The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-06-01 00:00:00

Our yoaten eemspootat.

TWe deem It eldbt to state tha sro do not at all limos
identify mambo., with our Corres,oodent's opinionni

We are er p.-eting the returo of tbe Prince and
Prince, •If W,les, who will be in at heartily welcomed.
For six or seven mouths they have been withdrawn
from English society, chiefly by an illness which will
long be remembered, and which only endeared them all
the more to the heart of the nation. On arriving in
England the Prince and Princess will, it is understood,
pass a few days at Yarmouth, which will be to fête.
London will, no doubt, be favoured with their presence
during a mouth or so of the season, much to the de-
light of the town god profit of its tralesmen, who are
apt to look at such matters from a decidtklly commercial
point of view.

"There is good reason to hope that when Parliament
re asmuldes Ministers will be able to declare the
diatinet acceptance in America of the pioposal they
announced at the commencement of the holidays."
These were the words of "the leading journal,"
and its remarks were borne out by subsequent
news. A telegram from Philadelphia to the Fame
journal, alluding to the supplemental article to the
treaty, Faye, " Ratification is deemed to be secure."
Put of 111,11 G importance than these anticipations were
Mr. Gladstone's statements on the opening of Parlia-
Meat. The Premier tells us that the American Senate
has accepted the supplementary article, with "certain
a.erbal amendineuts." This is highly satisfactory news,
and as far as I understand this complicated subject, all
the arranganeets after this ratification will be matter
of detaiL Now, supposing we get rid of this difficulty,
and supposing, moreover, that the Ballot becomes the
law of the land, then—look out for a general election!
I feel persuaded that this is what we are drifting to,
and there is no general desire to avoid it. On the con-
trary, bon, members and constituents alike appear
t be anticipating it awl to hr making preparations
for it.
The individual mutterings against the Income-tax
have at last been concentrated into a conference, and
the agitation against this tax is now fairly before the
country. Having cogitatelover the proceedings of the
Anti-Imorue-tax Conference at Birminghain, I come
to the conclusion that the gentlemen composing this
conference " protest too much." There cannot
be much doubt that the Income-tax falls with
unfair heaviness on some people and with undue
liglitise,; on others. It falls very heavily on the
great mil .le class e professionzr men, the traders,
and then, ,er becron of t' r,rl!oyc.l—whose incomes
are precar: es. d-lend -ss their own exertions, and
which are always s ...e‘sed to be lessened by provision for
a rainy day; and certainly such incomes ought not to be
taxed in anything like the proportion of those incomes
which are derived without labour and anxiety, and
which moreover are not liable to be cut off by the ill-
ness of the employed, the death of an employer, the
bankruptcy of a enstomer, or by a thousand-and-one
other causes. Undoubtedly we want reform in the
Incidence and assessment of the Income-tax, but to
agitate for its total abolition is, I think, asking for
too much. This will be at once evident when we call
to mind that if tho Income-tax be abolished, we must
have others in its place, and taxes on coal, corn, ship-
ping, and machinery, have actually been proposed.
If the IL:come-tax were retained, but considerably
modified; ii wr Lad a better system of securing pay-
ment from those who ought to pay it; if the system
of appesd war, simplified, and if there were more regu-
larity ha its collection, the public on the whole would

not have much cause to grumble. We must be taxed
rather heavily, and we can bear it pretty well, pro-
vided tidy we are taxed fairly —which we certainly
are not nub r the present income-tax arrangementa.
There coo be cry little difference of opinion
en the inesti ,a whether it ti desirable to establish
Working Men's Clubs. An answer would probably
be iivC iv the aiirivatise by most persons to
t ,11 rit,,Ttt it propounded ; but then
It''-tit its, what tort of clubs

should be t:

,x Lating liquors
testions I am not
oonie tostimony

abut to el:ter ;

who has tried what

expetiment. Some

Club wae.. started in the

paridg- of St, Albano, Holborn, mainly by the I
1. 11. Stanton. The promoters
Y:l3, and draughts, and more-
remora should be allowed.
ites, "Imaginary evils
eO that were antici-
; experiment have nut
ree been rear sal." I
out wattle! some
.ly ai to cards being
Lets ILA they found
reasons, they were

pti ir

, t

.th,ott, and thought

doing the best forth
that Warl taken. 1

at, f.n. ibvi

regard to t
doubt:ill 7.

to adopt the course

ttainly nui