The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-14 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The intelligence from Madrid reaches to the Bth
inst., but there was nothing moving in the political
world of any importance. The Three per Cents.
were at 431.

DEPARTURE OF THE MAILS FOR THE UNITED STATES
AND CANADA.—On Saturday forenoon, shortly' After
eleven o'clock, the British and North American Royal
Mail steam-ship Asia. Captain Lott, sailed from; the
Mersey with the usual weekly mails, 56 passengers .and'
a large general cargo on freight. Her mails '-brere
brought out in charge of Lieut. Lewis, R.N., Admiralty
agent. •
LEEDS NORTHERN.—At a meeting of the shareholders
in this company, held at Leeds, on Friday, the proposed
amalgamation with the York Company was confirmed ;
and all matters in dispute between the original preference
shareholders were referred for settlementto G. C. Glyn,
Esq., M.P., and Robert Stephenson, Esq., M.P. Ile'.
resoution was carried with only nine-dissentients.
NEWCASTLE AND CARLISLE.—The report of the di-
rectors, to be presented at the annual meeting on the
17th inst., states that an interniediate dividend for the
half-year at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, clear of
income tax, is recommended. The directors ye Suc-
ceeded in renewing the debentures at' a'reduced rate-.of
interest. r

question so as to oonvey accurately and fully his
own meaning, Ido not know ; but still I looked at the On Saturday a deputation of gentlemen connected
words of -the question as they stood on the votes, and I with the London and provincial press, had an interview
believe if you refer to them you will find they refer ex- with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at his official re-
.clusiv,ely to the constitution of the Board of Customs, sidence, Downing-street, on the subject of the Adver-
and not to the improvement of the department and ma- tisement Tax. The deputation was introduced by Mr.
'chinery of that board. (Hear, hear.) Now, with re- Ewart. M.P. Mr. Ewart having read the following
spect to the bills which it is desired should be submitted memorial :--
to the commercial body for the consideration of their " OBJECTIONS TO THE ADVERTISEMENT TAX ON NEWS-
-1 practical details I am not aware that any intimation PAPERS.
was given at the time of the formation of the present "lst.—Because it is a tax on Knowledge, and falls with
Government, that these bills would be submitted to the uxtiality on an important , portion of the Press :—the
commercial body for the consideration of their practical Newspaper, Magazine, and Periodical. All other means of
details. .What I would say upon that question is this— advertising escape the duty. '
"2(1.—1t is an unjust tax. It cannot be equitably
there can be
assessedcollected. no objection in point of principle to the sub- or The rich.
man pays only is. 6d. to
mission of the drafts of bills to the parties interested be- advertise the sale of an estate ; the poor man pays ls. 6d.
fore they are introduced to Parliament. It is a pure to advertise for employment.
question, in the main, of practical convenience. It must "3d.—lt falls heavily on particular classes of property,
be considered on its own merits ; and certainly that is impeding to an important extent advertisementsin journals.
an important element in .the case to which Mr. Hestia In America, any man who wishes to lend or to hire, to
has referred, viz., that the responsibility of the Govern- buy or to sell, announces his wish without being subject
ment should not be shifted from its own shoulders, to any duty, for ls.
-.(Hear, hear.) In this instance lam glad the deputa- " 4th.—lt acts most injuriously on literary works
striving at cheapness. Tho cost of advertising sometimes
tion havassembled, on account particularly of its in amounts to more than the whole profit of author and
eluding representatives from Liverpool; and the other publisher on works which are successful.
