The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

THE LTVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1833

to remove what he terms the Civil Disabilities of the

Jews. The wisdom of our ancestors presumed that
the legislators for a Christian country should be
themselves Christians, and imposed an oath which
implied their belief, but modern Liberalism holds
Christianity to be of little or no importance, so long
as a man has money enough to bribe a constituency
and take the oath of qualification. If Mr. ROTIIS-
CHILD—for whom the Bill is intended—is admis-
sible to Parliament, so would be any number of
Jews, and our Christian readers may imagine, if
they can, the votes of such members, when required
to resist a Romish aggression, or to legislate for the
better observance of the Lord's Day. The Protes-
tant faith would truly be in good hands, when en-
trusted to such keeping.
We are next promised some proposition on the
subject of National Education. It is not to be any
very important plan, but something which may
tend to promote its extension. Bearing in mind
the antecedents of the Liberal party on this sub-
ject, we cannot anticipate much advantage from the

proposal, whatever be its nature. The tendency
has always been to promote secular instruction,
leaving Christianity an open question, a phrase
which in plain English means no question at all.
With this is mixed up the promise of a declaration
of Ministerial intentions with regard to the recom-
mendation of the University Commissioners, and
also a bill respecting education in Scotland.
With the exception of a promise about Law
Reform, which is left to the LORD CHANCELLOR,
and in which he has been forestalled by his able
predecessor, Lord ST. LEONARD'S, the only other
measure of Ministerial policy is one for the abolition
of Transportation to the Australian Colonies as a
secondary punishment. This is, however, not to
be carried into effect immediately, but after all
those appointed to sail have left the country. The
scheme, notwithstanding, possesses no novelty, as
it has long been settled to be inevitable. Our
colonies are properly looked upon as fields for
honest industry, and not as receptacles :for our
vilest criminals•

We have gone through the list, and would look
in vain for any political party which could possibly
declare itself satisfied with such a beggarly catalogue
of paltry schemes. We are aware that there are a
number of members in the House of Commons
who deem long speeches and senseless discussions
about everything, or anything, or nothing, to be
doing their duty to their constituents ; but if the
business of the country were really performed, such
a scheme of Ministerial legislation would not occupy
Parliament a month, leaving plenty of time for Radi-
cals to indulge in virtuous indignation on imaginary
grievances, and philosophers to enlarge upon their
pet schemes for social regeneration. Perhaps,
however, we hardly do the new Ministry justice.
They may expect a wordy warfaTe from Mr. Co BDEN
on his new theory of international arbitration, as a
substitute for the intelligible means of defence, and
a long debate on a proposition for secret voting,
which no one claims on his own account, in order
that Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH may show his

independence of Ministerial discipline. The sewers
of London may find occupation for some idle days,
while others may be got through by disquisitions
on the advantages of a system of decimal coinage;
and when the makers of long speeches have talked
themselves hoarse, Mr. GLADSTONE may be ready
with his scheme for renewing the Income-tax on a
plan which shall make every one satisfied with its
inequalities. The mountain has been in labour, and
truly it has brought forth a Ministerial mouse.

as he retains not a nominal but a real balance, he
may safely proceed to a reduction of such of the
public burdens as will satisfy the largest amount of
popular demand for their relief. This is, in reality,
the key to Radical policy in gaining popularity; and
the heavy financial deficiency which broke up the
MELBOURNE Cabinet in 1841, and rendered im-
perative the interference of the late Sir ROBERT
PEEL, was solely produced by the reckless reductions
made by that imbecile Ministry, in order to retain as
much as possible of mob popularity. Cheap bread,
cheap beer, and no taxes, have been the cry of the
common herd, without regard to consequences; and
the response to it for party purposes has ever been
the stumbling-block to Liberalism. There is now,
however, no concealment of the fact, that any
financial surplus is solely owing to the Income-tax,
which was imposed to meet a temporary emergency,
rendered permanent by the same vicious course of
policy; and this difficulty has still to be met by the
new CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. The tax
will expire on the sth of April. next, and the time
has gone by when be can coolly propose its renewal
without any other explanation than an avowal of
its necessity.

