The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-29 00:00:00

supported the change from indirect to direct taxation had
been amongst the loudest in denouncing this hiesease.
(Cheers.) The hon. member for Cocktrmouth given
notice of a motion to render the tax less unequal in its
operation, and the right hon. member for Portsmouth had
complained of its inequali ye but had not shown in what
way it could be altered for the better. It bad been pro-
posee in its present shape by Mr. Pitt, an d was reimposede
on the same principle by the riht hon. baronet, and h
g
doubted whether by any change that could be suggested
inequality and injustice would be altogether obviated. Then
with regard to the suggestion for providing for the defi-
ciency by extending the legacy duty to real property, and
others which had been made, there was probably muck
to be said on the other side. lie, however, gave uo
Al he would say was that these questions were not
so simple as at first sight they appeared to be, and could only
be dealt with after mature inquiry, and upon the principle
—which he admitted tube the correct one—thattexca should
press iu equal proportion upon all classes. Thin, however,
could not be done in dealing with any one particular tax.
But whatever might lie the opinion in this respect, there
could be no doubt that there was a universal enneerrence in
the objection to the proposed increase of two per cent. in the
income tax. (L out cheering.) He still thought that pro-
posal was one which it would have been far
the ultimate benefit of the country to have sup-
ported ; but on the part of the government ho must say
that if there wee anyone eubject on which the eepresentatives
had a right to direct the government mere than another it
was that of taxation. (Hear.) And (said the r:ght hon. gentle-
man) with that f cling it is that I now announce on the
part of her Majesty's govern.ncnt that they will not ;trees
those resolutions which apply to an addition of the income
tax. (Laughter, and much cheering.) I repeat that Ido
so not wiehout regret, for I think that in the present cir-
cumstances of the coutitry a full exchequer is an important
matter, and I am very sorry to have to draw upon those
halences which arc high at present, and which, on a recent
caxesion, afforded us the means of instantly relieving the
distress of Ireland. (Hear, hear.) Nevertheless Ido not
think it would be wise on the part of any government to at-
tempt to force on an unwilling Wane of Commune an un-
popular tax. (Hear, hear.) The eight bon. gentleman
added thet he proposed the charges for the Katfir war and
the naval excess should be defrayed out of the Exchequer
balances of the present year. This would reduce the ex-
penditere for the next year by 1,321,009/., and leave, sup-
posing the continuance of the present income tax, a defi-
ciency of between one-and a-half and two millions. No
doubt the balances in the Exchequer were high at the
present time—higher, in fact, than in any previous year.
If they were to rely upon high balances in periods ot ad-
versity, they might be enetiled to keep up the ordinary
average of the revenue. So that in the course of three or
four years the revenue and expenditure would be equal.
But, then, that could not be, unless the house consented
to
rent w the income tax in its present shape for three years.
Within that period such an improvement inieht be effected
in the revenue, and such reduction made in the expenditure
as might bring them to a point el equality, although forced
to call upon the belances this year. He did not pledge his-
self or tine government to this count—he men ly said it was
the course which they might ultimately pursue—leaving it
open to them to prope.e instead such an muou.nt of
taxation, in another shape, as would balance the
minima of expenditure of the year. He could not
bo fairly expected to state the preche intention of I
the government on the subject, further than that they
abandoned any increase of the income tax, and called upon
the house to renew it for three years. He regretted that the
opinion of the house had led to this ennclueioo. lie be-
lieved it would have beea more advantageous that an in-
ert's-el burden should have been submitted to for a while ;
at the same time that he also believed that they might, either
by reductions or by increased taxation in some other way,
ultimately equalise the income and expenditure. The rieht
hon. gentleman concluded by moving the order of the day
f going into a cemrnitt ce of ways and means, for the pur-
pose of moving a resolution to continue the income tax for
three years. (Cheers.)
Mr. HUME regarded the right hon. gentleman's plan,
excepting the withdrawal of the 2 per cent. income tax, es
nothing more than a restatement of that of the noble had.
The right hon. gentleman proposed no ineteilication of that
e,x, no change of any kind, that could render it more
palataele, while he admitted that it wes both unequal ane
unjust in its operation, and that it had been adopted by that. ,
!muse on condition of being only temporary. He (Mr.
Hume) hoped the, house would not consent to its renewal at
all, particularly after hearing treat the right hon. gentleman
and the noble lord that they would not meddle with the
military or naval forces of the country. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. B. OSBORNE likewise °pm's el it. It was not, he
stud, so much the additional two per cent. that the indus-
trious classes objected to, as the principle of an income tax.
In hie estimation and in eh. ire it was miens, iniquitous, and
unjust ; and, considering that the house had been eutrepied
into its adoption for a temporary period only, by the right
hon. baronet the member for lantworth, he thought that
the present Chancellor ..f the Exchequer 'hewed a miserable
poverty of invention in having no liethr proposal to make
than its coin inuanee.
Mr. CARDWELL eaid that 03 the noble lord had
granted a reasonable period of lime fir considering his pro-
',mama, he hoped the right hon. gentleman would not ob-
ject to follow the noble loves example, as his proposition
defend from the noble lord's in some important respects.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER felt the
free of the hon. centlemee's appeal, eitel consented to post-
pone the coesideretion of the questien to Friday next.
(Ilear, hear.)