,
outports ; because it was a difficulty felt by many of the " sth.—lt is a tax which goes far to fetter the free ex-
committee of the House of Commons on customs re- tension' of the press—and 'prevents the circulation of a
form, and I myself felt it for one—that all along we sound and wholesome literature among working men. In
seemed to be discussing the case of London exclusively. America there are 350 daily papers—in England there are
So far I am glad that we have here very nearly a re- only 10. % -
presentation of the commercial interest of the kingdom ' 6th.—lt createspogonopoly, It is only the compara-
at large. Now, with respect to these bills, the whole tively prosperous tradeiman who can afford to advertise,
question 'really is, in what manner can 'they be made- the intelligent mechanic is excluded from newspaper
D rblicitv
most widely known ; and in what manner can the freest 'II" 7th.—lt is one among many of the fiscal errors COM -
scope be,given to the commercial community for • can- ~ iiiitted when the true principles of taxation were compara-
va,ssing their details, and fully bringing to the know- tively unknown. It involvei the same principle, by which
.ledge of the Government and of Parliament their wishes the lowest priced Bohea is taxed at the same rate as the
in regard to those details. (Hear, hear, hear.) That highest priced Pekoe or Souehong—on which the miserable
is the entire question. I cannot say what the decision shirt-maker is made to pay a duty of about 300 per cent.
of the Government may be as to submitting these bills on the original value of the article which she consumes,
in draft to any bodies of persons connected with the while the rich pay about 80 per cent only.
"
commercial classes, for I frankly own lam not clear in Bth.—lt is a tax that should be repealed, because the
my own mind—l am perfectly willing to be instructed public would derive the full benefit of the repeal. In
m
about it—but lam not aware that that would be the many cases a larger reduction than the duty would bemade by newspaper proprietors.
best way of bringing them fully and impartially under " 9th.—lt is a tax which is easily and largely evaded.
the consideration of all classes of the commercial coin- The blank wall, the advertising van (dangerously block-
mimity. Some portions of that community are near ing up the public thoroughfares), the omnibus, the rail-
head-quarters, and are well organised for the purpose of way carriage, the railway station, the street pavement,
these discussions. For them such a course would be and many other modes of advertising, reduce the amount
highly convenient; but there are many other portions paid to Government to a comparatively small amount,
of the commercial classes that are not so organised, and and leave its pressure exactly where it is most severely
who might possibly consider they had been treated with felt, and where many grourrds of public policy condemn it.
something less than fairness, if they had not the same "10th.—In a word—it is a great impediment to trade,
opportunities of becoming acquainted with the details of literature, and labour, seeking a market through pub-
'
licity, and to the newspaper press for that reason • whil..
these bills at the same period. I should like to know
the small amount of revenue which it yields—about
what would be the disadvantage under which any por- 160,0001. per annum—renders its altogetherunworthy of
tfon of , the commercial community would be placed by retention, at the cost of a tithe of the hardship and in-
the introduction of these bills into Parliament, and giv- justice which it inflicts."
iog them ample time for consideration after they are so • Mr. MURDO YOUNG, ofthe Sun newspaper, then address-
introduced, and before they go into committee. (Hear, ed the Chancellor.—l have had the honour of attending
hear.) I may be wrong, but Ido not see what the dis- many Chancellors of the Exchequer on this subject, and
advantage would be. If there is any, it should be the answer they have all made has been, that the revenue
stated ; for the Government have no wish but to be put would not afford the reduction. Upon the present occa-
in the -fullest possession of the wishes of the entire sion, however, lam happy in believing that that argu-
commercial community. (Hear.) The printing and cir- ment will not hold good. Ido not press for an imme-
culation of these bills undoubtedly give them great pub- diate remission ; but if you, sir, could give us a promise
licity. It is not like the case of a measure of great po- for January next—
litical importance, or a measure that turns upon the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Do you mean
adoption of some broad and comprehensive principle. for a total repeal ? Because, if so, I must tell you, lam
We must, I think, be all agreed on the general prin- afraid there is no surplus revenue -on which I can at
ciples on which we are to proceed. For instance, as to present reckon for a repeal of taxation.
publicity, itis impossible but that the Government must Mr. YOUNG—But there will be next year.
feel the strongest sympathy with those gentlemen who The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER— Well, then,
express a wish for the greatest publicity in the manage- suppose we snake an appointment for this day twelve-
ment of the Customs revenue. It is highly honourable months.