The public mind has become fully convinced of

its inequality and oppressive character, which have
only been endured from an undefined hope of its
speedy extinction. A committee of the House of
Commons has entered into an investigation of the

subject, and numerous are the schemes proposed,
by which that impossible end is to be reached, of
making that equitable which, in its inherent nature,
can never be otherwise than unequal. Among the
many witnesses were some Actuaries of Life
Insurance Offices—who have a faculty for reducing
every contingency to an average money value, from
the probabilities of human life to the chances of
an honest man turning rogue—and one of the latest
schemes propounded is that of calculating the
present value, in a capital sum, of each man's
income, from whatever source derived, upon a
presumed estimate of its probable duration. Thus,
income in the public funds is presumed to be worth
333 years' purchase, real property 27 years' rental,
leasehold according to the term it has to run, life
annuities according to the probabilities of life, and
incomes from trade and professions upon some
reduced scale, varying according to age and
prospects. This proposal has received great favour
with superficial thinking Radicals, who have jumped
to the conclusion that an Income-tax is levied with
any regard to a man's absolute wealth. It may be
presumed that every man enjoying a certain amount
of income enjoys the same degree of protection from
civil and military government, and contributes
accordingly to the exigencies of the state. It
matters, little, therefore, what may be his future
prospects. If he receives a certain income for one
3 ear, he pays for that one year, and his future pay-
ments will depend upon his future income—sup-
posing the tax to be still levied ; but there has not
yet been shown the slightest reason why the man,
who has the most permanent source of income,
should pay more each year for the same sum than

he who has the income for that one year only.
During that year they are upon an equality, and
should also pay the same or nearly so, or the
injustice will be increased instead of alleviated.
The number of ingenious schemes on the subject
only serve to show the difficulty with which any
Finance Minister has to deal in attempting to
legislate upon it, and ought to lead to the convic-
tion that the best way is to begin by a general
reduction, to end in an abolition of the tax

altogether.
It is a favourite cry of the Manchester school
that the revenue should be raised by direct taxation,
but it is dictated by the basest motives, though it
may be joined in through ignorance of its tendency.
It is obvious that while, by indirect taxation, every
-Tian pays a proportionate share according to the
amount of his consumption, there is necessarily a

number of exemptions from direct taxation, so
that any real equality is positively impossible. The
object, therefore, in pressing the latter course, is
to throw all the burden upon the higher classes,
and those who have anything to lose, leaving the
working classes, as far as practicable, free from
any share of it. This may be politic in those
who aim at power from the votes of the most
numerous of the borough constituencies, but it is
directly opposed to that spirit of justice and fair
dealing upon which .Conservative policy is based.
The burden should be fitted to the back which has
to bear it; but this will not be the case by relieving
one class, because the most numerous, at the
expense of another whose capital gives value to the
labour of the other. The time for action is, how-
ever, approaching; the Conservative members
form the most powerful opposition ever remembered,
and they will be forgetful of the interests of the
great cause entrusted to them, if they do not make
a stand against any renewal of the Income-tax,
except upon the principle of its present reduction
with a view to its ultimate extinction. It is by-far
the simplest plan, and we have not the slightest
doubt that such a proposition would command the
support of a majority of the House of Commons.

that the recommendation to appoint Mr. Hughes AS per-
manent officer, at the salary of XBO per annum, be adopted.
Mr. PICTON moved the adoption of the report. He did
not know that the position of the Library and Museum
could be better expressed than in the words of the follow-
ing resolution, which he should submit for their ap-
proval :—" That, considering the interest which has been
taken in the Library and Museum by the public gene-
rally, it is of the utmost importance that the future ope-
rations should be carried on with spirit, so as to answer
the expectations already excited ; that, looking at all the
circumstances, the committee are of opinion that a rate
of not less than one penny in the pound will be required
to meet the expenses of the Library and Museum, and
Gardens for the present year, and the interest and
redemption fund of the money borrowed." He (Mr.
Picton) had to state, with the fullest confidence, that the
interest taken by the public in general in the institution
was on the increase, and he showed, from facts, that the
eyes of the country as well as of Liverpool were upon
them. .

Mr. TnomAs AvrsoN seconded the resolution, which,
after some desultory and irregular conversation, was
unanimously carried.
The third resolution, moved by Mr. PICTON, and
unanimously confirmed, was to the effect that the Council
adopt the recommendation to apply to the Lords of the
Treasury for permission to borrow the sum necessary for
the purchase and fitting up of the buildings in Duke-
street. HACKNEY CARRIAGES.

