The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-18 00:00:00

more heavily taxed than Great Britain, but the most heavily
taxed country on earth.
Mr. BANKES would resist the extension of the house
tax to Ireland. lie was satisfied that no difficulty
existed in changing the duty on windows to a house duty,
and that to the advantage of the occupiers of houses.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. MITCHELL had last year expressed the opinion
that the remission of the timber duties would give nn im-
petus to our ship-building trade. lie had the greatest con-
fidence in repeating his belief that the remission of these
duties would prove of great advantage to this country, and
would give employment to one of the most valuable classes
of our labourers—the shipwrights, with whom machinery
did not interfere.

Colonel SIB f HORP, after his experience of twenty-four
rears in parliament, had heard many statements made by
Chancellors of the Exchequer, and he had said that
although an angel from heaven came down —(laughter)—
he could not please all parties with a financial statement.
(Continued laughter.) He (Colonel Sibthorp) begged
however to say, that in his humble judgment ho
had never heard a more weak statement than what
had been made that evening by his right honour-
able friend, and he might add his most respected
relative—(laughter)—the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer in trying to plea's, esury-
body would plea.se nobody. The government had in Let
set a most unworthy trap on purpose to catch this honour-
able members who represented the rider kingdom, and
without whom they knew they could not do. Therefore it
was that they proposed to continue the income tax in Eng-
land, but nut to extend it to Ireland. lie did not blares
the government, fur they had set many traps and spring
guns to catch anything they could get. Ile only trusted
that the Irish members would not he deceived by the
trickery of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and become
subservient to his will.

Mr. MU NTZ also thought that the government in trying
to please everybody would please nobody. If they had en-
tirely repealed some oppressive and obnoxious tax they
would at least have given satisfaction to somebody ; but they
had taken away the whole of the grace from their co tees-
sion of the window tax by their substitution in its place of a
house tax. (Cheers.) They were also continuing another
tux which was one of the worst that could be imposed—the
property tax. But he (Mr. Mums) had risen more parti-
cularly to ask the right hon. baronet to explain how he pro-
posed to levy the tax on warehouses and similar premises,
a thing which persons who used manufactories would be
very anxious to know. (Rear, hear.)

Mr. W. BROWN observed that it was impossible for a
country not to have some suffering branches within it.
When buckles and hair powder went out of fashion, the
buckle makers and hairdressers bad to endure great depres-
sion for a time. . . . . .

Mr. SA.NDARS had heard the statement of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer with feelings of mingled satisfac-
tion and regret—satisfaction at the large amount of surplus,
and regret that hr had not announced the repeal of more
taxes. lie trusted that the right lion. baronet would have
a still larger surplus next year, and then he hoped he would
turn his attention to the 10 per cent. which had been added
some years ago to the assessed taxes, and the 6 per cent.
which had been added to the customs and excise, in order
to meet a deficiency. (Hear.) lie hoped, too, that he
would abolish the tax on receipt stamps, which wets an ex-
ceedingly objectionable one, and one which was commonly
evaded in the country, where, generally speaking, if
you asked a tradesman for a stamped receipt, he
would think that you doubted his honour. The
insurance duties, also acted prejudicially, inasmuch
as they caused business to be transferred to foreign offices.
Mr. If. J. B. HOPE appealed to the house on behalf of
the hop growers, more particularly of Kent and Sussex,
who were absolutely and positively undone by the heavy
tax upon them.
After a few words from Mr. ANSTEV.