Mr. GLADSTONE rejoiced that the right hon. gentleman
had done ren particularly as he had not clearly understand
that they had before them yet the budget for the year. The
right boo. gentleman he belie red spoke of providieg for the
1,500.0001. out of the balences in the Exchequer, and the
vote f r the Kaffir war and nasal exeess iike man .r. But
there was e delielency of 1,500,0001., orn 2,1000,0001.,e still to
be provided for, and the right hen. gentleman did not clearly
explain whether he intended meeting that deficiency front
the same source, or by additional taxation, or whether he
bed cny fixed intention upon the euhjech It would be
advlsable to know what e ens, the government meant to
pursue before they came to discuss the question of renewing
the income tax. ((Hear )
The C. II AN C ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the 1,600,e0e1 first alltutel to by the right hen. gentlem
referred n account of Irish distress; and lie would find, if he
to the balance sheet of the sth Jan., that it had
been already provided lor. The 10100 to be voted on account
of the Kaffir war and the naval reeve, was 1,345,0001., and
that sum he proposeed to defray out of the balances in the
Exchequer, weed' balances amounted on the sth of
January to 8,100,0001.; mid euppoeiug the income of the
quarter to equal the expenditure, those balances would iu that
c bo reduced on the sth of April to about 7,000,0001.
Then came the question of the right hon. gentleman which
referred to the ordinary income and expenditure of the year,
commencing s:h April, ISIS, end ensang sth April, 184,9;
and to the deficiency nu tee . rdinary revenue of the present
year, which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) bud stated
would probably amount to 1,500,0001. et* 2,000,0001. Ito-
exci
out otthiatti;el4e
lanhaced,sianidolehatlieth,wq.uts,liesasnieefit,oateleifneatyhaitt
ewe, no additional taxation would be required. Looking to
the distressed state of the country, and w the circumstance
that such a sum might be drawn from those balances without
diminishing them to an inconvenient extent, he thought
the such a course was possible; but he said also, that it
seas a coarse which he was very unwilling to adopt. He
coosidered it desirable to meintaiu full balatmes in the Ex-
chequer, and he was unwilling to reauce them ; at the
seine time he wished to let the house perceive, that if the
government should determine on that course, although one
which they did not reeneureend nor pledge themselves to
follow, they would not be reducing those balances to an in-
convenient amount ; for, oa the sth April, 1839, they were
only 497,0001., in 184,0 they were 1,000,900/., in 1841,
856.0001. is 1842, 867.0001 in 1843, 954.000 e, in 1841,
2,200,00f/1., in 184.5.6,`200,0001., in 1846,6..500,0001., in 1847,
6,400,000/. ; and if, as he had said, the Meanie equalled the
expenditure on the sth Januery lust, those balances would
be 8.400,0001., or on sth April next about 7,000,0001. Sup.
posing, then, that they deducted the present deficiency of
1,500.0001.. hese balances would amount on sth April next
to 5.500,0001.
Mr. WAKLEY thought it kind hut not wise of the right
hon. gentleman to postpone hie reeeeetion to Friday. It
weula have been uch better if he had withdrawn it alto-
gether. As foe the budget nf the eoble lord, it was a bubble '
which had alre dy bunt. Whatever there was of substance
in it was annihilated and gone. The right hon. gentleman
found that he could :teeny pay the expenses of the year
without any increase of taxateen. As he (Mr. Wakley) bed
Led on • former occasion, the whir were made ot materials
which were capable of much ecmpression. (A laugh.)
The dtelsration of the a able end not to interfere in the in-
ternal affairs of Franco would, he weir sure, Rice great sa.
tisfeetion.
Sir H. VERNEY thought that the select committee
might be productive of geed. There were Dewy meinry
departments which might be censoliduted, and many ex-
penses, which might be curtailed or done away with if pro,
perly innetieated. (Hear, he sr.)
!Mr. F. BARING did not aeree with the hon. member for
Finsbury as to the effect upon the country of the present
proposition of the government. lie tammet, on th. con-
trary, tie et the country would remise it with sincere gratifi-
cation. Upon all snejects, but Mere esoecially upon that of
taxation, the country had a right to expect treat due come-
eertitiox nd weight would be 'tom,' 1., its opie ion. (Hair,'
hear.) lie considered it not very fair, therefore, on the
pane[ these gentlemen a no deemed to represent toe populet
I mind in that boner, to be the first to taunt the govenerceut
with bringing forward a p'en and fonallieg it shortly atter,
in cootquence of the pop'ilsr outer, egotist it. (Hear,
hear.) With regard to the balances in tee Exchequer, he
thought ft perfectly fair thst ch an item as the nava ex-
I eess, which was nut an expense such
of this year, but of former
years, should be paid out of those balances, increased to its
present amount by the surplus of former years. In the very
yer of that naval excess wo placed iu the Exchequer
2,e00,0001., and it would he hard if it might not be paid bath
iu a season of distress. But he believed that money was
spent an I ream out of the Exchequer balaeces alrealy. The
some olecrvation, if correct, applied to the rep-nee of the
Eel& war. The money was spent, and weenier they voted
it or not, they could not diminish the balances in the Exche-
quer. lie was sorry that hon. gentlemen should endeavour
to ridicule the appointment of cum-Mares intendel to bring
down an expenliture which hail been annually in-
creasing, for that was • system of revenue that
could not be suffered to continue. (Hear, bear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that
his impression was that the sums to which his fight hon.
friend had referred were net included in the balances which
had ben mentioned ; and the expenses of the Cadre wee
would be met tram the commissariat chest.
Mr. COISDEN felt bound, on behalf of a large con-
stiteency, to say that he did not thiiet it peseiole for any
government t i maintain an income-tax of 3 per emit,
where the weight of to:sale.. was not upon feted pro-