The second reading of the Budget Bill came off on
Thurs- day, Mr. Childers criticising the proposals of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach in a very vigorous and temperate speech, in which he showed conclusively that the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for so much of the deficit as he refuses to raise by the beer and spirit-duty accompanied by a corre- sponding increase of the wine-duty. Mr. Gladstone, who, through hoarseness, is unable to speak in the House, wrote a letter on the subject to Mr. Childers, which was published on Friday, and which not only gives Mr. Childers strong support, but comments on the " warning " which the financial ex- perience of the Session conveys "to parties too eager in opposition." "In the debate of June 8th," he said, "we warned the Opposition, but in vain, that the motion aimed at us would strike a blow at indirect taxation. The result has been accomplished without delay ; the whole of the new taxation proposed by the Tory Government is to be supplied by property, and the future force of this precedent supplied by a Tory Government will not be inconsiderable." Mr. Childers, in his speech, showed conclusively that the duty on both spirits and beer admitted of a considerably larger increase than even he himself would have thought it prudent to propose, and that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach is quite mistaken in saying that the limits of indirect taxation, even in such times as these, had been reached.
