The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-22 00:00:00

TILE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE,

Mr. Dltil.cl:l.l wished to put an inquiry to her Ma-
jesty's government respecting the course of public business,
which had lately been somewhat perplexing to hon. gentle-
men on that side of the house. About ten days ago the
Chancellor of the Exchequer bad laid some very important
resolutions on the table of the house respecting the comma-
'tation of the interest on the South Sza Annuities and on
other annuities of a much larger amount. Those resole- I
tinny were not put iuto the hands of hon. members
until five o'clock nn the slay en whi• h they were
movtd; and he (Mr. Disraeli) had understood at the
time that a subsequent day would he appointed to consider
them. Alter they hat been moved, a somewhat desultory
conversation took place ; and at about 10 o'clock he had
risen to ask the right hon. gentleman to name a day nn
which those resolutions should be taken. The noble lard,
he thnuaht, in a somewhat captious spirit—though consi-
dering the uniform courtesy with which the noble lord con-
ducted the business of the house, that must hare been unlit-

tentional—found great fault that any debate bad taken
place at all. and would not agree to • period being fixed
for the discussion of the resolutions. He (Mr. Disraeli) was
inclined to oppose the goternment on that point, but feel-
ing a sincere desire to facilitate the task of the noble lord,
and knowing how burdensome it was for any one in the
noble lord's position to carry on the public business, he had
not done so. There was a eery formal declaration, how-
ever, that in agreeing to the resolutions HI/ were
not to be precluded, when the bill came before them,
from discussing one of the most important ques-
tions of finance which bad lately been introduced. Bat
to his great surprise, he found that on the night of the
budget, after the very able and lengthened statement
of the right hon. gentleman which did not terminate until
half-past tea, and when it wits impossible to enter into the
consideration of the bill for the commutation of the interest
iof the South Sea and other Annuities—to his great ear-
prise, after he and many of kis friends had left the house,
that bill was read a second time without any discussion
helots heard upon it. He did not mean to say that this
wee intentional on the part of the government. There must
have been some misapprehension: but yet he did not think
that the house had been very fairly treated. In this state
of things he wished to ask the right hon. gentleman whether
he still intended to ask the house to go into committee on
the bill ? Ile trusted the right hon. gentleman did
not. Hear, hear.) There was also another ques-
tion on which he wished there were a 'le r understanding.
There was on that side an anxious desire to assist the
government, but the noble lord must be aware that that
feeling could only continue so long as he manifested towards
them the utmost frankness and candour in return. (Hear,
hear) Now he (Mr. Disraeli) had asked the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to name the day on which the resolutions
founded up m his budget would really come on for discus.
lion, and the right hon. gentleman filed Monday, stating
I that he intended to take the property and intern? tax
first ; secondly, the legacy duty ; and thirdly, the customs

duties.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—No, no!
the spirit duties.
Mr. DISRAELI—WeII, that was not material; tut he
found by the resolutions which had been placei in their
hands, they were to consider the customs first, and secondly
the excise.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Oh, no!
Mr. DISRAELI—At all events it justified his appealing
to the right hon. gentleman so let them know what
gement.' he had made. (Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged to
assure the right hon. gentleman that he had not the smallest
intention of altering the order he had announced—namely,
to proceed first to discuss the income tax, next the legacy
duty, and then, if it should be agreeable to the house, to
take any substantial debate on the spirit duties. He did
not know how the order of theleeolutions had come to be

tchanged in printing, bat here Waine;;;b;;;;;;intentini
to take them in any different manner. (Hear, hear.) With
respect to the South Sea and other Annuities Commutation
Bill there had really been no desire to mislead or disappoint
hon. gentlemen who might have wished to harehad inoppor-
tunity for its discussion. In a cue like this expedition
was of very peculiar importance, but still that expedition
would be purchased too dearly at the expense of depriving
any member of that house of an opportunity of discussing a
measure 0, that sort. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman
however, was in error in supposing that any pledge had been
given as to the particular stage at which the debate should
take place. The bill stood on the paper for Monday night,
and the government seeing the right hon. gentleman and hie
friends were absent, had naturally supposed that they did
not wish to take the discussion on the second reading, as
they would have • full opportunity of debating it on the
question that the Speaker should leave the chair before
going into committee. (Hear.) As the right him. gentle-
man would rather not proceed with the bill that evening, no
time nee I be wasted, as his bon. friend (Mr. Wilson) had an
important statement to make with 'respect to the customs,
and there was also the Pilotage Bill. He should, therefore,
merely propose that they should now go into committee pro
forma, with a view to introduce some amendments which
-had been suggested by the solicitors for the Bank and
the South Sea Company, and that they should go on with the
bill the first thing to-morrow (this) night. The first of these
alterations that was net • merely formal one, was to give
power to the Court of Chancery in express terms to direct
the Aceountant-Genetal with respect to the exercise of his
discretion. He proposed, also, to insert the express words
which were to be found in every loon bill, exempting the
dividends from taxes and charges. Thirdly, he proposed,
in order to meet the apprehension which had been ex-
pressed that danger to life and limb might be incurred in
the rush which was expected at the bank to secure the prio-
rity of redemption. to insert a provision that all parties whe
should enter their names at the Bank of England or the
Bank of Ireland on the day in question, should'. share the
amount amongst them, rateably and in proportion to the
amount of their respective stocks. (Hear, hear.) The
bill, with these amendments, would be delivered to-marrow
morning.
In answer to Sir F. KELLY,
The SPEAKER aaid that the bill would have to be re-
committed, and that the discussion might be takes upon
the motion that he leave the chair.

Mr. DISRAELI had understood th►t persons whose in-
comes were between 100/. and 150/. a year should be rated
at 5d., but he did not observe that stated in the resolutions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had con-
sulted the highest authorities on the subject ; and it was
considered that the proper course would be to follow the
precedent of the act of 1842, namely, to make the tax first
cover all incomes, and then to exempt by clauses in the bill
all incomes under 1001. a year, and partially all income, be-
tween 100/. and 150/. a year. (Hear, hear.)
THE DOCKYARD INQUIRY.

Sir B. HALL had expressed a hope that the committee
for which he bad moved on Tuesday evening on this sub-
ject would be appointed by the Committee of Selection;
but finding that that was considered objectionable, he had
agreed with the bun. gentleman (Mr. Stafford) upon a list
of names, which would be submitted to the house to-
morrow.
SOUTH SEA AND OTHER ANNUITIES COMMU-