The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-04-08 00:00:00

ASSESSED TAXES BILL.

Upon the Motion fur the second reading of this
Bills Mr. BIDDCLPII begged leave to call the at-
tention of the House, to what he conceived to be a
most important measure, about to be paggied into •
law, with as little previous notice being given as in
the cum of the late alteration upon the Military
System, introduced in the Mutiny Bill. The Bill
in question, while it profeived merely to effect an
alteration fur the purpose of regulating the mode of
levying the assessed taxes, actually imposed addi-
tional burdens, without settii.g forth ample or con-
stitutional grounds for inch a proceeding. Until
he heard of some such strong grounds, lie should
certainly think it his duty to object to the Bill in
question proceeding one stage furthe . Seine
Gentlemen might deem him factious in doing so;
but he could assure them his conduct proceeded
from no such motives, but from a full conr.ction,
that the Constitution of the country faro oiled a
barrier against such a course dprotedure.
Mr. fluscissoN said, he was at a luss to discover
how the Honourable Gentleman could cipp.,se this
Bill upon constitutional grounds. V. e uere alto-
gether in a new situation in regard to public ere-
tlit. Rielit Honourable Friend ;the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer) had already pro;:osed to find
an addition to the public debt, by which
had lseeii created by the operation of his measure,
which met with no opposition. The ,urn 110 W VW-
pOitti to be ruised by these additional tik•es in tic
Gill was little more than 100,0001.; and the reamiii
Cley we•► introduced in this mode was. that the
Asat.a.sL.l Taxes commenced from the itli of April
each year, and eaded ova CI:: nth of Aptil in tile

nest. An allowance of 38,0001. had been made ts
the Receiver-General, on account of his toots:of
respoinfiltiiity ; but it was now proposed, by a clause
la this Dili, to reduce that um to what it forghtri,
1111111ely, 50,0001. which would, no doubt,
add to the saving that had been effected by sue 4
measures.
Mr. liIDDIMPIi still persisted in his objection,
that this was not the proper am!. the constitutional
mode of introducing new taxes.
.He consieisrnf
the House of COMIIIOIII as the grand house of ti.
ntiuce of. the nation, culled to the ussistance of
nisteis, and to su;;;;est to them means of
money, if nut occurred to themselves, adapted
to
the public exigencies of the country. In the prt.
sent instattee he was of opinion that such means
might have been found out without inflicting say
additional burdens upon the people, or adopting
any additional taxation whatever. If the kith.
Ron. Gent. would be pleased to appoint a day In
discuss this subject, be (Mr. B.) should attempt to
suggest some modes of raising money upon a inert
judicious plan, more consonant to the feeliito
of the country, and amply sufficient to suitor t as
credit.

The Cii.stecerame of the Tomatoes,' said,
did not conceive there was any thing
bona) in this tootle of proceeding. It was a bit
to defray a charge occasioned by the operation or.,
former Bill, which would given* less than 250,000.
to the revenue, in a preferable mode to that which
formerly existed. If the Hon. Gentleman could
take upon himself to state, that that mode was net
so proper as the former, then he might furnish
some reason for opposing the present measure, but
surely the House had a right to know what he
would be inclined to suggest in the room of it.
Mr. TIERNEY disapproved of this mode of im-
posing additional duties, under pretence of pro-
posing regulations of others. The Hight Hon.
Gentlemen opposite had stated no geed reasons for
adopting this procedure, instead of that which all
their predecessors had uniformly adopted, by
giving notice of their avowed intention to , ropes*
some new taxes. They were endepvouring, as it
were, to smuggle in this measure, in a manner that
could not fail to be offensive. If there were I.e:.
"sons of opinion that the public sersiee could be
well conducted, without imposing any additional
taxer whatever, it was hard .that new ones should
uevertheless he imposed upon the public by such
means. Ile should not dispute, that the mode of
regulation might' probably be the best that could
be suggested, but lie could sot approve of imp,,,.
ing any tux by such a mode.
The CHANCELLOR of the ExcneetnElt added,
that he was not taking the House by surprise, no:
shouhl • they yet be deprived of the opportunity of
hearing any propositiou which the lion. Gentle.
men opposite might choose to suggest, and cora.
pare it with that adopted in this Bill. He should
propose, that the Bill should be committed ou
Monday next, when such opportunity would be
afforded, after they had well dig: steel some plan as
a substitute for the present one.
Dr. Lavtasecx objected to the measure, in
point of principle, and not upon the mere ground
that it was meant to effect an alteration. The
House ware new reikinif Ways and Ildeams, in con-
sequence of money having been funded this year,
without the usual formality of °ruing a budgiit, or
any notice iven that duties were intended to be
proposed. It had always been deemed .the most
expedient practice to take a comprehensive view of
the whole taxes of the year together, at the time
of imposing new ones, and therefore he wished the
Right Honourable Gentleman to postpone this
measure at least till be could pursue that uuiform
system._

Mr. Rost observed, that upon former ocra,ions
very considerable additions had been made to the
Ways and Means, by similar:nodes, and no objec-
tions had been nude to them.

Mr. WHITBREAD supported the objection. He
thought that all duties ought to be stated iu ti e
budget of the year, lie remembered • very.great
outcry was occasioned in • former year, when he was
not in Parliament, that under the name of consolida-
tion, great additional burdens were imposed. That
surely was a gri. mice ; and this, therefore, le 3,, no
so, where, under the name of regulation. taxes
were introduced, which occasioned an average
crease of two per cent. He thought, then, that no
detriment could be occasioned by delaying such
an objectionable measure till the budget was
brought forward ; and this was the more especially
necessai, sines. his Hot). Friend near him (Mr.
lliddidpli) meant to suggest a mode of avoiding
any additional taxes.

Strangers were about to withdraw, when the B;11
was read a second time, without a division, aid or-
dered to be committed nti Monday nest; upon
which day, Mr. FICAKISSON said, be should prop o.e
to introduce into it the intended regnlatious of the
Caustic Licenses.
ORDERS IN COUNCIL.
Mr. T.Earny proposed the names of corta;ll
persons to attend as Witnesses before the Com-
mittee, upon the Petitions against the Ordels I
Council. The hst was read from the Chair, and.
afar a few word, i.um the CIiANCF.I.I.O2 of the
EXCHEQUL It, it was ordered that these a4ll
do attend for exuannation upon Tuesday ucxt.