The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-07 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF DEAD WEIGHT.

HALF-PAY, CHELSEA, GREENWICH, ARMY, NAVY, ORDNANCE, AND
CIVIL PENSIONS, AND SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCES.
Diminution.
Chelsea.—Maximum of numbers, 1828 96,844
Number 31st March, 1836 84,960

11,884
Grants
Ditto 1835-6 1,387,169
------- £181,683
Greenwich Out-pensions.—Maximum,
1817 32,278
Number, Ist January, 1836 19,489

12,789
Amount of Pensions
1835 252,563
£102,085
Army Pay-office Allovvances.—Maxi-
mum
1835 16,288

X 3,235

Army, Navy, and Ordnance Half-pay
and Pensions.—Maximum,
1827 £3,394,896
1835 2,913,763
---
Naval Half-pay and Pensions.—Maxi-
--'E'481,133
mum 1823 £1,675,358
1835 1,557,976
Half-pay, Pensions, and Allowances, £117,382
Naval, Army, and Civil._
Maximum
1835 4,976,729
£ 479,262
I have already stated to the House, that but for the debt
which as an act alike of justice and policy the Parliament
contracted with the West India planters, we could at the
present moment have called on, not to discuss a surplus
of 662,3301., but of two millions and upwards ; and before
I leave this part of the subject, 1 shall just read a statement
of the data upon which I arrive at this conclusion.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF ENGLAND IN APRIL 1836, HAD
THERE NOT BEEN A WEST INDIA LOAN, NOR AN INCREASE
TO THE NAVY.
Surplus April, 1837
Interest on Rothschild's Loan L. 208,000
Excess on Navy Estimate 400,000
Reserve for West India payments within
the year .........
1,719,863

L 2,382,1 93
I shall now proceed to state to the House how I propose to
deal with the surplus I have available. I cannot at once pro.
pose the repeal of 662,3301. of taxation, but I shall endeavour
to propose such an arrangement to this House as I think in
point of justice may be made, and I thinkin point of policy

