The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-18 00:00:00

RAMSGATE COAL EXTORTION

BILL.

On the third reading of the " Bill for Paving, Lighting,
and Improving the Town of Ramsgate," which is fixed for
this evening, it is proposed to move two clauses—one to allow
a drawback of duty on coal re-shipped from the harbour, and
the other to secure, under the .penalty of fifty shillings, the
payment of the same to those entitled to it, and prevent, at
the same time, the drawback from being fraudulently ob-
tained. The reasons in favour of the clauses are so clearly
and cogently put, in a circular we have seen on the sub-
ject, as irresistibly to compel the conviction of their justice
and truth. By the Bill, as it stands at present, 2s. per ton
would be levied indiscriminately on all coal brought into the
harbour, whether for local consumption, for exportation, or
for the supply of steam-ships and other vessels frequenting the
harbour. To show the injustice of such an enactment, it will
be sufficient merely to state that the harbour of Ramsgate
is, as stated in the circular before us, 46 a public har-
bour, constructed at the public expense, and supported
entirely by dues on shipping." The jurisdiction of its
trustees is also totally distinct from that of the town, which
contributes nothing whatever to its maintenance, and further,
the coals intendod for the use of the shipping never enter the
town at all, being stored, until rc-shipped,within the precincts of
the harbour. Nothing, therefore, could be more manifestly '
unjust than to levy on the vessels frequenting the harbour a tax
of two shillings per ton on the coal which they re-ship there;
and even if it were not unjust, nothing could be more injudi.
cious and impolitic, on the part of the inhabitants of Ramsgate,
than to subject vessels visiting their town to such an impost,
which, by creating an unkind feeling, and placing ships so cir-
cumstanced under undue restriction, would tend to injure the
interests of the town itself to an extent far beyond what could
be compensated by the proposed duty. This duty, the history
of which is of most dubious, if not unfair character, by the pre-
vious Acts was limited to 2s. a chaldron, was intended to be
tempory in its duration, and its proceeds were to be applied
to the payment of 5001. borrowed by the Commissioners.
When coal, however, was ordered to be sold by the ton in-
stead of by the chaldron, the statute was evaded, and the
2s. duty was levied on each ton, which is equivalt nt to 2s. 6d.
a chaldron. The money intended to be paid by the imposition
of the duty still remains unliquidated, though the Commis-
sioners have received from the coal duties upwards of
30,0001 And, unless the clauses referred to be engrafted on
the Bill, a duty intended to be temporary will be made per-
petual, and steam-vessels, which, not being then in existence,
could not have been contemplated by the original statute,
will be subjected to a most unfair and vexatious impost. But
we cannot anticipate that the insertion of the protective
clauses will meet with any opposition. The whole amount
of the coal duty is but a bagatelle compared with the ad-
vantages which Ramsgate derives from its visitors, whom
it ought, therefore, seek to attract by affording every pos-
sible accommodation to the vessels frequenting its harbour.
In fact, the necessity of continuing the duty on coal, which,
had the terms of the original Act been complied with, would
long since have ceased, is a subject deserving investigation; at
all events, no possible plea can be urged for making Ramsgate
an exception to the rule observed in other Improvement
Bills, such as those of Brighton, Hastings, St. Leonard's,
Bognor, &c., whereby the duty is strictly confined to coal
consumed in these towns. The justice and policy of the regu-
lation is so obvious, that it is needless to argue upon it. We
beg, however, every Liberal Member to be present in the
House of Commons this evening, in order to defeat the Bill.
A more nefarious imposition was never attempted. The pass-
ing of the Bill would not only expose Ramsgate to the same
fate which has so justly deprived Margate, through the le-
veying of heavy duties for its pier accommodation, of all its na-
tural advantages, but reduce its population from a state of
improved condition and active industry, to one of precarious
penury, and fruitlessly bogging endeavours.-111orning Ad-
vertiser.

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAIL-

WAY OFFICE.

TO THE EDITOI? OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Presurning that it is your wish to give correct infor-
mation relative to the Shares of this Company, I take the
liberty of informing you that an error, as stated at foot, exists
in your Paper of the 13th inst.
I shall feel obliged by your early correction of the mistake.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
JOHN JELLICORSE, Secretary.
Total Shares. Per Share. Paid. Price.
10,000 1001. 5/. 14/.
13,000 1001. 30/. 48/. should be.
9, Brown street, Manchester, May 15, 1838.