to them, it is accordant with the character of English- Mr. YOUNG—I shall be very glad to fix that day for the
men, and it would be discreditable to the Government if abolition of the duty. The effect, sir, of a mere reduc-
they did not give the widest application of that principle tion, would be of so little advantage to the public, that
in the preparation of the measures they are about to in: I, myself, must press for a total abohtion. I ant
troduce. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the simplifica- sure that I speak the general sentiments of the news-
tion of the tariff, no gentlemen here need be assured that paper proprietors in this particulir. A mere reduction of
the Government entirely enters into and sympathises the duty would not enable us to make any perceptible
with the desire to effect that object. (Hear, hear.) I lowering of the price of advertisements to the public, and
do not wish to say anything of myself individually, but I the public consequently would reap no benefit. I must
had the satisfaction of being the framer of that portion also call to the attention of the Chanbellor of the Ex-
of the measure introduced in 1845, which for the first chequer that we have to give credit to the public while, on
time set one moiety, or more than one moiety of the the other hand, we are obliged to pay the Government
articles imported into this country entirely free from without any delay. A paper like the Times, with its
duty. (Hear, hear.) Of course it is the desire of
,the circulation, can afford to do as it pleases, and charge
Government to give the utmost possible scope to the ap- its own price, however high, and the effect of an
plication of that principle, I think there is no question abolition of the duty would be, that the Times would not
of principle at issue between us. If there were, discus- -be one farthing the worse, while the public would be
Sion prev,ious to the introduction of the measure would greatly benefited. On the other hand, if a reduction
be most iniportant. But the whole question turns upon only of the duty were carried into effect, the public would
this, how can we best adjust all the complex details ne- not benefit at all by it. This may be seen by taking the
cessary for the collection of the. large revenue which is case of the servants' advertisements, for which at
levied on imports with the greatest security to the Ex- present the Times charges 35., which is just double
chequer, with due regard to the interests of the Crown, the duty. Supposing that the duty were reduced
and the least interferenee with the course of trade ? to 6d., for all that, the Times could not af-
Now that depends upon a multitude of details ; and ford to insert. those advertisements for less than half-a-
we have a common interest in having those details crown, because the number would so greatly increase,
adjusted in the best possible manner. If there were and, their space being limited, they would not be able to
a strong wish expressed in the commercial community find room for them, alld consequently, in self defence,
that any particular course should be taken in would be obliged to charge a higher price. You, sir,
submitting, the drafts of these bills to particular bodies, are probably aware that the superficial size of news
or, on the other hand, with regard to introducing papers is limited, and, consequently, the Times is now
them into Parliament, and then letting them circulate obliged to publish a supplement. Upon those they
freely, and giving time for consideration—l will frankly must lose money if they issue more than a cer-
own, if that is their strong wish, the Government might taro number, because it is evident that the adver-
not wait to be urged to take that course, but might tisements in a supplement may amount only to 5001.,
take it once in deference to that wish. But I hope gen- while, on the other hand, the cost of paper and stamps,
tlemen will consider whether, upon the whole, the most together with the advertisement duty, may very likely
convenient 'and eqUable course may not be that we amount to 8001., if more than a certain number are
should, introduce these bills, and having introduced therm issued.
