The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-31 00:00:00

lay upon the table a continuation of the Acts of last year,
in order that they might be able to see how the money had
been expended.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
objection to the returns being laid on the table.
Mr. G 0 ULBURN did not rise to offer any opposition
to the motion. Parliament having determined that a cer-
tain number of poor-houses were to be built, he did not
think it was competent to the House to refuse a loan for
such a purpose. He had no hesitation in saying that the
sums granted by the Commissioners of Public Works in
Ireland had been very beneficially employed. There was
one point to which he wished to call the attention of the
Right Hon. Gentleman. The unfunded debt had been
gradually progressing last 3 ear ; they had reduced it four
millions, and now they were about to add to it a sum of
one million and a quarter. What he wished to impress
on the Right Hon. Gentleman was, that some arrange-
ment should be made, by which repayment made on ac-
count of Exchequer bills should be allowed to goto the re-
duction of the Exchequer bills issued.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the Right Hon. Gentleman wag probably not aware of the
course at present pursued. The sums received for the
repayment of these loans were applied to extinguish the
Exchequer bills as the money was received.
Mr. WILLIAMS begged to ask what was the present
rate of interest on loans for Exchequer bills ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
4} per cent.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that was a higher rate of interest
than was paid for funded paper.
Mr. HUME thought the interest upon Exchequer bills
much too high.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ad-
mitted that the sum at present paid was higher than that
paid for funded paper ; but Exchequer bills were always
liable to fluctuations, while funded paper maintained a
steady price.
After a few words from Mr. RAMSBOTTOM, the re-
solTuthioenHwoausseagthreeen redtsou.
med, and the Report was ordered to
be brought up to-morrow.

TOBACCO EXCISE ACTS.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER, the House went into Committee on the
Tobacco' and Glass Excise Acts. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman stated that it was his intention to propose two re-
solutions. With respect to tobacco, it was his intention to
do away with the present system of surveys. He believed
there was just ground of complaint on all sides with respect
to the present Excise regulations. As the law at present
stood, there was a power given to the manufacturers of
mixing up water and colouring matter, but the law was
very difficult, and particularly with regard to the unfair
trader, as it enabled him to throw in a quantity of molasses
and take other steps for the adulteration of the tobacco.
They must either adopt the course of making the law so
stringent as to carry its intention fully into effect,, or they
must adopt the course recommended by the Commissioners
of Excise, of doing away altogether with the present system
of surveys and permit, so as to put the fair trader upon
the same footing as the unfair one, to enable him to com-
pete with him. Upon the best consideration he could give
the subject, the latter appeared to him to be the most ad-
visable course to adopt, as to make the restrictions effec-
tual, they must be carried to such an extent as would ma-
terially interfere with the course of trade, and in their pre-
sent state those restrictions only gave the unfair trader an
advantage over the fair trader. He,hoped the House would
agree to his resolution which he should make the founda-
tion of a Bill, into the details of which, however, he did
not propose to go until after Easter. The Right Hon.
Gentleman then proposed a resolution to the effect that
the present regulations regarding the collection of the
Excise duties on tobacco should be repealed.
Mr. HUME was satisfied that this was a good step, and
hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would go yet a step
further. It was owing to the enormous duty, 1,2a0t.
per cent., levied on tobacco that these frauds took place. If
that duty were reduced smuggling would be done away
with ; the consumer would derive advantage, and the
revenue would, he was satisfied, be increased.
Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL hoped that the
Right Hon. Gentleman would introduce some provision
in his Bill to afford relief to the owners of damaged to-
bacco.

Mr. GOULBURN agreed with the Hon. Gentleman
opposite that if the duty were reduced, it might be fol_
lowed by an increase of consumption arid a decrease of
smuggling ; but he looked upon tobacco in the same light
that he looked upon opium.—(A laugh.)
Mr. lIUME was for leaving every man free to purchase
and use what he pleased, be it spirits, or opium, or to-
bacco, and the object of the Government should be to
adopt such means as would secure the largest revenue,
give the greatest possible quantity of any article at the
least possible cost to the consumer, and withdraw also
temptation to any violation of the law.
After a few words from Lord GRANVILLE SO-
MERSET and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, the resolution was agreed to.
GLASS DUTIES (EXCISE.)

