The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Siu,—On Monday the House of Commons is to decide
the Income Tax Question. Allow me, through your
columns, to draw attention to an important view of the
question of exemptions.
Mr. Gladstone wishes to move down the sliding index
of the scale of the Income Tax, until it stops at the
number 100. In other words, the new Chancellor of
the Exchequer extends the circle of his operations to all
incomes above 100/. By this means he catches in his
financial net an enormous amount of incomes between
100/. and 150/. He has narrowed the area of the
meshes, and expects to inclose a number of small fish
that have hitherto disported in the ocean of irresponsi-
bility. What effect this may have upon the revenue
Mr. Gladstone ventures to estimate, but there are
others quite prepared to doubt whether the expectations
from a project of this nature will be thoroughly realised.
In the first place, many are unable to see upon what.
principle the new limit is selected. There is no doubt
that there exists somewhere a boundary beyond
which
taxation cannot extend. The difficulty to decide
upon the position of this point. Mr. Gladstone,
it appears, considers that it ought to be placed
at the figure 100. Let it be granted that this is
correct. Admit that the possessor of 100/. per an-
num ought to pay a subscription to the public re-
venue—an assertion which it is not my present purpose
to contest. The question then arises, how is the Exche-
quer to deal with this taxable man ? Society has afforded
him facilities for earning this income of 100/., and re-
quests him to indemnify it for the sacrifices it has made
in order that he may be properly protected during the
acquisition of his income. To this there can be no reason-
able objection. Unless society had protected him, he
would have been interrupted during his labour ; he
would have been robbed of the proceeds of his labour ;
he would not have been able to obtain payment for it,
supposing that the purchaser of the proceeds of his la-
bour denied his just claims. He cannot refuse, then—
always supposing that his assent does not deprive him
of any of the necessaries of existence—to pay his share
towards the expenses which society incurs. While, how-
ever, he does not refuse to accept all the obligations
which he assumes by being elevated to the rank of tax-
able men, he has a perfect right to protest against any
system of taxation which would make bis social position
worse in a pecuniary point of view than that of nis non-
taxable brethren. Now, the great objection to the scheme
of Sir Robert Peel and that of Mr. Gladstone is, that
they each seize hold of the lower limit of taxable in-
come, and by their operation make the holder of the income
worse off than the holder of ,the income immediately be-
low him. A clerk in the receipt of 1001. per annum
will, by Mr. Gladstone's scheme, have to pay to the re-
venue
the sum of one hundred fivepences, and thus have
his salary reduced to 1/. Is. Bd. less than that of a fel-
low clerk who has 99/., or ls. Bd. less than that of one
who has 98/. Taxation to be just ought to operte upon
each man according to his means ; in this case it inflicts
the positive injustice of impoverishing the payer of taxes
to such an extent that his revenue is really below that
of a person who is relieved by law from the necessity of
paying anything to the revenue. In other words, taxa-
tion, according to Mr. Gladstone's scheme, makes the
possessor of an income of 100/. worse off than the pos-
sessor of an income of 99/. or 98/. This is evidently
unjust. The true principle to be adopted may be thus
stated : First to define the income which is the Iswest
that will suffice to afford its possessor the fruition of the
necessaries of life, and then to levy a certain per centage
upon everything beyond that sum. If an income of
1001. as Mr. Gladstone asserts, ought to be subject to a
tax, and 99/. ought not, it is as clear as noonday that
the 1001. ought to pay a rax, not on the 100, but upon
the L This is the principle enunciated by Bentham
and adopted by Mill. Bentham placed the limit of un-
taxable income at 50/. After this he would have had
the excess taxed according to a certain per centage.
Suppose Mr. Gladstone's scheme to be adopted by
the Legislature, we shall have numerous examples of
anomalies like the following. A has an annuity of 991.
per annum ; B has an annuity of 100!, per annum

rising from a similar source ; C has 2001. per annum
erzved in like manner. A pays the Government nothing ;
B, who has 11. per annum more than A, pays 21. is. Bd.
per annum to Government; C, who is in the enjoyment
of 1001. per annum more than B, pays only 21. ls. Bd.
more than the latter. That is to say, C for his excess
of 1001, over B, pays only just as much as B pays for
his excess of 1/. over A.

This is surely contrary to all just principles of taxa-
tion. It may fairly be assumed that the capability of
income.
Taking to the revenue increases with
Taking away 5 per cent. from 5,0001. a year, is the same
process proportionally as taking away 5 per cent. from
5001. a year. The gross income left, however, is far
greater in the one case than in the other. Ido not here
mean to assert that this affords any grounds for the es-
tablishment of a graduated system of taxation, in which
the per centage should increase with the income—a
scheme most unsound and improper. It is quite enough,
however, to show the unfairness of any plan which
would have the effect of reducing taxable incomes below
those which come within the circle of exemptions. I
should be glad to see Mr. Gladstone's financial scheme
freed from an objection which it will ,be impossible to
refute. The instant that a tax is pronounced unjust,
the moral feeling of society is apt to be enlisted in favour
of those who resist it. When this is the case the tax is
likely to produce but little for the l'evenue. For this
cause was it that we doubted whether the expectation of
the Chancellor would be likely to be realised in the por-
tion of the scheme to which I would direct attention ;
and I trust that it is not too late to introduce such
modifications as will redeem the plan from the obnoxious
features.