allow ample time for their consideration. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Smrrx, of the Daily News, then addressed the
You are aware that Parliament frequently adopts a Chancellor—Sir, I think that though an abolition of the
form—which is a very convenient one in cases where the duty entirely would be very desirable, lam disposed to
principle of a measure is admitted, but where the details acquiesce in a reduction of it, because I think by that
require a great deal of consideration, which I take to be means that the number of short advertisements would be
the definition of this case—it is the common practice of, increased by at least 100 per cent., and it is really
Parliament; after reading a bill a second time, when there where the pressure of this tax is felt. At
time is given for collecting suggestions as to details, to present all papers must have a minimum charge :
allow the bill to go through committee for the purpose most of them fix it at five shillings for ten lines—
of being reprinted, and embodying all the- suggestions most of the short advertisers, therefore, take their whole
which ,may meet with general approval. So that, in 10 lines. The Is.- 6d. duty being deducted from the 55.,
putting before you the alternative to be pursued-Lthe leaves 3s. ad., which gives a charge of 4d. a line to the
introduction of those bills, and allowing them to be cir- newspapers. Supposing that by the abolition we were
culated throughout the country—you would not obliged to charge 3s. for the same number of lines, we
thereby be placed in the disidvantageous position should then;get only 3d. per line, at which price it is
of accumulating a great mass of amendments, and not thought newspapers, making allowance for every
having them discussed as amendments in co- charge, can remuneratively print advertisements. If thecoin-
mittee. That certainly is a disadvantageous position. duty were repealed, and there were no 18d., there would
(Hear.)' My own opinion is this, subject to cor- be no minimum laid down by the newspapers, and th
rection, that the most convenient course would be to tradesman would get for 2s. that for Which b e
e now
introduce the bills—(hear, hear)—in which case' we pays ss. When I became aware that Iz Sir,astoihmavaed
ethae
would make every effort to introduce them on the earliest ; honour of having an interview with you,
possible day. (Hear, hear.) Then, I dare say, the
.cx- calculation with• respect to these short advertisements
perience and knowledge of the commercial community 1 from the advertisements which for thelast three days,
i 2
would enable them, to suggest various valuable amend- I have been inserted in the Times,
)i I
t;
glie ct ])
meats. ' We-should have the opportunity of examining i Morning Huai d, and the morl
•oalititcl/eN. ewls, find
'and considering these amendments, and of communi- from that, Sir, that four-fifths of the advertisements
eating with the commercial body in reference to them, which have appeared in the Times. during the last three
and all such amendments as appeared worthy of adop- days have been under 10 lines • in the Daily News one-
tion might be embodied in the bill, and then the bill half have been under that number ; and in the other two
would be printed before being submitted in detail to the i papers a proportion considerably less. That, I think,.
consideration of the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) I Sir, is an illustration of how far the general public, th_t..
That, lam inclined to think, would be the course that which pays is 6d., is interested in this question. (,-)/
advertisements above 10 lines the Tha
a,me
would most fully the interests of the commercial long .
community at large. But, as I said before, it is a ques- double the number of the Daily News,hasscciany
..
tion upon which, if a very strong wish is expresied; whaV similar proportion with regard to andothers ; and
there will be every disposition on the part of the Oro-- I think therefore that it is pretty :.ipP
vernment to follow the course which the expression of h question ; and
that wish may point out. (I:lear, hear.) Ido not 1 1 advertisers are most interested in
,1,-„, a reduction of
gentlemen, whether there is anything else in the inow, ,if you could not abolish the whole e--. 7
them and to ns.
memo- ' • ficig to .
rial which it is necessary for me to notice at the , it to 6d. would be greatly ben,,
also greatly increase
time. , The various points which have been r ' preSent ißy reducing it to 6d. you la
wou nt which would be phid
report of the Customs committee are now alsed by the I
revenue, by increasing the anro ariesith4hat the shed
consideration, And with res tto 11 under careful 1
pee t e Tre. SUry rn;'"
d" -- d ....4.4.11194 Tho C,II4ISOBLIAB of the duties,
.. to it tor stamps and payer FacueenAa—Do you suppre

Mr. YouNG—Not worth having. .
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (with a smile)—
Not worth having, Mr. Young.
After a few concluding remarks from Mr. Ewart,
M. P.,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that he
was very much pleased at having had an opportunity
of hearing the opinions which had been expressed to him,
and the deputation then withdrew.

The general impression wa,, in favour of a total repeal.

REPEAL OF THE ADVERTISEMENT DUTY.