The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-14 00:00:00

Tllll,
_SLN, LONDON, FRIDAY

the Post-oftei I feel warranted, from the in
etease in the revenue of that department since
last year, and the facilities which have recently been
made for the increase of foreign correspondence—l feel
warranted in estimating the revenue of the Post•office
for the next year at 700,000/., for the actual produce of
last year was 691,0001.—(Cheers from the Opposition.)
The Crown lands produced 1,500,0001 ; and I will take
them at that estimate. As to the miscellaneous sources
of revenue, I am inclined to take them at nearly the
same amount which they actually produced dur-
ing the past year that is 250,000/ Now
I have been here speaking of the ordinary
permanent sources of revenue, and the net amount
of my estimate on these is 47,900,0001. Besides, I cal-
culate that during the coming year we shall receive
600,000/. on account of China. So that, even if the
House should refuse its sanction to the continu-
ance of the income-tax, I think that I should be
entitled to take credit for the half-year's produce
of that tax—viz., for 2,600,000/, which will come
into the receipts of the year ending the sth of
April, 1846. Therefore, with this 2,600,0001, and
600,000/. on the account of China, I am warranted upon
calculating a clear revenue of 51,100,0001, even if the
House should refuse to continue the income-tax.
The charge for the debt could of course be calculated.
On the sth of April, 1846, the charge for debt will be
28,450,0001., and then you will have the full advantage
of that reduction which took , place last year
on the interest of the Three-and-a-Half per Cents.
The charge for debt, funded and unfunded,
28,458,000/. ; the charge on the Consolidated
Fund, 2,400,0004, making a total of 30,850,000/. on ac-
count of the debt. The estimated debt voted last year
amounted to 17,700,000/. ; the total charge, therefore,
assuming the present system to remain unaltered, would
be 48,557,0001 Deduct that sum from the total revenue,
that is 48,557,000/. from 51,150,0001, still the surplus
on the sth of April, 1846, will be 2,543,000/. I really
must, even at the risk of fatiguing the House, detail these
calculations. I hope the House will pardon me for so
doing. If you were to deduct from the revenue of
next year the receipt of the income-tax and the
casual and temporary receipt from Chinese money, and
assume that to be the amount of revenue on the follow-
ing year, ending the sth of April, 1847, and taking
the expenditure to be the same, in that case there would
be a small deficiency of revenue as compared with the
preceding year. The question is, Whether or not we
are justified in a demand for an increased expenditure
on account of the public expenditure, and I feel that it
is but right to satisfy the House what our intentions are
in making this demand. Ido not hesitate to admit that
no financial prosperity—no surplus revenue—relieves
the Government from the paramount obligation of con-
sidering whether it is consistent for the public interest
that a saving can be made in the public expenditure.
But I do not mean to say that there would be any jus-
tification on the part of the Government for a large and
profuse expenditure, when the revenue is in a flourishing
state, than there would if it were failing.—(Hear, hear.)
I feel that there is the same stringent obligation upon
her Majesty's Government to avoid increased—un-
necessarily increased—expenditure, when there is a
surplus of five millions in the Treasury as when
there is no surplus at all.--(flear, hear.) It is, I
know, of the greatest importance that I, and those Hon.
Gentlemen who act with me, should perform the duty
that devolves upon us, in respect to the public taxation,
to remove, within the least possible period that
we can consistently do, such increased taxation as
we considered to press with additional force upon the
public tride and public interest.—(Hear, hear.) But it
is impossible to do this without exercising great care and
caution, as to the department in which the public ex-
penditure is to be reduced.—(Hear, hear.) At the same
time, permit me to say that I am greatly afraid that the
public are under a very erroneous conception with re-
gard to what was really necessary for the public expen-
diture, what that public expenditure actually was, and
the means by which it could be safely reduced. It is
generally supposed that all portions of the public expen-
diture which does not consist of payments for the con-
tinuance of the several public departments, is unneces-
sary and useless, but such is not the case. If we take
the amount of the revenues for the past year, which was
48,243,000/., it will be found to consist of the following
charges :-28,450,0001. on account of payments to-
wards the public debt. The sum paid to the naval and
military halt-pay amounted to 4,991,000/. The
charges fixed on as necessary for the Consolidated
Fund was 1,878,000/. In these charges I include
the provision► necessary for defraying the expenditure of
the judicial establishment.—(Hear.) There are, be-
siies, included in the whole amount of the sum that I
have stated, as that which will be required for the public
services this year, not only the whole sum levied
as public taxation, but various other sums.
the sum of 35,309,000/., required for the purposes I have
already mentioned, if deducted from the 48,000,0004,
the:amount of the total sum required for the public expen-
diture, will leave a sum of about 13,000,0004 for the public
service, in respect of wich, it is supposed, some reduction
may be made.—(Hear, hear.) After deducting the
amount due to the public creditor, what then
remains to be disposed of to meet the expendi-
ture of the executive Government ? The total
amount of that would not exceed 12,933,0001
Among the other charges which have received the
sanction of Parliament, is the charge for the Civil
List. And here I may be permitted to say,
that any Executive Government that would have
a due regard to the exercise of a wise and
judicious economy, would not hesitate to follow the
example which has been set them by the controul ex-
ercised over her own expenditure by the Sovereign.
A settlement was made of the Civil List on her
accession to the throne. On the occasion of her mar-
riage no addition was made to that civil list.—(Cheers.)
It has pleased God to bless that marriage by the birth of
four children, which has made a considerable additional
demand upon the civil list. In the course of last year
three sovereigns visited this county ; two of them
were two of the most powerful sovereigns of Europe
—the Emperor of Russia and the King of the
French.—(Cheers.) Those visits, of necessity, created
a considerable increase of expenditure, but through that
wise system of economy, which is the only source of
true magnificence, her Majesty was enabled not only to
receive those Sovereigns in a style of magnificence,
which excited universal admiration, but without adding
one tittle to the burdens of the country.—(Loud
cheers.) And lam not required, on the part of her
Majesty, to press for the extra expenditure of one
single shilling—(lmmense cheers)—on account of these
unforeseen causes of increased expenditure.—(Renewed
cheers.) I think that it is but due to state this, to the
personal credit of her Majesty, who by the exercise of a
judicious economy, has been enabled to entertain these
Sovereigns with all the magnificence due to her station,
and without incurring a single debt.—(Loud cheers.)
I know it maybe said that I have not adverted to other
sources of reduction in the public expenditure. It may
be said that offices might be abolished, and that emolu-
ments may he reduced. I admit that no office ought to
be retained which is not necessary for the public service.
I admit that no emolument attached to any office ought
to be retained which is not necessary to secure the faith-
ful and efficient performance of the duties necessary for
the public service.—(Hear, hear.) ' On that point
we are all agreed. I vindicate no sinecnres—(Cheers)—
and when an office becomes vacant we go through that
process which has been so frequently recommended, of
considering if the retention of it is necessary for the
public service, and if the emoluments will admit of re-
duction consistently with a due regard for the
public interests.—(Cheers.) Now with regard to
the charges for the collection of the revenue,
it should be borne in mind that the extent of the
revenue establishment is not merely to secure an effi

