The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-04-08 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY—Sir. F. Smyth caged the attention of
Government to the report of the duel between the
Merrimac and Monitor. Mr. Lnyard admitted that
the timely arrival of the latter vessel saved the Federal
fleet from destruction. Lord Palmerston was, we were
glad to see, at his poet again.
TUESDAY—Mr. Ferrer, one of the members for South
Durham, called the attention of his fellow-senators toe
breach of privilege of the House, in his own person, of
which the Stockton and Middlesborough Times had
been guilty. The honourable gentleman did not wish
to bring the audacious printer before the bar of the
Commons, and the Home Secretary consolingly said the
libel was so patent that it carried its own contradiction
along with it. Mrs Heonessy's motion an the appoint-
ments to junior clerkships in the Civil Service raised
considerable discussion. Mr. H. B. Sheridan moved
for leave to bring in a Bill to reduce the ditty on lire
insurance. The Bill, he said, differed from that of last
year in that it proposed to rednce the present duty of
3s. per cent. by Is., and at the end of five years by
another Is. ; and he proceeded to show that the loss
would be eventually made up by the reproductive action
of the reduction of the duty, the high amount of which,
according to the best authorities, checked insur-
ance. He denied that the opposition to the tax was
organized by the fire assurance companies,
who had an interest in the maintenance of
the present rate of duty, for the collection of which
they received a percentage ; and competition would pre-
vent an augmentation of the rate of insurance. Ho
denounced the tax as false in principle, as well as un-
equal and unjust. It punished • man for takMg, career
his goods, without any equivalent, and left the impro-
vident and reckless man untouched—The Chancellor of
the Exchequer, in oj posing the motion, said he was not
aware of any Government having been • voluntary
party to the introduction of • Bill for the abolition of
a tax unless they were prepared to assent to such aboli-
tion. For this reason, and because it was mifichievous
to raise expectations out of doors that were not to be
fulfilled, be should ask the House to refuse leave to
introduce the Bill He pointed out the fallacy of re-
garding this particular tax as a punishment on the in-
surer, to whom, it wassaid, uotliMg was given in return.
Was a man punished for bnyiiig tea and Kew? /keel
what had he in return fer the tax upon those articles
but the protection of the law? This was • question to
be judged of like other questions of finance. No mem-
ber could vote for the motion unless he was prepared to
reduce this duty, whether there was • eurplus or not,
or, if there wave surplus, to reduce it in preference to
any other. The House should not propose to give away
anything till they had it, and when they had something
to give away they should consider claims and nice to.—
Lori Palmerston übservad that the main argument in
favour of the motion was that this tax was objection-
able ; but every tax was liable to some objection or
other. His great objection to the motion was founded
upon the time when it was brought forward. It was the
Constitutional principle that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer should have the discretion of proposing the
financial arrangements for the year, and if the House,
before the Budget was proposed, picked out a particu-
lar tax for reduction, it was impossible to tell how it
might affect those arrangements Upon a division the
motion was carried by 127 to 116—a majority of 11
against the Government.
WFDNESDAY. The report of the General Corn
mates) of Elections nominating • committee to try the
etit ion against the validity of the late election for Great
Grimsby was brought up. The chief discussion during
the sitting was on a motion by Sir E. Grogan opposing
the further progress of the Irish Marriages Bill. Th•
hon. gentleman said the measure was calculsted to un-
hinge the social life of the Green Isle. The motion
was ultimately withdrawn.

Tiltil'SDAT.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer made
his financial statement. The expenditure for the last
year Lad been estimated by him at £89,875,000; bet
subsequent to his financial statement there had been
supplementary grants to the amount of .C 1,499,000
which made the total estimated expenditure
£71,374,030. The actual expenditure of the year was
£70,838,000, or £536,000 less than the total estimated
expenditure. Compared with the year 1860-61, the
expenditure of which was £72,504,000, the decrease in
1861-62 was £1,666,000. The revenue of the past year
amounted to £69,674,000, which left • deficiency of the
revenue to meet the expenditure of £1,184,000.
Deducting this sum from the amount of the supple-
mental grants, £1,499,000, there resulted a surplus of
£335,000. Comparing the revenue of the last year
with that of 1861-62, it must be remembered that we
had pasted with three important sources of revenue,
whereby we had lost at least £2,637,000. We had like-
wise to encounter the difficulties created by the
American blockade and a deficient harvest; and, as we
must expect, our revenue was declining, though not in
an alarming manner. The expenditure for the miming
year, 1862-63, be estimated at £70,040,000, and the
revenue at £70,190,000, leaving a surplus of £150,000.
