The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-16 00:00:00

prodigality, but at the same time many an one who shares
that sentiment yet feels that it is demanded by public expe-
diency and public duty that we should endeavour to bring
about a movement forgrappling with the public expenditure.
I trust that that may be the case. For my own part, I say
that if this country will but steadily and constantly show
herself as wise in the use of her treasure as she is unequalled
in the production of her wealth and moderate in the exercise
of her strength, then we may well believe that England will
for many generations yet to come continue to hold her fore-
most position among the nations of the world. (Cheers.)
The right hon. gentleman concluded by putting into the
hands of the chairman a resolution to the effect that the
duty on foreign chicory should be doubled.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE, while bearing testimony to the
ability with which the right hon. gentleman had submitted
his financial statement to the house, observed that it clearly
proved he and those who in conjunction with him objected to
the Budget oflast year as not making sufficient provision for
the wants of the country were perfectly right in the opinion
which they then advanced. (Hear.) He might further re-
mark that when that Budget had be en brought forward in
February the remission of the paper duty formed one of the
principal proposals of the right hon. gentleman, and that
the house in discussing its merits could not proceed on the
assumption that that impost would be continued, or that the
duty on spirits would be raised from Bs. to 10s. a gallon.
(Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman, therefore, was
not justified in supposing that the opposition which was
offered to his scheme last year was not based on a sound
basis, and he trusted the Committee would be so far warned
by the experience of the past as to sift very narrowly the
proposals which, on behalf of the Government, had that
evening been submitted to their notice. So far ae the finan-
cial prospeets of the present year were concerned, he under-
stood the right hon. gentleman to say that he expected the
loss to the revenue caused by the repeal cf the paper duty
and the remission of 13. in the pound of the income-tax
would be compensated by certain reductions in our military
and naval expenditure, but he seemed to forget that
£1,000,000 in the shape of Exchequer Bonds would be fall-
ing due in May, 1862, another million in the year follow-
ing, and, if he was not mistaken, a third in the ensuing
year. Now, when it was taken into account that such was
the case, that we had been borrowing money for the pur-
pose of erecting fortifications, that we had been drawing
heavily on our balances, and that we had not yet ascer-
tained the full cost of the war with China, the house was
bound to weigh well the effect which the right hon. gentle-
man's scheme was calculated to have upon our financial
position for the next twelvemonths. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DODSON thought the right hon. gentleman would
have pursued a more prudent course than he had adopted
if he had simply proposed either the reduction of the in-
come-tax by ld. in the pound, or the repeal of the paper
duty, and not both. If he had acted so, ho would have been
in a position to remit the hop duty, and would have a
larger surplus in hand. •
Mr. HADFIELD expressed his regret that no diminu-
tion was proposed by the Government- of the duty on fire
insurance.
Mr. HENNESSY regretted that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer had not proposed to equalise the duties on coffee
and chicory, though, at the same time, he thought the pro-
posal to increase the duty on chicory was a step in the right
direction. As long as the duty on chicory was lower than
that on coffee traders would be tempted to make an exces-
sive use of the former article ; whereas an equalisation of
the duties would at once benefit the trader, the consumer,
and the revenue.
Mr. P. URQUHART thought that the hon. baronet the
member for Stamford, in criticising the financial statement,
had not made due allowance for the unforeseen loss arising
from the bad harvest of last year. Former deficient harvests
had been followed either by loans or by increased taxation,
but the b ad harvest of last year would long be remembered
as having been followed by a remission of taxation.
Mr. GLYN had no doubt that the statement of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, which turned into a surplus what
all the world feared would be a serious deficiency, would
give satisfaction to the country. The proposed remissions
of taxation were precisely those which the country desired.
The reduction of the income-tax would be regarded as a
great boon, while the House of Commons was in some sense
bound to deal with the paper duty. (Hear, hear.) He re-
gretted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not able
to announce a further payment from Spain, and he regretted
still more that nothing seemed to be expected from the Go-
vernment of Greece. About three years ago a committee ap •
pointed to consider the subject reported that they saw no
reason why Greece should not resume payment to the three
guaranteeing Powers. Since that time the debt due to us
had not only not diminished, but had actually increased,
although the Government of Greece, so far from being in a
state of poverty, appeared both able and willing to spend
large sums of money in the purchase of war steamers.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. E. BALL believed that the agricultural interests had
suffered most from the bad harvest of last year, and yet the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, while boasting of a surplus,
did not propose to touch the malt-tax, which was most op-
pressive in its nature. By requiring prompt payment of the
tax last year the Chancellor of the Exchequer had seriously
affected the manufacture of malt, and in fact had lost some-
thing like £BOO,OOO of revenue. Ho trusted the right hon.
gentleman would still consider the propriety of abolishing
GL uiau auLy.
Mr. W. E WART, as an advocate for many years of the
repeal of the taxes on knowledge, begged to express the
pleasure he felt at the proposal of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to abolish the paper duty—a measure dictated
alike by good faith and policy. He did not entertain so
confident a hope as his right hon, friend that the light wines
of France would be largely consumed in this country, nor
could he coincide with his right hon. friend upon the pro-
priety of retaining the alcoholic test. It would be better
to admit the more alcoholic wines of France, which, if they
came in under a shilling duty, would sell in this countryfor
Is. a bottle. He regretted the size of the new coinage, and
should have preferred a copper coinage more resembling
that of France.
Mr. CAVE thought the country would be disappointed
to find that the Chancellor of the Exchequer continued the
very objectionable penny taxes which possessed the qualities
of giving the least return to the Exchequer and the greatest
trouble to the taxpayer. The public would also be sorry
that the reduction of the tea and sugar duties should be
postponed to the repeal of the paper duties. (Hear, hear.)
This was the best time for repealing these war duties, be-
cause there was now a great accumulation in the stock of
these necessaries of life to the poor man, and a reduction in
the duties would not go into the pocket of the importer, but
into the pocket of the consumer. The continued imposition
of these war duties was injurious to the revenue, because it
gave a premium upon adulteration. The price that the poor
man paid for French wine at 14s. a dozen was, thst he had
to use sugar that would not sweeten his tea, and tea that
was too often adulterated.
Mr. J. EWART was glad to hear the Chancellor of the
Exchequer promise to reconsider the penny duty on packages,
There was no tax more unpopular among the trading com-
munity.
Mr. B. OSBORNE—The Chancellor of the Exchequer is
such a great magician on these subjects that he must be a
bold man who would attempt to criticise him ; but this I
must do him the justice to say, that when he talked of hay-
ing led us through a "wilderness of figures" it was nothing
but a garden of flowers. (A laugh.) lam rather amazed
at hearing the hon. member for. Shoreham taking such
small exceptions to- a great scheme. For myself, I have
always taken exception to the repeal of the paper duty
under the financial circumstances of the country, and
never voted for it, but I think the right hon. gentleman
has acted with great wisdom in proposing to remove this
fruitful subject of controversy between the two houses and
in taking off the paper duty. (Hear, hear.) Under
other circumstances I should have preferred the reduc-
tion of the tea and sugar duties, but I cannot resist the
conviction that the paper duty was a most dange-
rous subject to be left open after the course taken by
the other House of Parliament, and I congratulate the right
hon. gentleman on the great nerve and wisdom he has
shown in dealing with it. (Hear.) That penny on the in.

