Hampton Court--in particular that he was going to
transform the famous pond-garden into something quite different: a
MOND-garden, in fact--are, it seems, grossly exaggerated. All that he
has done is to appoint a Committee of experts to advise him what, if
any, changes are desirable.
The resumed debate on the Finance Bill was enlivened by some personal
details. By way of showing that even without a levy on capital the
rich man bears his share of the burdens of the State, Sir EDWARD
CARSON remarked that, when he receives a retainer, he immediately
allows for the super-tax and enters it in his fee-book at only
half the amount. He had had one that very morning. "Say it was five
pounds"--and the House laughed loudly at such an absurd supposition.
Then we had Lord HUGH CECIL pointing his argument that the importance
of the proposed Preference to the Dominions was political rather than
economical by the remark that if he was going to be married--which he
fervently hoped would not happen to him--he would expect his mythical
bride to value his engagement-ring less for its pecuniary than its
sentimental value.
A capital speech by Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN, one of the few men in the
House who talks finance as if he really understood it, wound up the
debate, and procured the Finance Bill a second reading _nem. con._
_Thursday, May 22nd._--The Ministry of Health Bill came up for third
reading in the Lords. An eleventh-hour attempt by the Government
to provide the new Minister with an additional Under-Secretary was
heavily defeated, Lord DOWNHAM being appropriately enough one of the
Tellers for the Opposition.
The Commons heard some good news. Mr. KENDALL'S pathetic story of an
angling-party which, after walking five miles along a dusty road to
its favourite hostelry, found it adorned with the now too frequent
notice, "Closed--No Beer," brought a most sympathetic reply from Mr.
GEORGE ROBERTS, who boldly confessed, "I am a believer in good beer
myself," and later on announced that the Government had decided to
increase the output from twenty million to twenty-six million standard
barrels.
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[Illustration: _Geordie (after intently watching conductor of Jazz
band for some time)._ "AH'VE HAD ENOUGH O' THIS. YON CHAP WI' STICK'S
ONLY CODDIN'. HE'S NOT HIT ONE OF 'EM SINCE WE CAAME IN."]
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[Illustration: _Farmer._ "WELL, I BE MAIN GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK FROM
THE WAR. I SUPPOSE YOU'LL BE THINKING OF TAKING TO WORK NOW?"]
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