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that last Session his predecessor had introduced a Bill,
exempting broad glass from the high duties levied upon
German sheet glass, and he thought he had so defined
broad glass in that Bill as to prevent every possibility of
fraud. The Bill, however, had proved an entire failure,
and it had been found impossible in practice to draw the
line so as to prevent what was really sheet glass passing as
broad glass. He would, therefore, propose the following
resolution :—" That the duties now payable on broad
glass do cease, and that broad sheet glass be subject to the
same duties as Crown and German sheet glass."
Mr. HUME thought it would be better to reduce the
higher to the lower scale, instead of raising the lower to
the higher.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that that would be a most pleasant way of doing what he
proposed, namely, equalizing the duties, but he was afraid
in the present state of things it was impracticable.
Mr. HUME wished to know what broad glass was used
for, because they ought not to raise the price of an article
which was intended for the use of the poorer classes. fie
believed it was used for the windows of poor cottages.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
it was not fit to be employed for that purpose.
Mr. G ISBOR NE hoped some provision would be made
not to subject all glass to the higher rate of duty.
Mr. HUME hoped before the Bill took another stage
they should have some returns on the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would
be happy to give any returns that might be required. He
had interviews with various manufacturers, who agreed in
the propriety of his resolution.
Mr. HUM E—He wished the Right Hon. Gentleman
had consulted the consumers—the persons who used as well
as those who manufactured the glass.
The resolution was then agreed to, and the. House
resumed.

COUNTY CONSTABULARY BILL.
On the Order of the Day for the second reading of the
County Constabulary Bill being read,
EYr EDWARD KNATCHBULL would suggest, as
there were two Bills on this subject before the House, that
they should be referred to a Committee, who might select
the best provisions from each.
After a few words from Mr. SLANE Y, which were in-
audible in the gallery.

Mr. MILES saki that great blame was due to the Go-
vernment for introducing the Bill of last year at so late a
period of the Session. Had it been introduced earlier,
it would have been scouted. He was sorry to see that
some counties had adopted it, but he was happy to say
Somers.eshire was not of the number. One of the oldest
institutions in the county had been destroyed by this Bill.
He trusted the example of Somersetshire would be fol-
lowed by all other counties. Ile admitted that the old
county constabulary force wanted alteration, but Ire Shouts
they should alter it upon the basis of the old institution.
lie trusted the suggestion of the Right Hon. Baronet
would be acceded to, so that the House might judge of
the two Bills, and adopt a system of improvement based
upon the old system, and what would not entail such an
enormous expense upon the rate-payers, as the one proposed.
Mr. BENNET regretted to say that Wilts had adopted
the constabulary force ; but it had been adopted in igno-
rance, and the people were now outrageous against the
measure. The county-rates had been doubled in conse-
quence, and no more efficient protection had been the re-
sult. The four manufacturing towns had monopolised the
whole force, and the county districts had each one police-
man to an extensive district, who was an object of dislike
and contempt Re opposed the measure on constitutional
grounds, and denied altogether the necessity for a rural
police.
Crime had not increased in Wiltshire during the
last forty years, so as to call for the alteration; and the
defects of the old system might have been remedied
without going to such an enormous expense.—(Hear.)
He denied the necessity of such a force, but it was consi-
dered necessary the expense ought to bo borne by the pub-
lic for any increase of crime which was caused by the in-
crease of manufactures.
Mr. PROTHEROE defended the Bill, because he
had always found the greatest difficulty in administering
justice in his own neighbourhood, from the incapability tt
the old constables.
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proposition to pay part of the expense out of the public
funds. It would work well for the country. Property
would be protected, and the public ought at least to pay
part of the expenses.
Mr. GISBORNE thought the Bill of last year was a
very good one, and created a very good and necessary
force, but he objected to the Magistrates having the power
of levying the rates necessary for its support. The Ma-
gistrates were to spend the money, but no one was to be
responsible for its proper disbursement.
Sir T. FREMANTLE thought the Bill required the
amendment, and therefore he would support its second
reading, on purpose that it should be considered in a Com-
mittee up stairs. Some means must be taken for increas-
ing the number of men, and employing the present con-
stables in serving summonses and other Ministerial acts.
After a few words from Mr. Mit.nmAy and Mr.
PALMER, _

Lord G. SOMERSET considered that if the cresent
measure was amalgamated with that of the Member for
West Kent, and considered before a Select Committee, an
effectual measure might be framed oat of both.
Mr. BRUGES was glad the Government had intro-
duced this Bill, and he would give it his hearty support.
Nearly two-thirds of the crime of the country was in the
counties, and two-thirds of that on agricultural produce.
He thought, however, a more equitable mode of rating
might be adopted, that the boroughs should come under
the operation of the Act, and that the Magistrates ought
not to have a discretionary power as to the number of
policemen.
Mr. HODGE S was understood to say that he should
not oppose the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. RICE supported the principle of the Bill, remark-