The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-25 00:00:00

THE INCOME TAI.

Lad evening evening a large and respectable meeting, pre-
sided over by Aldermssa the I. Doge, ALP., wan held at
the London 'ravers, for the purpose of promoting the ob-
jests of an assootation which has been formed with a view to
procure the immediate repeal of the act by which the income
tax was raised to Is. 4d. in the pound, and to bring about a
more equitable adjustment of its assessment.
Dues, in taking the chair, said he had always
been careful to insist aa the distinction between a property
and an income tan. Against such a distinction he had inert
heard a wcrd of argument. except the diffnlty it would
entail; bat only let the tepreentatives of the people declare
that the thing must be done, and ministers would soon and
out a way. (Chews.)
Alderman SIDNEY. .P., moved &resolution to the effect
that the present charge of 16d. in the pound held on
themes was, from the mode of its assessment, mot oppres-
sive and unjust to the trade and commerce of the country,
end stating that, as the understanding at the time of pawing
the acts of parlianseat by which the tan was increased was
that they were to continue In form for one year after the
termination of the war, and no longer," the meeting wee
of opinion that them acts of parliammot ought to be repealed
from and after the 6th day of April text.
Mr. T. ff. Goyim*, in seeendieg the motion, drew a pa•
rallel between the conduct of the present government and that
which was In °face in 1816. The latter also tried to continue
the income and property tax by means of a quibble; the at-
tempt was snocesefally reeismd ; the ministers wi re beaten,
sad then they said," Well, it you won't have this tax we can't
make you, we will not press it; and as we shall be obliged
to raise a small loan this year, we will take off a couple of
millions of malt tax Into the bargain." Laughter and
cheers.)
Dr. Joint WATTS said the question the meeting ought to
dimes before agreeing to the motion wee, which was the
cheaper plan, direct or indirect taxation ? Toe normal ex-
penditure of this country was in time of pesos about 64 mil-
lions. The income Its, as at present levied, yielded 16 mil-
How, sad the assessed taxes about 3 millions more; so that
the total amount raised by direct taxation was 19 millions,
leaving 35 millions to be levied indirectly. Now, indirect
taxation was of two kinds—that raised by customs and that
by excite duties. Goode whieb paid the customs' duties
went first into the hands of the wholesale dealer, and
then into those of the retail dealer. The wholesale dealer
had to provide espied to pay those duties, and of course
be bed a right to expect, in accordance with the rules of
trade, to make a profit on the capital he so employed. I.
like manner the retail dealer. The nominal amount of the
duty was thus no measure of the simonise really paid by the
consumer. The consomme paid on account at Customs
duties, at the very least, 26 per coat. more than the amount
imposed In the tariff. The price of the excisable %Weise anus
raised in a still greater proportion ; for not only did seemly
the same causes operate with respect to them, bat the excise-

man interfered with manufacture and so chinked supply.
Taking, however, the augmentation of the indirect taxation
to the consumer at one-fourth, the mune.' would see that
they not only paid the 36 millions which was nominally
charged to them. but 81 minions atalitional. What, then, he
proposed would be, that they should remit 9 millions of
indirect tame rather than tedium the income as to that
amount. (Disapprobation.) If they reduced the income
tem u proposed they would have to raise 9 millions addi-
ticasi by indirect means; and the 26 per teat on 43 mil-
lions would be, not 8 minims, but 103 millions. The coun-
try would thus save, by adopting the course suggested, more
than 2i millions per annum. (deer, hear.) Dr. Watts pro
needed to Galore* his argument by some farther remarks,
but they were received with great inpatients; and, after
some discussion
The resolutioni was unanimously adopted.
Mr. W. Cox moved—. That the present system of levy-
ing the income tam, by lasing precarious and permanent
income alike, is manifestly unjust, and leads to a general
and systematic evasion ; that the despotic and ioquisitorial
mode of SONIIIIIIIOt is repugnant to the feelings of English-
men, and has been sehmittmi to from time to time under the
impression that the tam was only for a temporary purpose;
and this meeting hereby pledges itself to nee every legiti-
mate means to obtain either a more equitable adjustment of
the tan, or a total repeal of it upon trades and prolusions."
Mr. C seconded the motion.

Me. HnLT, wan •11110400•4 htmsetf LS in "
pole " supported the reiklution in ao exteediagly humorous
speech, In the course of which he asserted that the farmers
were treated with gross partlity. Take the boa's duty, for
instanee—Nineteen farmers out of twenty were rated at 101.
or 121. fur their houses, though they were often maasieas.
John Henry, Dike of Rutland, was rated at 1801. for Bel-
Irlif Canis, which writ 840,0001. thirty-three yam ego.
(Laughter) If the Asa of the metropolis, which boasted
of its 2,230 mile, of holism, and its 3.000,000 of inhabitants,
put up with a state of thlege like that, they ought to drop
their beads below their breeches waistband. (Laughter.)
The resolution wee agreed to unanimously.
Mr. HAINLE moved a revelaticia airmail that no person
whom imams was wader 160/. a year ought to be Galled
en to pay blooms test. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wismar' (a working man) seconded the motion.
He received 886. a week, bat be made a little additional as
overtime. He was charged the tax. He appealed, but the
oomenieeforien on Ranniagtoe-oonamoo would not hear his
ease. Thor asked Ms whether he bad d the money.
He admitted that he bad ; lad they said, l• Wall, then, you
most pay." His wife bad beta blind for year*, sod he had
to support en aged featly. He had really ao means of pay-
jog toe tat, and be determined, come whet might, he would
not. The result was that he was *eat to Horsessongerilans

Owl. The distress of his family was such that he could
not attempt to deuribe ; but at the end of Ma days Mr.
Hayman baud of his cue, and gesermuly took him oat of
prima. (Cheers.)
Mr. Tar Lon, a small tradesman, also spoke to the bud-
ship of the tax to mess in hie position in life.
Mr. Hiowam, as the origiestor of the institution, begged
the meeting not to swept the resolution. Mathisg would,
is feet, Nile the turn of this goverment better. The oa:y
Wag which bad made the country saltiest:, so long in the
tax was the eamajitlon Memel' inoomes inserted is the oti•
gloat measure of Sir B. Peel. But for the: it world not
have stood for a single year. (Rear, hear.))
The meeting, however, adopted the reedetion without a
single hand being raised subset it.
Mr. W. CONNZLI. loved a resolution suggesting the de-
sirableness of forming district amociatiou throughout the
*pantry.
This WAS agreed to ; and a vote of thanks to the Chair
man concluded the buinesa of the meeting.