The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-23 00:00:00

THE INCOME TAX.

Last evening a public meeting (at the instance
of the Property and Income Tax Association) wait
held at the Loudon Tavern, for the purpose of con-
sidering the best means of obtaining a more equi-
table adjustment of the taxes on trades and pr:.-
ft scions. Mr. Alderman Wire was in the chair.
In commencing the business of the meeting tl 0
CHAIRMAN observed that the inconvenience of the
income tax was its inequality and the iniquitous
mode of its levy. lie counselled agitation until
Loth these evils were removed by some very mate-
rial alteration in the management of this tax, or
even until its abolition. He was quite aware that
i taxes must be levied, and must he borne, for the
purpose of carrying on the great business of the
c-Amtry, but what he and those associated with
him wished was that all taxes, and especially the
income tax, should be more equally and more
justly laid. The chairman proceeded to argue the
matter of the inequality and injustice of the tax,
especially as it affected the various classes of society
who were compulsorily brought under its influence
—more particularly those who had to earn their
bread by the sweat of their brow. The inquisito-
r al nature of the tax was warmly dwelt upon by
the speaker, who denounced the prying into the
papers of business people in order to enable the
inquisitors to arrive at the conclusions necessary
to required ends. The question of false returns
being nude, which could not but tend to keep
up a system of false credit, also came in for a large
share of the speaker's condemnation. His finel
remarks were to the (ffect that whatever Govern-
ment might come into office, this one thing was
certain, that the right men must be found for the
right places, and that their duty must be taught,
and would be found in the doctrine of retrench•
moot in the expenditure of the public exchequer.
Mr. ELT (Islington) moved a resolution—" That
the present mode of charging one uniform late on
all classes of income without reference to the source
whence those incomes are derived—whether per-
manent or precarious—is manifestly unjust, and
tends to create a general and systematic evasion,
and bas been submitted to for the last 16 years
under the repeated pea that the tax was only re-
quired for temporary purposes ; and that this meet-
ing is of opinion that in any future alteration in
the existing law, the charge on incomes derived
from trades and professions (schedules D and E)
should not exceed one-half the charge on funded
and realised property."
Mr. J. HIoHAM (one of the honorary secretaries)
seconded the resolution.

Mr. GANNON, who stated that be was, and bad
been, a tradesman of 32 years in the neighbour-
hood of the Strand, deemed himself entitled to

hearing. He moved an amendment to the effect
that all porous whose incomes did not amount to
1501. a-year should be altogether excluded from
the operation of tho income-tax.
The amendment was lost, 20 bands only being
held up for it in a large meeting, and the resolution
cartied.

Mi n
gpre.
tRi
aloe: AhneDasdooNp
ttehde n(
wmh
ioel-ledwatshasteetnheed
efdollaonwa.
I
carried) :—" That, whereas, by the laws now in
force relative to the income tax, it is provided that
the said tax i-hall be reduced to sd. in the pound
on and after the sth day of April next, and expire
on the sth day of Apfil, 1860 ; and that in rise
opinion of your petitioners the present .mode of
charging one uniform rate on all classes ofincome,
without reference to the source whence those in-
comes are derived, whether permanent or .precari-
ous, is manifestly unjust, and tends to create a
general and systematic evasionel.nawa:tomduuernepetpttrhioativtoinstieohrnsa
therefore humbly pray that should your honour-
able home feel it desirable to increpaseatnhde amount
E o
f the
exceedunder one-half acts
.nay Ceti
rhtsaorung
neob underatewhinplienaaydafebo
rlaci ne theunder
shall
lid,
yae
lrpl
futurer
schedulese s, eo l t
aoyfatbhlaenkons
toprtohpeercthyairman
accompanied
bßayn:AtabnirvdneoetteCrc.h"eers, concluded the business of the
even lug.

MARKET NEWB.--(This Day.)
HAY MARKETS.
SurniFlELD.—Moadow hay, 21 lOs to 3/ 15s; cloven
31 103 to 41 15s ; and straw, 1/ 3s to 1/ 81 per load.
A moderate supply, and "a heavy demand.
CtuiBERLAND. —Meadow hay, 2/ 103 to 3' 15s; clover.
Trade 11 4a to 11 83 per load.
31 103 to 41 188; and straw,
WHITECIZA.PEL.—Meadow hay, 2110 s to 3! 153; elm',
31. 103 to 41 15s • and straw. 1/ 33 to 11 83 per load
A slow inquiry, aelate rates. Supply tolerably good.