A SUPPORTER OF A JUST TAX.

SPORTING NOTES.—No.

CHESTER SPRING MEETING.

The present Meeting in the ancient city of Chester
will be, without exception, the greatest that has ever
taken place there. The weather promises to be uncom-
monly fine ; the amount of public money to be run for
is larger than usual ; the entries for the majority of the
stakes considerably exceed those of previous years,‘; the
course is in the best condition ; and all the minor
arrangements are such as to call forth unqualified praise
and admiration. Mr. Topham and the Racing Com-
mittee have done their duty in such a manner that
nothing is left to be desired.
The arrival of horses up to this morning have not
been very numerous ; but an immense number is ex-
pected to-day. Wintringham's lot was the first to put
in an appearance, followed at intervals by horses from
most of the smaller stables. Everything in the shape
of a stable was secured last week ; and from the.inim-
ber of stalls engaged, not less than 120 horses will be
on the spot to-morrow.
This monster meeting commences to morrow at half-
past one, I believe, with the Grosvenor Stakes of 10
sous. each, h. ft., with 30 added, Grosvenor Course (one
mile, one furlong, and 260 yards). This stake has ob-
tained eight subscribers, and they have to name to-day.
A Sweepstakes of 5 sows. each, with 30 added, once
round and a distance (which is about 1 mile 1 furlong
66 yards), follows next. This stake also has yet to close
and name.

The Mostyn Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100 added
by the Grand Stand proprietors, three quarters of a
mile, will, in all probability, furnish but a very small
field should Ruby go to the post ; and as I have not
heard anything to the contrary up to the present time,
why I suppose his starting is intended, therefore to
RUBY shall I look for the winner.

The Palatine Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 5 ft., with 100
added by the proprietors of the Grand Stand, from the
Castle Pole, once round and in (a few yards more than
a mile and a quarter), has obtained eighteen nomina-
tions—about a third of whom, including Misletoe and
Exact, may be expected to show at the post. The
race, in my opinion, will fall to the lot of Mr. Merry
with EXACT ; Misletoe, aided by her 51b. allowance,
getting the second place.
The Chesterfield Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100
added by the proprietors of the Grand Stand, once round
and a distance, has an entry of twenty-seven. Ninny-
hammer and Charley have already paid forfeit. Talfourd
figures as the top weight at Bst 91b, and, of course,
whether he runs or not, is of little comsequence.
Broughton and Audubon at Bst I think are over-
weighted, as is Mushroom at 7st 101 b. Valour and
Game Tommy are the only heavy weights that seem to
have a chance, although April Fool, if not knocked about
too much in her journey from Ireland, at 7st 61h,- ought
to run very forward. Hatchet, Newton Las's filly,
Josephine, Tavistock, Mayfly, and Lady Flora seem in
safe keeping of the Dandy and Charming Woman. Of
the light weights Knavery and Jacqueline are decidedly
the best looking. Putting this and that together lam
inclined to fancy that we shall see the winner in Lord
Chesterfield's JACQUELINE ; and that Charming Woman
and April Fool will be second and third, Knavery head-
ing the rear guard.
The Optional Selling Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 30
added, mile and a quarter, which has yet to close and
name, will bring the first day's racing to a conclusion.
Wednesday's races will, I fancy, commence with the
_ _ _

Helter-skelter Handicap of 5 sous, each, with 30 added,

T.Y.C. (nearly three-quarters of a mile). This, with
the Sixty Guineas, the gift of the Members for the city,
_ _ . _

her Majesty's Plate of 100 Guineas, and the Scramble
Handicap, have yet to close and name.

The second lieat of the Second Triennial Produce
Stakes of 10 sovs. each, h ft, with 30 added, will, I pre-
sume, be a walk over for DEFIINCE, or, in his absence,

Mocassin.

The first year of the Third Triennial Produce Stakes
will all probability fall to the lot of Mr. Worthington,
with whichever filly he pleases to start ; the Field Mar-
shal second.

