The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAM *NT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Monday, Feb, 16.
PECULIAR BURDENS ON LAND.
Lord BEAUMONT, in continuation, said
The distinction which he wished to draw was this—that
ho wished to distinguish those which were only for local
purposes—which only interested those people for whom
they were raised, and those in the immediate vicinity.
Now he wished to make this distinction between those
taxes and those rates which were imposed for general
purposes, and those taxes and those rates which were im-
posed for peculiar purposes—the one being borne for the
benefit of the whole community, and the other only for
the advantage of a particular district. The taxes which
he wouid designate for local purposes were the
drainage rateseehe sewers' rate, and the rate for the rural
police, and he should no more think of imposing the ex-
penditure for the purposes of these rates upon the eom-
munity at large than he should think of imposing the
especial rites for towns upon the rural population ; as,
for instance, he should no more think of imposing the
rate necessary for the improvement of the marsh
lands in the East aud West Ridings of Yorkshire,
on the inhabitants of towns, from the peculiar burdens
of the agricultural residents, than be should think it ne-
cessary or just to impose the burdens which had
to be borne by the residents in cities for peculiar
purposes, from which the rural population de-
rive no advantage. The rates which he should
designate as the rates which were particularly imposed
on the inhabitants of towns were the paving rate, the
lighting rate, the water rate, and those other particular
burdens which were not all necessary for the mode of
life of the inhabitants of towns ; these were
what he called the peculiar burdens of towns,
and he shotild no more think of impos-
ing them upon the inhabitants who were charged
with the cultivation and improvement of the marsh lands
of the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire than he should
think'of imposing upon them the expense of affording a
better supply of water to the inhabitants of Exeter. It
was usual for these rates to be imposed by the inha-
bitants of towns, through the agency of public
meetings, called by the inhabitants themselves, and
s ratified by a special act of those inhabitants.
Now the burdens imposed upon land for peculiar pur-
poses are the tate for drainage, the dike rate, and the
rate fur the support of the rural police. These rates
,
I were for particular acts, in which the rural
population were specially interested. But there
were other rates which were imposed for general
purposes, such as those for the maintenance
of the poor, public security, and the support of the ad-
-1 ministration of justice ; and without protective duties
he would no more think of imposing them upon land
alone than he would think of imposing them upon the
fundholders or upon any otherparticular body in the State.
The maintenance of the poor-rate was an object of pecu-
liar interest to all classes, whether manufacturing or
agricultural. He trusted that he had said enough to
convince their Lordships that the maintenance of the
poor was a national and general object. If the militia
were called out, it was not for the purpose of defending
the mere acres—it was not for the purpose of defending
the capitalist—it was to defend the country generally,
and, therefore, all classes were equally interested
in paying the militia rate, which was made for the pro-
tection of every persote and not of peculiar individuals.
Thus, the rates for the maintenance of the poor, the de-
fence of the country', and the administration of justice,
were conottion to all, and tetially paid by all, aud were
distinguished from other rates levied for less general
purposes. lie wished to seh lioW flit the relation between
real property and every other kind of property ettehded,
and he wished to see the relative position of landed pro-
perty and property that eblisisted of houses.
The poor rate was originally founded on the same basis
on which Most said rates were founded: It as not
real property alone that was liable to he rated fret by art
Act of Elizabeth. Every man was rateable according to
his means and ability, whether hie income was derived
from land, from trade, or from funded property. That
had since degenerated, and now, by the law of the
land, only real property was liable to this tax, He
would wish to know the effect of this law
on the capitalist, who embarked his money in
trade, as distinguished from the effect it had on the
agricultural community, If a person invested his
money in building a mill, he would be rated
according to the rateable value of the mill.
Lie would have to hire the mill, and the mill would be
merely rated according to its rateable value, and not at
its rack rent; as in some eases land Wee. it would only
be rated at twb.thirds, or one-half, as in the county of
Westmoreland. There land was rack-rented, and
1 houS'et *eh ttitei , VO-liliedst Wbilq Mille were
only rated one-half. That was die way this
great capitalist contributed to the joooterete, yet
he made vest stiles ,or ificint,:!y: it.ir hb edreeted ff6.l the
entire neighbourhood far arid near—froei the agricul-
tural districts—able, healthy laboutde capable of con-
tinued exertion I and iiiilese the Manufacturer received
some check in his trade, his profit would go on in-
creasing. Then what did he doe He dismissed
those persons by hundreds and thousands, and they
were thrown upon the agricultural districts, which were
obliged to support them. The capitalists derived thb
profits of their manhood, and the agriculturists sup-
ported their age. Now let them contrast this with the
Operation of the law upon the farmer. The farmer had
no choice whatever, he was bound to employ
those men or to increase the rates, and
many farmers he knew in his own district
employed a great many more labourers than the purely
economical working of the farm required. That was
the difference between himself and the capitalist, but let
a glut come on the trade of the towns of Leeds or
Manchester and the labourers would be obliged to re-
turn to the rural parishes, where the farmer was obliged
to contribute to their support, and wiaere he could not
derive much benefit from their labour, because their pur-
suits had beets confined to manufactures, and these were,
therefore, fitted to cultiyate the soil. Ti* was the diffe-