Mr. WOODRUFF moved the adoption of the Hackney
Carriage Committee report.
Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE drew the attention of the
Council to a letter which'appeared recently in the London
Times, recommending the adoption in England of the
plan prevailing on the Continent, with regard to the pro-
secution of cabmen. In England, at present, the remedy
provided for the grievance of a passenger was worse than
the grievance itself, and so the drivers of cabs and hack-
ney coaches were seldom prosecuted. In France and
elsewhere, however, it was possible to lodge a
complaint againt a cabman, and to prosecute your
journey. The cabman would be brought before
the magistrate, who would endeavour to elicit the
real state of the case, and thus the prosecutor
frequently had the money of which he had been defrauded
by the cabman transmitted to him by the police ; while, if
it was ascertained that the driver was really the person
aggrieved, then measures would be adopted to do him
justice as well. With the permission of the Council,he (Mr.
Gladstone) would submit a copy of the letter in question
to the committee, that they might be able to devise some
measure which might be carried out for simplifying and
providing an efficacious remedy for the grievance.
A long conversation took place on the subject of the
Liverpool cabmen and their character, in the course of
which Mr. PICTON remarked it was only fair to the com-
mittee to say that, since they had taken this matter up,
there had been a very great improvement in the character
and conduct of the cabmen, and the drivers of hackney
carriages. (Hear, hear.)
The adoption of the report was unanimously agreed to.
The report of the Baths Committee was next read, and
confirmed. BOROUGH COURT BILL.

Mr. AvisoNnaoved, as this was a purely technical matter,
that it be referred to a Committee.
The MAYOR coincided in this idea. He confessed that
he had read over the bill without understanding it.
( Laughter. )

Mr. HORNBY remarked that the bill had been submitted
to the professional gentlemen of the town, and they all
highly approved of it.
At the suggestion of Mr. Robertson Gladstone, the Town
Clerk said the object of the bill was to simplify the pro-
ceedings at the borough courts. An act had been
adopted, designed to simplify the practice in the higher
courts, a clause in which was to the effect that it might be
extended to such inferior courts as the borough court. To
enjoy the beneficial provisions of that bill was the object
of the present bill.
The Council unanimously approved of the bill.
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.

Mr. HORNBY moved, and Mr. PROCTOR seconded, the
payment of the amount of expenses to be reimbursed the
Town-clerk under the Registration of Voters' Act.
The Coroner's account, amounting to £l5 95., was like-
wise ordered to be paid.

MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Cleric read the following letter from the Assessor
of the Court of Passage:—

"To the Members of the Town Council of Liverpool.
" Gentlemen,—On the 25th of May last I received,
through the courtesy of your Town-clerk, an ' official copy
of the resolution of the Council as to the salary of the
Assessor,' passed on the 17th of April preceding. On
receipt of that I lost no time in requesting the Town-clerk
to intimate to the Council that I ventured, with all possible
respect for their sentiments and opinions, to doubt the
expediency of that resolution for various reasons, which I
took the liberty of suggesting. At the same time I
begged him to intimate likewise to the Council that,
while T regretted, on the score of expediency, the
determination to which they had come, I could not
permit it to be supposed that I admitted their right to
bind me by such a resolution, and that I was fortified in
my views by the opinions of two of the most distinguished
lawyers of the day, Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Mr. Cowling.
" Subsequently I was informed by the Town-clerk that
he had laid my letter before the Council, and he re-
quested me to furnish him with a copy of the case sub-
mitted to Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Mr. Cowling, and their
opinion thereon. I did so; and he has doubtless ex-
hibited them to the Council.

""1 have been waiting in anxious expectation of again
receiving a communication from the Council.
" My opinion continuing still unchanged, I take the
liberty, Gentlemen, of respectfully inviting you again to
reconsider your determination of the 7th of -April. 1 do
so with increased confidence, seeing that in a bill for ex-
tending the jurisdiction of the Court of Passage, now lying
before me, duties far more onerous and important than
those which I am at present called upon to discharge are
imposed upon the Assessor.
_ _

"To these additional burthens I have not hitherto
offered the slightest objection.
" It can scarcely however be expected that, whilst the
resolution of the 7th of April remains unrescinded, and I
am left to such remedies as I may be advised that the
law will afford me for vindicating what the opinion of
two such learned and able lawyers warrant me in assert-
ing are my just rights, I shall be a consenting party to
such a bill, and thereby submit to perform additional
duties for a remuneration which the resolution itself re-
cognises only as adequate to those heretofore performed
by me.
" Gentlemen, it is painful to me in the highest degree
to addressoyou on this subject, but I am compelled to do
so by a just sense of what is due to myself and my family.
" I take leave, gentlemen, in conclusion, to call your
attention to the importance, I may say to the necessity,
of an immediate decision, because the course to be adopted
by me with reference to the Passage Court bill obviously
depends upon the result of your deliberations.—l have
the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
." EDWARD JAMES,
" Assessor of the Court of Passage.
" 3, Paper-buildings. Temple,
" 10th January, 1853."