will be made, and made on a principle which -ill entitle you to
give further reduction at a future time.
My
object has b'en,
such a
and I think I have bee.] ab!e to achieve it,
to
make
present year,
se-
lection as, though it may occasion a loss in the
will lead to a future increase in the revenue.
In doing so,
have a
surplusve 100 l
couldnarrowly
bbest a at
applied.t e description
I should of the
sayt,a xnews toin s ;ALI iecel:
that if I find a tax pressing hard on the
industry
hie .ro3Cell.
country—that if I find any particular tax on w •
enabled the
dons were of necessity daily instituted—which em:
smuggler to defraud the fair and honourable trader—and
unequal
further, Sir, if I find a tax which is in its nature mcl
of the
and imperfect, if I find a tax of such a character that it leaves.l.o
the individual on whom it is imposed doubtful how much he
ought to pay, and leaves the individual by whom it tint
.31ie
collected doubtful how much be ought to receive, t
tax which I should select as one that it must be desirablce
repeal. Now, Sir, there is a tax, which after the best
,co, n
u.ti.
deration that I have been able to give to the subject, se in
~ave
rn:e to ans'.ver all the conditions and qualities which I h
enumerated. It is my intention, therefore, to
propose to the
committee to adopt one of the recommendations of the s
of Excise Inquiry for the consolidation and reduc-
tion of the paper duties.—( Hear, hear.) It is my intention
to propose that those duties be reduced in amount one-haif
(Hear.) Nor do I anticipat,, that by this reduction the re-
venue will by any means sufr.u. in a proportionate amount.
fur I perfectly agree with the opinion which was on a recentor for
Lancashire, expresssed by my Noble Friend the !.'emberf
Lancashire, that there was no branch of industry in the coun-
try which felt more deeply the pressure of taxation than t
• trade, and that there was no branch of industry prepared
e
to rise with a greater degree of elasticity from that depres-
sion.paper
At present also the collection of the paper duties ?1.1.
carried on in the most unequal and unsatisfactory manner, in
consequence of the irregular and imperfect way in which the
several kinds of superior, and the several kinds of inferior pa-
per are classed. It frequently happens, in consequence of that
classification, that the inferior kinds of paper are subjected to
to a higher duty than the superior. Indeed, such is the ab-
surd state of the law on that subject at present, that no two
excise officers do, or can, administer it on exactly the saran
principle. Thus it not unfcequently happens that the paper in
one mill is charged by the collector with a duty of threepence
per pound, while the same description of paper in a neigh-
bourim, mill is charged by another collector with a duty of
only three' halfpence per pound. The duties are exhorbizant.
That on writing paper is 25 per cent. ; that on printing paper
53 to 00 per cent. ; that on coarse paper 70 to 200 per cent.
It is essential to this great and useful branch of our manufac-
tures, and it is no less essential to the general interests which
are extensively connected with it, that these anomalies and
evils should be put an end to. I repeat, that on many
subjects of the highest public importance, the present duty
on paper presses most severely.—( Hear, hear, hear.) Ho-
nourable Members must of course be aware, that the duty
on the paper upon which it is printed, enters very largely
into the expense of every octavo volume that issues
from the Press. But what will they say, when I tell them
that with which, probably, few among them are acquainted,
that whoever publishes a volume obtains no drawback of the
duty on the paper for the copies which remain unsold ; and
that therefore it becomes necessary, in self-defence, to cliarge
such a price for the copies which are sold, as to obtf,in from
them the means of defraying the expense of the (1-.lty on the
paper necessary for the whole impression. The cost of the
paper of books is thus augmented; not from 50 to 60, but
from 100 to 180 per cent. This duty, therefore, may be justly
described as inflicting a severe tax on literature itselt—( Hear,
hear.) At present the rate of duty varies on the different de-
scriptions of paper. Either we must substitute a fixed duty,
or we must retain the existing mode of classification, with all
its frauds, inconveniences, and irregularities, such as I have
described them. I prefer the former; and I propose, there-
fore, to equalize the duties on the superior and inferior classes
of paper to three-halfpence per pound. Various calculations
have been made of the loss which may probably arise from this
arrangement. Mr. Gausson's estimate of annual loss is
150,000/. ; that of the London deputation, 62,0001. Those esti-
mates, however, do not appear to me sufficiently high. I take
one still higher ; and as I mean to propose the abolition
of the duty on stained paper, I take the loss to the re-
venue from this source to be 125,0001. this year (as the re-
duction will not commence till October), and 250,000/. a
year in future. As to the duty on stained paper, I propose
its abolition from the conviction of its inexpediency, ope-
rating as it does upon what there is every reason to believe
would soon grow into an extensive export trade if it were
liberated from the financial shackles which at present restrain
it. I fix the period of October for the commencement of the
reduction of the duty, because by that time the stock in hand
will be got rid of; for by the existing law the paper manufac-
turer may continue to make the commodity without paying
the duty, except as the paper is taken out of the mill when
wanted. Sir, I have already stated that a loss will accrue to
the revenue from the Post-office treaty with France, in conse-
quence of the reduction of the postages on letters and news-
papers. This loss I estimate at about 20,0001. But, in re-
turn, the commercial correspondence of this country will ex-
perience considerable relief and benefit. And it must also be
remembered, that if we had not made the concession which
we have made to France on this subject, France might have
reverted to her transit duties, and insisted on her right to be
paid the differerence. It is not, therefore, altogether a loss of
duty. By an alteration in the system under which the probate-