come-tax thrown to us country gentlemen will float his
budget. He has wrapped up the paper very well (a laugh),
and if the penny does not float the budget through, it will be
very unwise of us not to take the compromise he offtrs us.
I think, too, the right hon. gentleman has acted wisely in
placing these matters in one bill. (Hear, hear.) I, of course,
reserve my right to look into the details, and I admit I was
rather surprised to hear of this surplus. (Hear, hear,) I
expected rather to hear of an increase of the income-tax
than of a penny being taken off. Reserving my right to look
into these matters in the name of my constituents, I thank
the right hon. gentleman for his condemnation of the profli-
gate expenditure sanctioned by this house. (Cheers.) That
expression will do good service, not only in this house, but
also in the country.

Lord R. CECIL said he also wished to say a word about
this " profligate expenditure." Nothing would be more
calculated to injure the character of that house and of the
Government than if the right hon. gentleman persisted in
using language of this kind. (Hear, hear.) If any one was
responsible for the expenditure of the country it was the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. The right hon. gentleman
was bound to protest in the Cabinet against any expenditure
that he believed to be profligate, and if his remonstrances
were not attended to it was his duty to curry out his views

in the manner usual to recalcitrant Ministers. if the right
hon. gentleman did net think proper to take this course he

was bound not to discredit the Estimates that he himself

moved. The right hon. gentleman was at present asking
the house to save him from the effect of his own measures.

A Minister ought not to sanction that which he did not

approve, and the Finance Minister ought least of all to say
ho disapproved the way in which the finances of the coun-
try were carried on. (Hear, hear.)
Colonel SYKES hoped that the vexatious penny duty on
packages would be abolished.

Mr. HENEAGE believed that the reduction of the paper
duty would be very acceptable to his constituents.
Mr. CROSSLEY said that the hon. member for Cam-
bridgeshire (Mr. Ball) has spoken of the bad harvest and
the malt duty as if it were the agricultural interest, and not
the consumer, that paid the duty. Considering the diffi-
eulties that surrounded the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
he thought that the reduction of a penny on the income-tax
and the abolition of the paper duty would give satisfaction
tV the MVP. Wheil relief was asked 1r the