Mr. LLOYD, as one of the committee appointed to fix
the salary of the assessor, observed that the Council must
perceive with some regret that the assessor had couched his
letter in terms which would almost preclude any gentle-
man from expressing his views. It was not usual for that
Council to be threatened with proceedings—(hear, hear,)
—and that in the high tone which Mr. James seemed to
have taken upon that subject. He expressed his consci-
entious conviction that the salary was quite sufficient,
and, as chairman of the committee, felt it to be his duty
to protect the funds.
In reply to a question from Mr. THOMPSON, it was
stated that the assessor sat, on an average, four
days at each court, and that there sere four courts in
the year—making altogether sixteen days.
Mr. LLOYD observed that, while Mr. (now Justice)
Crompton tried 68 cases in the January, July, and Octo-
ber sessions of 1851, Mr. James had, during the corres-
ponding sessions of 1852, tried only 56 causes, showiag a
decrease in the business of that court.
Mr. Alderman PARKER, as a member of the committee
who appointed the salary, reminded the Council that Mr.
James, in accepting the office of assessor, had sacrificed
his practice at the Borough Court and the Sessions. He
contended also that it was unfair to talk of the number of
causes before the court, as it was not so much the amount
of labour which ought to be considered as the manner in
which it was done, and the abilities which were brought to
bear upon the subject. He merely made this remark on
behalf of Mr. James, and he felt assured that the Council
would do their duty to that gentleman.
Mr. PnocTon perceived that, in addition to +he two
opinions Mr. James had already got, he had now received
the favourable opinion of Mr. Councillor Parker.
(Laughter.)

Mr: BANNER, after expressing his regret that the
merits of the question should be entered upon, moved that
the letter be referred to the committee, of which Mr.
Lloyd was the chairman.

In the course of a conversation on the subject of Mr.
James's appointment, Mr. BIGHLII stated his belief that,
upon the retirement of Mr. Crompton, the government
waited for the Council to recommeud a successor, as had
previously been the custom ; that the Council neglected
to make the recommendation ; that Sir George Grey,
being about to retire from office, conferred the appoint-
ment upon Mr. James ; and that, in consequence of that
circumstance, the Council had lost the debt of nominating
an assessor, probably for ever. (Cries of " No, no !..")

In answer to Mr. ROBERTSON GLAnsToNF., the Town-
clerk said he believed that Mr. James would be content
with an addition of .£lOO to his present salary, which has
been fixed by the Council at £4OO, while that of his pre-
decessor in office was £5OO. While the appointment is
vested in the Government, the act of parliament gives the
Council the power to fix the salary.
It was ultimately, after a long discussion, agreed to
submit the letter to the committee, Mr. Stewart and Mr.
Gladstone being substituted for his worship the Mayor
and Mr. Alderman Parker.
SAILMAKERS' WAREHOUSES,

A letter was read from Mr. Samuel Richardson, en-
closing a memorial from the sailmakers, requesting that
their trade may be carried on in warehouses not fire-proof.
Mr. STEWART supported the prayer of the memorial-
ists, and, after a lengthened dtscussion, the matter was
referred to the Sub-committee on Parliamentary Business,
with the recommendation of the Council to introduce the
change desiderated by the memorialists in the Fire Im-
provement Bill. THE STEVEDORES.
A memorial from the most respectable stevedores of the
port was read, as to the practice of loading and unloading
vessels, accompanied by a recommendatory letter from
Mr. Robert Rankin, Chairman of the Shipowners'Associa-
tion.

Mr. Moss moved that the memorial be referred to a
committee, which was seconded by Mr. WOODRUFF, and
unanimously agreed to. The committee to consist of Mr.
Alderman Dover, Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Mr. Bigbam,
Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Moss.
The object of the memorial is to do away with the per-
nicious system, by which the lower class of master
stevedores employ men at a very miserable rate of wages,
who are almost necessitated to eke out a subsistence by
pilfering the cargoes in lading or unlading which they are
employed. By licensing respectable stevedores, the
Council would do much to improve the public morality
and the welfare of a large body of labouring men.
It was contended by some speakers that the matter
propetly belonged 0 the Dock Committee; but it was

ultimately ruled that the memorial, and the important
letter by which it was accompanied, ought to receive that
respectful consideration which they solicited.
This concluded the business.