' duty is now paid on wills, and by gradually resigning a credit of
100 000/., to which the Exchequer is not entitled, a loss to the
revenue will accrue, which I will calculate this year n-t °0•0
0
111
But that o,ight ..t t,l 1 G .ha.a...erisea as a loss ; for it is not
our just possession. It is a reduction to which the country is
entitled. There is a small branch of customs called the
South Sea duties, which I propose to abolish, and which
produces about 10,000/. a year, or not so much. I now come
to another branch of my proposed repeals ; and I fear when I
mention it, I shall be met with the dissent of two opposite
parties. I allude to the Stamps on Newspapers.—( Hear, hear
All I ask is, that Honourable Gentlemen will do rite the
favour to listen to me for a short time, while I explain._ the
nature of the alteration in the Newspaper Stamps, which it is
my intention to propose. There are, as I have already stated,
two parties in this House altogether differing in their senti-
ments on this question ; and 1 am desirous to represent to both
parties the situation in which the question stands. To those
who desire the total repeal of the Newspaper Stamp-duty, I
say, can they seriously ask a Finance Minister, after
such a statement as that which I have just made Of
the public receipts and expenditure, to absorb 400,000/. of the
small surplus in such a purpose? If I were disposed to -acqui-
esce in such a proposition, is it probable that the House would
accompany me in the acquiescence? lam of opi-aion that it
would not. And further I say that if the House were so dis-
posed, I am not disposed to make the proposition.—( Hear.)
In the first place, becanse I consider New.spapers a fit subject
for taxation. While we permit them to be conveyed all over
the country free of postage, we have a just and legitimate
right to subject them to such taxation as we may consider fit
and expedient. And further, lam persuaded that, in the pre-
sent state of public opinion on the subject, if I were to bring
forward such a proposition it would prove wholly ineffective.--
( No, no.) An Honourable Member exclaims " No, nor
Let him try the experiment. Let him make a motion to re-
peal the entire Stamp Duty on Newspapers. Let hint bring
the subject under discussion. Let him ascertain whether, 1111
the present state of opinion on the subject, he can prevail on,
the House to agree to a resolution for applying the sum 491
400,0001. out of a surplus of 600,000/. to the abolition of the
Newspaper Stamp Duty ? On the other hand, I adhere to the
opinion which I pronounced on the question in the last session
of Parliament. I think that the present state of the tax:alert
of Newspepers cannot be defended or maintained. The prt).
position on the subject which was brought forward by an Hen.
Gentleman last year, I then stated I thought was one whiff
on a future occasion it would be expedient to adopt ; see
have, therefore, a right now to ask the House, if not to sup-
port, at least to consider my plan. Are those Hon. Gentle
men who object to the reduction of the Newspaper Stamp'
duty to a penny, aware of the way in which things are g°7l
on with reference to the subject ? Do they know the posits ut
in which those who uphold the maintenance of the p etcn
duty are placed. Ido not say Government, for that is coinP__!..
ritively an unimportant consideration—but the law, the sene%
rity of property, the interest of the revenue. It is on rev.eeuct
grounds that I ask you to reflect on the subject ; for my 0,111.5 k
is the preservation, not the abandonment of revenue. I.
you to reflect on it with reference to the good order of si:eaeintye,
Are you aware that there has been going on for a low; timer
commencing in Lsndon, and spreading in all the great townsll
in the kingdom, an extensive sale of unstamped NewsPa
pers, printed in defiance of the law, circulated
defiance of the law, bearing on their face that they
printed and so circulated in defiance of the law ?
Convif-
tions have been obtained, penalties 'nave been imposed,
imprisonment has been inflicted, all the powers of the !,
have been put in force and exhausted to put down this__le
practice, and the result has been a still more extensive sale
and distribution of these illegal publications. Hon. G.enlici
men will, perhaps, do me th favour to believe me, we'dnop.
assure them that one of the most painful parts of my du,
ing the time that I have had the honour of being in sir
part of my duty which has brought upon me abundant oo.0(1„0/
and reproach, a portion of my duty which has exposeat me t°
virulent att-cks in this House, and still more out or this House
—has been the prosecution of the persons eorroaned
sale of the unstamped newspapers to which I have
interestedina.
I have been in communication with persons ;;he most
:i
in this question—the proprietors of stamped newspePe9;ake
they candidly admit that every effort which the law could
not
been
has been made : but that, unfortunately, the law has i 9
found sufficientlz powerful to put down the evil. And tv7,t,.e,
the reason of this ? That the temptation to the violationt_Loua
law is too strong. It is so whenever, by excessive taxation,.racipanro:sf
endeavour to obtain any particular object. You tried to
illicit distillation in Ireland by laws fit only for the
Turkey ; but those laws proved entirely
tionablY
never expect to maintain any duty which is dispropor
yoU
will
high. Adopt whatever means of protection you mav'd Is it
always, under such circumstances, find yourselves folic°
endea-
vour therefore, a matter of good sense in all cases
that Proper
your to fix the amount of duty on any article at
en
ineffective.meYou can
rate at which it can be maintained ? What is it to aypr
as that
from such a diminution of the newspaper stamp d
Lithe loss Of
which I propose ? A loss of revenue ?
revenue is ropily going on as it is ; and if w.(7dhoy,n_o_t..d.simnaipnelsril.
the duty, we shall lose the revenue derived from ne." r
duction, Itr h
this source has been in a constant course of re
stamps entirely. For several years the revenue clerived,f,lr_evnia
here a paper which I will read to the Committee,
shows the fact clearly :
Gross Revenue.
DUTY ON NEWSPAPERS-
-1831 £586,000 ........... 473,000
1832
1833 541,000 ............
of all
1834 537,000 . Nxe t 4 R 8
3e,voeonon e
have no doubt that there are, both in the House and out