HENLEY wished inesliitheChaneellor of the Ex-
chequer whether he proposed that the 150,990/. towards the
maintenance of pauper lunatics should be distributed be-
tween England, Ireland, and Scotland ? Ile also &sired to
know on what principle houses which should hereafter be
built were to he valued ? if he understood the matter
rightly, farmhouses and trade buildings, which were under
201. in value, were to be wholly exempt from payment. He
also wished to be informed whether farmhouses above 20/. a
year were to be taxed at the rite of 9d. in the pound?
Lastly, he would like to know whether the right
honourable gentleman proposed to renew the income tax fur
three years without any alteration or modification u re-
garded the landed interest ? As to their looking fur relief
in the general prosperity of the country, hon. gentlemen
who made that their cuckoo note appeared to him to be in
this prestirament they must either admit that the state-
ment of general prosperity was not well founded, or they
must allow that the condition of the agriculturists was in
the inverse ratio. (Hear, hear.) How they were to find
consolation in that he did nut know.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
would take that opportunity of replying to two or three
hon. gentlemen who had spoken. 't he hon. member for
Birmingham had asked him whether he proposed to lay a
house duty on warehouses and manufactorim He would
have thought that when he was reducing the duty upon
dwelling-houses, in respect to windows, nu apprehen-
sion could arise that he intended to impose a
tax upon warehouses. (Hear, hear.) Both the window
duty and the old house duty applied exclusively to dwell-
ing-houses; and while his proposition had reference to
houses in respect to these windows, what he proposed was
to alter the mode of levying the duty, and to take away all
reference to windows. With regard to the question which
had been put to him, upon what principle he proposed to
levy the poundage, he would observe that be pro-
hosed to adopt the principle of the old inhabited
ouse duty. As long as the income tax existed that
would afford the readiest means of irceet: • tit the
value; but supposing that tax not to be renewed,
the softie must be ascertained in the same manner as it was
for the purpose of raising the old inhabited house duty. As
to existing farm houses, those which were nut of the annual

„ „..-.
value of 2UL a year, would be altogether exempt ; those
above that value would pay two-thirds of what they pay at
present. A new house would pay a poundage upon its
annual value. lle proposed that the measure with respect
to the maintenance of pauper lunatics should extend to
England, Scotland, and Ireland. Without ph dging himself
to any particular distribution of the amount, he proposed to
apply a certain 'proportion to the maintenance of paupers
congaed in county asylums, and a less proportion to paupers
confined in private asylums.
Capt. HARRIS regretted that there was to be no alle-
viation of the distress of the agricultural interest.
Mr. WAKLEY said he dare say the right hon.
tHan was anxious to know what effect his proposal to levy
a home tax would produce out of doors. lle wished to ask
the right hon. gentleman if he would he kind enough to
intimate when he would receive a deputation from the inha-
bitants of the metropolis upon the subjeet—(laughter)—and
he would inform him, beforehand, that it was his firm con-
viction that the proposal would be met with so much
hostility out of doors, that he would not In able to carry it
into effect.
Mr. lIILI)YARD wished to know whether a house
which had not yet been assessed was to be demand a new
house.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in
the affirmative. In reply to the question of the hon. mem-
ber (Mr. Wakley), he could only say that, having had the
satidlietion of seeing the hon. gentleman a few days ago
with a large deputation, and having listened on the occa-
sion to 10 ur 12 gentlemen, he had certainly no wish to sec
another deputation. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN then reported program, and obtained
leave to sit again on Friday next.
PASSENGERS' ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

. —......
This bill was mad a second time and ordered to be com-
mitted on Thursday nest.
MUNICIPALCOUNCILS INCOUSTIES (IRELAND.)
On the motion of Mr. Alvirrstr leave was given to bring
in a bill fur establi►hing municipal councils in counties in
Ireland.
VALUATION OF RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRE-
LAND) BILL.
. .

Sir W. SOMERVILLE, in moving for leave to bring in
the above bill, stated that the practice of valuing the land
in Ireland for the rating had got into sad ennfusion. The
right hon. gentleman concluded by asking for leave to in-
troduce his bill.
Mr. SADLEIR regretted that such a measure had not
been brought under the consideration of parliament during
the last session, fur no subject was of more importance to
the owners and occupiers of land than that of improving
the present system of valuation.
In reply to Mr. Facies,
Sir W. SOMERVILLE explain's' that it was intended
that the old towulaud valuation should be changed under
the hill.
Mr. SCULLY thought some other court of appeal ought
to be afforded besides the central commissioner. To fin the
value for fourteen years, without giving a power of revision
annually or at some short period, would be unfair.
After a few words from Dr. rowan, the motion was
agreed to.