The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-16 00:00:00

ANNUITY TAX ABOLITION (EDINBURGH)

BILL.
On the order of the day for the second reading of this
bill.

Mr. HADFIELD said that last year they were promised
a perfect and satisfactory measure in reference to the
long-vexed question of the annuity tax at Edinburgh;
but the present measure was the very reverse. To
show this, he referred to an important meeting of the Town
Council and magistrates in Edinburgh last week, as well as
other public meetings, at which resolutions were passed
strongly condemning the bill. The fact was that the mea-
sure excited general dissatisfaction in Edinburgh, being
opposed to the prevalent feeling in Scotland. The Free
Church of Scotland greatly exceeded in numbers that of
the State Church of Scotland, and the sums of money its
members had raised under the voluntary system astonished
Christendom. With that principle so strongly developed,
he could not help expressing his surprise that the Lord
Advocate should have considered it advisable to in-
troduco a measure to perpetuate so objectionable an
impost as the annuity tax. Ho adverted also to the large
number of petitions presented against the measure as a
proof of its great unpopularity, and contended that, after
the course pursued by the legislature in respect to ministers'
money in Ireland, it was most undesirable to introduce a
measure like the present. The hon. member concluded by
moving that the bill be read a second time this day six
months.

Mr. CAIRD said that he would not press an amendment
which he intended to have proposed on the motion for the
second reading of the bill, as the Lord Advocate
had stated that he would endeavour to alter the bill
in committee, so as to meet the objections that had
been raised against it by its opponents. Ho
doubted, however, whether even when it had been modified
in committee it would give satisfaction.
Sir R. FERGUSON said that the argumentsused against
this bill by the hon. member for Sheffield would apply
equally against the maintenance of the Church of England
in this country. He called therefore on the supperters of
the Church of England to support the Lord-Advocate in his
endeavours by this bill to lighten the burdens on the people
of Scotland In supporting the National Church. He con-
sidered that this bill was a fair compromise of the
long-vexed question in Edinburgh, and he denied
altogether that the tax proposed was a new im-
post. The bill proposed to include in taxation
for the Established Church in Scotland persons who had
hitherto been improperly exempted from its operation,
such as the learned bodies in Edinburgh, who from time
immemorial had net been required to pay towards such a
purpose. He admitted that there were objectionable pro-
vi.ions in the bill. In the first place he was strongly op-
posed to the proposal to reduce the number of the clergy,
and if such a proposit'on were made in reference to Londox
it would create a storm of discontent. lie contended it was
most desirable that the differences which prevailed on this
subject should be settled, and he appealed to the house to
act in a spirit of conciliation in order to accomplish this
object. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MACKAY said there could be no doubt as to the
expediency of settling this long vexed question. Last year
there were no less than 112 summonses issued in Edinburgh
against defaulters in respect to this tax, which were fol-
lowed in many cases by arrests and imprisonment. That
was a state of things that was most objectionable, and he
thought the proper course would be to allow the bill to he
read a second time, in order that it might go into commit-
tee, and be amended so as to meet the views of those who
were anxious to terminate the present objectionable state of
things. lie appealed, therefore, to the hon. member for
Sheffield not to press his amendment.
Mr. BLACK having referred to the deputations sent by
Government to inquire into the subject in Scotland, and to
the report of the select committee of 1851, recommending
arrangements to be made for the settlement of the diffe-
rences that prevailed in Edinburgh in reference to this
matter, in order to promote the interests of religion and
good government in the city. He had looked carefully into
the bill, and considered that it contained the basis of a satis-
factory arrangement. Me strongly approved of the adoption
of the recommendation of the Town Council of Edinburgh
which had been agreed to by that body at a public meeting.
Ho alluded to th appointment of 13 Ministers with a
salary of X6OO a-year each guaranteed to them. He hoped
the house would not throw any obstacle in the way of
speedy legislation on this long-vexed question, both for
the interests of religion and the sake of peace.
Major HAMILTON supported the second reading of
the bill, and contended that the annuity tax was nothing
more than a simple bond, by which their ancestors bound
themselves, their heirs and successors, to pay a certain
impost fora quid pro quo.

Sir E. COIEISRObIiE considered that though the bill
did not go so far as might have been desired, still it was,
to a certain extent, a concession on the part of the Esta-
blished Church of Scotland, and would therefore have his
support.
Mr. BLACKBURN and Mr. Mum supported the second
reading.

The-LORD-ADVOCATE said it was gratifying to him
that no single Scotch member had opposed the second read-
ing of the bill, and he hoped the hon. member for Sheffield
would not press his amendment. The principle on which
he proposed to proceed in his bill was to accumulate a fund
by an impost for 15 years, which, at the expiration of that
period, was to terminate. However, as the Town Council
objected to that course and preferred that there should be a
reduced permanent importlo he had no objection to the
adoption of that course, an d;would propose amendments in
committee for the purpose of carrying it out. He would
also introduce other amendments to meet the views of some
hon. members.

Mr. HADFIELD said that lie would yield to the wishes
of the Scotch members, and withdraw his amendment.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday next.
CHARITY TRUSTEES BILL.
On the motion of Mr. MELLOn, the order for the second
reading of the bill was discharged.
Several other bills were proposed.

CONSOLIDATION FUND (X 9,500,000) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
COURT OF CHANCERY BILL.
On the -motion of Sir G. C. LEWIS, this bill was re-
ferred to a select committee.
The house then adjourned at 20 minutes past two o'clock.

POLICE INTELLIGE.N CE--(THIS DAY)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY FROM A GENTLEMAN
BY A CORPORAL OF THE GRENADIERS.—John. David-
son, a corporal of the Ist battalion of Grenadiers, was
charged before Mr. Beadon with attempting to extort money
from Mr. George Brown, a gentleman lately from Shirley,
Southampton, but now staying at Lane's Hotel, St. Alban's-
place, Haymarket.

The complainant stated that midway between Evans's
Hotel and Leicester-square he called in at a public-house
and had some porter, and as he was leaving the prisoner
asked him to treat him with a glass of beer, saying, " You
are not going to leave us in this manner, are you ?" Ho
returned to the house and treated him and his companions
with some beer, and on leaving the prisoner followed him
and asked for some gin and a half-erown. He told him to
leave him and not annoy him, upon which the prisoner said
he should follow him and give him in charge, and as soon
as they met a constable the prisoner made a disgusting
charge against him, He (prosecutor) felt greatly enraged,
and could n t exactly say what the prisoner ohargeil
with.

Cornell, 109 C, said the complainant, on his coming up,
said the soldier wanted to get money from him by makiig
a false accusation. The prisoner then said he wanted to
make a oharge against the gentleman, but his statements
being so much at variance ho refused to take it, and as the
prisoner still annoyed the gentleman he took him into
custody.

Reeves, 44 C, said he had seen th• prisoner annoying
another gentleman previously, aid the gentleman seemed
anxious to get rid of him.

The prisoner said he had no questions to ask.
Mr. Beadon said he should remand him for a week, and
then commit him for trial.