The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-10 00:00:00

COLLECTION OF TAXES.

Mr. Lowe cannot, after all, claim full credit for the
originality of the change made in the collection of taxes
introduced by his last year's Budget. In their report
to the Treasury, just issued, the Commissioners of In-
land Revenue observe :—The financial year 1869-70
will be memorable in the history of this • depart-
ment. The reform we have so long advocated in the
mode of collecting the assessed taxes has at length been
effected, and effected more thoroughly and more satisfac-
torily than we had ever previously ventured to expect.
It will be in your lordships' recollection that we have
been for many years urging the abolition of the system of
collection and assessment of a branch of our
revenue, through persons unconnected with the executive
Government. We pointed out that they were for the most
part utterly indifferent to the interests -of the Exche-
quer ; that they had even been openly opposed to those
interests, and engaged in doing their best to thwart the
intentions of the Legislature ; that they were many of
them illiterate, many corrupt ; that for the purpose of
instructing them in their duties, and restraining them from
doing wrong, both to the Crown and the subject, it was
necessary for the Government to maintain another large
staff of officers to go over the the same ground, and that
after all that precaution and expense, there remained an
amount of evasion of taxes which could scarcely be accounted
for by mere carelessness or ignorance. But the influence of
those interested pecuniarily in maintaining the system was
too powerful for any but a very strong Government. An
attempt made in 1864 to vest in Government officers the
collection alone, was foiled at the last moment. It cannot
be doubted that the acceptance of the present measure is
greatly owing to the success of the dog licenses. When
we are able to chew that by a mere change of machinery
we brought into charge a million dogs instead of four
hundred thousand, we were furnished with an argument
which was quite irresistible.

AGRICULTURE AND THE CORN TRADE,

The accounts from the agricultural districts have
been favourable on the whole. The wheat plant, re-
freshed to some extent by the recent rains, has made
fair progress, but is still very backward for the season.
As yet, however, it appears to have escaped damage,
and with the exception of looking thin and wenk in some
places, its appearance is generally regarded as not anta-
gonistic to the expectation of a fair crop. In Ireland
the aspect of affairs is viewed with satisfaction, the
want of rain being less severely felt there than on this
side of the Channel. From abroad, also, the accounts
are favourable so far as the prospects of the yield in
Algeria, Egypt, and the Southern States of America are
concerned. In the meadow lands the supply of grass is
very small, and unless the rainfall is much heavier during
the next few weeks the hay crop will be decidedly below
the average. There has been a continuance of firmness in
the grain trade during the week. The supplies of wheat
have been only moderate, and Continental advices report
an increased amount of steadiness. Not only has last
week's improvement been well maintained, but a further
rise of Is. to 2s. per quarter has taken place. Business,
however, has not been brisk at this enhancement, and in
some quarters a reactionary movement has not been
considered improbable. But in this opinion we are not
disposed to coincide. The stocks in this country have
been considerably reduced of late, and the high prices
current on the Continent, particularly in the North of
Europe, will naturally attract a portion of the surplus
produce of America to these shores. So long, however,
as harvest prospects continue favourable any important
upward movement need not be anticipated, but should
anything happen to endanger the ultimate safety of the
crop the advance in prices would be both rapid and im-
portant.—Magnet.

We have had another cold and dry week, confirming the
harshness and lateness of the season. The light showers
of last week, however, did good to the meadows, which
look greener than might have been expected, though little
growth has been made. The night frosts have played
havoc with the early planted potatoes, the young haulm
in very many cases being perfectly blackened;
but more serious complaints reach us of the
aspect of the wheat plants, which in the light fen
lands, as well as the aeavy clays, give very poor promise
from thinness. The last sowings, too, of the spring corn
have had no chance to emerge from the harsh soil ; and
without genial showers in plenty, the general gatherings
of 1870 must be very short. The rye is reported to be
seriously injured on the Continent, much being
destroyept and what is left making but a spindly
growth. In keeping with these reports, the movement
has still been upwards, both in this country and every-
where abroad. Indeed the exports of wheat lately noted
in our London returns have consisted of low qualities for
foreign use, the Rhenish provinces and other parts needing
them as something cheap for the poorer classes,
in consequence of the advance of fine native
produce. The very agents, who were expected to be
plentifully furnished with offers from the Baltic for
London, find themselves with almost no occupation, and
merchants here who a little time back bought what
town millers would call rubbish at dog-cheap rates have
been well paid for their courage. The advance noted
this week in the country has been fully is. to 2s. ; so the
inevitable decline predicted about a month ago has turned
out to be a rise of something like 45., making the almost
immediate difference 65.—Mark Lane Express.

BISHOP STROSSMAYER. The Vienna journals
state that Bishop Strossmayer will be made Archbishop
of Agram, the Austro-Hungarian Government desiring
to make this recognition of the zeal he has displayed in
the Council in opposing the Ultramontane tendencies.
It appears, however, that this prelate is un-
popular in Hungary on account of his Pan.
slavist tendencies, and still more because of the
determined opposition he made to the incorporation of
Croatia with the kingdom of Saint Etienne. Count
Beust, who is anxious to make the appointment, lately
put out a feeler in the Pester Lloyd on the matter. The
nomination to this post is said to be one of the purely
domestic affairs of the Hungarian Crown, and beyond the
control of the Imperial Chancellor.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING IN INDIA.—The Viceroy
of India has issued an order directing the attention of
railway companies to the necessity of providing their pas-
sengers and servants with some protection from the heat.
Now that railway traffic is so greatly extending throughout
India, it is highly desirable that some better precations
Should be taken, as last year the deaths from heat
apoplexy on the East India line were alarmingly
frequent. The Viceroy remarks that the addi-
tion of a double roof to the third-class carriages
is an improvement, and the fitting of tattles
to the windows, with appliances for watering them, is a
suggestion which merits attention. The passengers
should not, he thinks, object to pay a small extra sum
for such comforts, while the guards and firemen, who bear
the worst of the heat, should have all the advantages
possible.