Under these circumstances, the question was—there
being so close a balance between revenue and expendi-
ture—whether any new taxes should be imposed. In
considering the causes which influenced our revenue,
they might all be expressed in one word, " Ame-
rica ;" and the main question in relation to our ex-
port trade was, whether a large portion of the popula-
tion of this country was to be supplied with the raw
material without which they would be deprived of
employment. The great extension of our trade with
France gave reason ta hope that the commercial rela-
tions between the two countries would be valuable to
us, not only in an economical view, but as • guarantee
of friendly feelings and the best security for the peace
and tranquillity of the world. The Government bad
not considered it their duty to propose the imposition
of any additional taxes, reserving to themselves the
right to consider in what mode they should meet any
emergency in the public service that might possibly
arise. As to the remission of taxation, it must be
remembered that, though no taxes were reusitted, the
burdens of the country would be lighter by £600,000 or
£700,000. Various changes in our taxation had been
demanded of the Government by different interests,
the reduction of the Duty upon Spirits, an alteration of
the Sugar Duties, the Malt Credits, the minor charges
upon Imports and Exports, the NVine Duties, and the
Duty on Hops. In Ireland there was an increase in the
year's revenue that was perfectly satisfactory. The
Government, therefore, would be in error if they
failed to maintain the Spirit Duties. With regard
to Sugar, the question was complicated; but the West
Indians were satisfied, and, like the refiners, protested
against any change. His conclusion was that, if any
change were to be made, it must be after a careful
and protracted inquiry, and the Government
would not oppose such inquiry if it
were asked for. With respect to the Malt Credits, he
must dispose of that question in the same manner.
With reference to the minor charges upon trade, lie
admitted that the charge upon Bills of Lading had a
strong claim for remission when we had • larger surplus
than £150,000. He was willing that the subject of these
minor charges should likewise undergo an impartial
inquiry. Inquiries had been incite in wine-growing
countries, and the result was that be proposed to alter
the scale of Duties. At present there were four rates;
under 18 degrees, lc ; 18 to 26,15. 9d ; 26 to 40,25. 5d.;
40 to 45, 2s. lid. He proposed to reduce the four
rates to two ; up to 28 degrees, Is. ; and from 26 to 42,
2s, 6d. Above 42 degrees be proposed • viztuall,y peo-
hibitory duty of 31, for every additional degree of
alcohol. The financial result would be a net gain of
revenue of £15,000. The cam of the Hop duty had, in
his opinion ben very much exaggerated ; but he
admitted dint there were difficulties in the trade.
Having, however, a surplus of only £150,000, he could
not part with £300,000 • year. The question arose
whether it wait not possible, with euuity to all parties
by a commutation of this duty, to set free the foreign
as well as the British trade in hope. He ',imposed, as
such commutation, to remit the Hop Duties, and to
readjust the Kele of brewers' Weems ost the Kiwi*

'of accommodating the duty to that remitted. The
brewer would derive a benefit from the rerni-sion of the
duty on hops, and be allowed 3d. per barrel drawback
on the export of his beer. He would exempt persons
ret-iding in houses under £2O rent (he subsequently
intiinated his readiness to consider this limitation)
charging 12s. fid. upon licenses fir private brewing in
houses paying a higher rent. The result of this financial
opetation would be a hiss of revenue of £40,000. The
impaession that the public expenditure was growing,
was, he said, not correct. He allowed that, in point of
fact, the expenditure had of late years been decreasing.
At the same time he admitted its amount to be such as
ought to attract serious attention. The cause was due
to the growth of the real and permanent wants of the
country ; to apprehensions as to the security of the
country, and an anxiety to make provision for it; to
the establishments and expenditure of other countries,
and to special demands. He etillrged upon these
topics, specifying the balance of taxes imposed and re-
pealed, observing, in conclusion, that we bad passed
thrdugh exceptional years, and without going into the
market for loans; and that if we hopect to effect a re-
missim of taxation it wee not to be bad except by
judiciously and gradually, but resolutely, applying to
every department of the public service the principles of
trite economy. The resolutions were agreed to, and
ordered to be reported.
FRIDAY.—As usual on Friday nieht, a great many
questions were put to Hoverangcnt on a variety of
subjects—chiefly on iron-sheathed vessels and the con-
dition of Poland.