The celebrated Chester Cup—or, as it stands in the
calendar, the Tradesmen's Plate—of 200 soya, in specie,
added to a handicap sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft,
and 5 only if declared, &c., Cup course (about two miles
and a quarter), will, I believe, be the fourth race on the
card for decision on Wednesday. The " coop" has this
year obtained the largest number of subscribers on record,
two hundred and sixteen names having been recorded in
the Register-book ; and of these one hundred and thirty-
one have declared themselves satisfied with the weight
allotted to their respective nominations. Hobbie Noble
heads the list at Bst. 101 b., and half a dozen three-year
olds figure at the tail at 4st. 71b. each. I shall not
attempt at the present moment to give a list of the
starters, as my accounts are rather imperfect on that
head as yet, but shall defer it until to-morrow. The
following are already marked as being on the absentee
list :—Hobbie Noble, Weathergage, Stilton, Augur,
The Confessor, Chaseaway, Hungerford, Cardinal Wise-
man, Adine, Muscovite, Retail, Terpsichore, The
Bishop, Redmond O'Hanlon, Lindrick, Sally Warfoot
colt, Allegro, Timid Fawn, Hirsuta, Galvanism, Lamb-
ton, Maria, Constantine, View Halloo, Victress, Water-
fall, Ammonia, The Queen, Banshee, Madeline, Recom-
mendation, Prevention, The Hatchet, Polly, Wedlock
filly, and Charity. Newminster, I have no doubt, will
settle all the top weights, and will run something more
than respectably, finishing forward, though not the
winner. Mountain Deer and Nancy I cannot have.
Lady Evelyn, it is said, has been beaten by
the Boarding School Miss filly. Woolwich and
Chief Baron Nicholson are over-weighted. Truth
and the Prime Minister cannot get the distance. Leo-
pold carries half a stone too much. King of Trumps is
set aside to make way for Peggy. Goldfinder and
Indian Warrier are in at 7st 61b each, but neither are
likely to catch the judge's eye. Poodle, I fancy, will
not run. Gossamer ought to take some beating. Black
Doctor is the first that arrests ray! attention after New-
minster, that seems to possess a tolerable chance. At
7st 3lb, and in good form, he ought to be somewhere
about the mark. Neasham and Lucio at a pound less
are hopeless. Colsterdale, I presume, will not run.
Koh-i-noor I am very much afraid is a counterfeit ; and
Montague I shall consign to the tomb of all the Capu-
lets. Red Lion may be very good for a sign-post, but
will have a most decided horror of the winning-post.
Haricot is too moderate for a race like this. Little Jack
will take a tremendous deal of beating ; and some very
thrifty people have got a very tidy stake upon his chance
of victory. Caliban and Bellewstown are desperate. lanthe
is to be Isaac Day's horse, and tb at is all I can say about it.
St. Michael, Vermuth, and the Countess ofTeba are no go.
Scarecrow has often been what_hia name implies to_ the

ring, and I should back him to be nearer latait than first.
Richmond, to judge from his exhibition this spring,
ought to run moderately well. Braxey, notwithstanding
his light weight and the large amount of money he has
been backed for, will finish nowhere." Happy Joe,
unhappy quad, you are no good here. Next comes a
name that I must not trifle with, for I shall be much
mistaken if Mr. Parr does not see his son of Sweetmeat
pass the post one of the first four. The next half-dozen
in the scale of weights are completely settled by the pre-
ceding and Missive. All the high-weighted three-year-
olds are made pretty safe by Peggy and Talfourd, the
former of whom was yesterday backed for the largest
amount ever laid in one bet, by the Leviathan, that she
did not carry off the Cup, the Derby and the Oaks.
Ann Eliza, Helena, and Lord-Lieutenant are the only
other animals seemingly of any consequence. To sum
up, I fancy that the front rank will probably consist of
the Black Doctor, Little Jack, Trifle, Peggy, and the
best of Wintringham's lot—Talfourd or Lord-Lieutenant ;
and for the absolute winner commend me to
TRIFLE.

THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1853.
The figures within parenthesis denote the number o:
days' racing.
MAY.
Chester (4) 3 1 Eedditch (2)
Newmarket Sec Sp (3)...10.1 'Bath (2)
Liverpool Hunt (2) 11 Manchester (3) .....
Shrewsbury (2) 11 1 Epsom (4)...........
Edinburgh (2) l2

Newton (3) 2
Ascot (4) 7
Hampton (2) 15
Beverley, Hull, &c. (2) 15

Bibury (1).,,,,,....,
Stockbridge (1)..,.
Winchester (1)..,,.
Newcastle (3) ......
LY.
Stamford (2) .....
Nottingham (2)...
Goodwood (4) .....

Newmarket (3) ............ 5
Worcester (2)
Carlisle (3)
Liverpool (3) l3

.A 17G
Brighton (2) 3
Brighton Club (1)........,
Wolverhampton (3) 8
North Staffordshire (2) 9
Yarmouth (2) . 9
Reading (2)

UST.
\York (3) ...............
Radcliffe (3)
Egham (2)
Derby (2)
Eccles (3). -
Lichfield (2)..,.„

....42
....4
.....28
i.-2;

• .. .21
.....26

22
23
94
-. 29
,30