The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-29 00:00:00

'The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
no excuse had need to be made by the Hon. Gentleman
for bringing forward the present motion. It was one of
great importance, yet he hoped under existing circum-
stances the House would bear with him, if he did not
attempt to follow him through the various items to
which he had referred, as in another Parliament it
might be found necessary to increase the amount of
direct taxation, and therefore he regretted the question
was brought forward at the present time. With this
general declaration he considered it would be the best
course for him not to go into the details of the question
now, but leave it to a tuture and more fitting occasion.
Mr. R. YORKE hoped the Hon. Member (Mr.
Ewart) would, after the declaration of the Right Hon.
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) postpone
the subject. In another session of Parliament there
would have to be a general revision of taxation.
Mr. HUME said the business of the night was the
voting away of the public money, and therefore he
thought the question was one which was fairly entitled to
consideration. He for one thought the whole excise
system should be revised, and as there was a league es-
tablished to effect this object, he wished it every success.
They would soon have to elect a new Parliament, and it
would depend on the people what Members should be
returned, and what should be done with the excise-laws.
The duties on soap, paper, and bricks, were most oppres-
sive, and if the people were true to themselves, this
would be accomplished. There were many ways in which
the expenditure of the country might be reduced, in
order to effect improvements in the taxes ; for instanee,
a million might be saved by withdrawing the cruizers
from the coast of Africa, where they were doing no good,
but evil.

Mr. WILLIAMS complained of such motions being
brought forward, unless they were persevered in. There
was one omission in the statement of the Hon. Member
for Dumfries. It was the reduction of the expenditure,
as well as the carrying out of direct taxation. He
would call their attention to the fact that the estimates
in 1835 were seven millions less than they were in the
present year. Year for year the increase of the esti-
mates has been going on. He called upon the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer to explain how this took place.
The country ought not to be satisfied with this state of
things, or with the tax roll of fifty-five millions of money,
It would, in his opinion, be better that the sense of the
House should be taken in a direct motion on this sub-
ject.
Col. SIBTHORP thought the best course would be
for the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to give up his office to the Hon. Member for
Coventry. It would be then seen what he could do in
his new position.

Mr. EWART said as the subject would have to come
fully before the House on a future occasion, and after
the expression of opinion which had been elicited, he
would for the present withdraw the motion.
The motion was then withdrawn.
MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES.
The House then went into a Committee of Supply,
and on a vote of 77,8061. being proposed to be taken for
the expenses of the Mint,
Mr. HUME thought a better system than the present
for the management of the Mint might be contrived. It
was the only ancient institution which had not been re-
formed, and it possessed all its ancient abuses without
being any benefit to the country whatever. It appeared
from the returns, that on recoining 11,000,000/. sterling
the public were subjected to a charge of 40,0001.; instead
of that, the institution ought to maintain itself as in France,
America, and ether countries. With great unwilling-
ness he succumbed to the business of the House, and did
not press for a Committee of Inquiry, but he entered his
protest against the payment of this money, and called
on the Government to take the matter up as a Govern-
ment question, and reform it altogether.
Mr. SHELL defended the officers of the mint. They
were not blameable for the large amount of expenditure.
There certainly were some things objectionable in the
management of the mint, but the officers engaged in the
mint were not answerable for them.

Mr. HUME said he did not blame the officers, but the
system. This country was paying more for this depart-
ment than any other country in the world.
Mr. SHEIL was rejoiced to hear that Hon. Gentle-
man did not question the morality of the officers engaged
in the mint.

Mr. WILLIAMS complained that the department
was in the hands of a private company, whereas it ought
to be in the hands of the Government. lie hoped the
Right Hon. Gentleman would turn his attention to this
subject. "

Sir GEORGE CLERK said there was a good deal
of uncertainty in the work supplied to the contractors
of the Mint. These contractors had a large capital in-
vested in the business, and it was not to be won-
dered at that when they were called upon suddenly to
throw out a certain amount of work it involved the
country in a large expense.
Mr. HUME was not aware that the contractors had a
large capital lying dormant,
Mr. SHEIL said it was true the Government
found the machinery for the Mint, but the miners had to
keep that machinery in repair. He entertained an ear-
nest hope that ere long some useful modification would
take place in the system.

Mr: THOR NELY---;vl;hed to know when the country
might expect the issue of 2s. pieces?
Mr. SHEIL said he had consulted his Right Hon.
Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the sub-
ject, who was more officially responsible for the issue
than he was, and his Right Hon. Friend had promised to
give his attention to the subject. He had, therefore,
given instructions to the engraver of the Mint to hold
himself in readiness to prepare the die.
After some further conversation, the vote was agreed
to.