cient collection of the money duo to the State, but that
it is of the utmost importance that every facility should
be given for the transaction of commercial business.—
(Hear, hear.) It is our duty.to reduce those establish-
ments, as far as it is consistent with public convenience.
I do not vindicate the retention of ene single useless
officer ; but the public is interested in giving to the dis-

patch of public business every facility that you can give
consistently with al due; regard to the public safety.
and, therefore, so far as the principle is concerned that

the revenue ought to be collected at the least possible
expense, and that you ought to make every reduction
you can, upon that point I apprehend thero can
be no difference of opinion. But still, after that
admission, you will find that the subject has con-
stantly occupied the attention of every Government,
and that great reductions from time to time have been
made. But it would be a delusion and a fallacy to expect
that you can generally reduce the public burdens by any
diminution of the salaries of the officials employed. At
the same time it may be said that those great public
establishments for which a vote is taken every year,
and which • constitute the _ main charge on the

revenue, independent of the fixed charges—such

as the army, the nary, and the ordnance of the co untry—
may admit of some reductions. I, first of all, will state

he estimate we propose for the expenditure on account

of the army. Now it is impossible to determine whether

that expense is justifiable or nor, without adverting to
the extent of the colonial empire of this country. Now,
in point of fact, the main expense on account of the army
is the extent of you: colonial possessions. You have