The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1832-11-27 00:00:00

TAXATION OF THE WORKING CLASSES•

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.(IND.43ITh
these times, when our reforming -proPPei,
patriots indulge in misrepresentation where at all libel
to promote their political objects, I have observed tT.
among the other delusions put forth by such of their
tuagogues. as are candidates fOr seats in the next
ment, as well as by their advocates, in order to toiFic",
the unguarded, and obtain undue influence over then',
cry is raised for the repeal of those taxes on consumPtidnie
to which the working-classes now contribute, and for .1.
substitution of a tax on property and income in 003
place, proposing in this way to raease that class fall'
pressure to which it is asserted they ate now subject' to
That such would not be the result, was. this • celuse to
be adopted, I think there is no dificulty in proving, °r
show that all taxation must eventually be borne °Y l re
perty alone, whilst the more numerous the channels
into which it is dividt d, the less its pressure is felt. 'ot
am correct. in this fact, the working-Classes would
n
derive any benefit from such a change. - ver
It is a well-known and admitted fact,. that whene v
supply continues for a given period to exceed coasint;
tion or demand, the value of such supply, whatever 10 ;,
be its nature, whether it consists of goods, food, "let
or labour, gradually diminishes and sinks down iv,
arrives at a point which interrupts that excess of snlitt)ter
when, the demand remaining the same, the price it bas
remains stationary, or again improves if the stiPP'.'
become unequal to the consumption or demand.
hour,
For an example I will take the present state of la"tely
to whatever purpose it may be applied. Unfortuna the
it is notorious that througlout the United Kingdniuttat
number of the working classes exceeds the means ti-
exist for their employment; this has created a ccinrere-
tion, of which the unavoidable consequence has been!
a;
(Imam in the rates' of wages and this state of things I.
been progressing. generally for, a considerable time Pa.v,
for, although the means of employment have also .1011
creased from extended ,consumption caused by redact!,
in the cost of labour, yet the population of the coullic•rr
has at the same time gone on increasing in a still greeeir
degree, and thus keeps above the means of general ost
ploymeut ; in consequence, the value of labour of alai
_une-
every description has fallen down to points of rem
lilt
ration that are not more than sufficient to procure v'ire,
is necessary to sustain life for effective purposes, at pea,
sent prices. Beer frun malt, spirits, sugar, coffee, are
soap, and other articles now subject to taxation,
classed mog thee necessaries .k-
- Tote revnenue,s thus derit ed, it is contended the v'i,orle,e
ing-classes contribute, and that by the repeal of t' ex..
• taxes they would be relieved, and benefitted to the
tin
tent of their amount ; whereas, toy opinion is, thatiat
point of fact they are only the channel 'through whicil
revenue is raised, and that it is really paid by tholf Poor
sessing property, who employ them. This .1
sill" •
proceed to prove.
that-
sinned by the working-classes, to be exempted frein(ji.
were the articles now subject to tax, that are e
charge, it follows that their prices would fall,
min shed in that proportion which would usable e
buyers to purchase the same quantities as,before nd to
money-, in proportion to the reduction in price„; altered
that extent, without their situation being at a° ropur
for the worse, they would be enabled to work for Pdo so•
tionably lower wages, if it became necessari t once
Then, does it not follow, as the unavoidable consecicess of
of the existing competition produced by the ex
von ld
labour beyond demand, that the price of labour
,riyed
again decline further, and continue to sink until it 3j, and
at the point of depression at which it is now f°°110„ ill
be diminished in exact proportion to the red,_l2cti!vr the
cost of those necessaries required to sustain life ,00-
purposes of effective labour ? under which it calla()
dune for any length of time. no he
Is it not, then, evident, that from such a change d by
and re the
nerit, in the present state of things, would be derive t not
the working-classes ? whilst, at the same time, is ever
equally clear, that if the demand for labour should ose
again be more than the numbers of the working-c and
could supply, the price of such labour would advaneoy
their comforts be increased ? And have we not had '.`tior
individual instances of such being the case with p,al,•ber,
tar trades, whose wages became prop-ortiunablY i
without regard or relation to the articles they e°ll'-
being, or not, subject to taxation ?
pealed, and a direct tax on income arising from pr°l)',,t,,
On the other hand, were the taxes in question to h.rrtey.:
trade, and professional pursuits substituted, it would. roil
duce a heavy pressure on those so circumstanced
.uot
by diminishing their income in proportion to the s
'Deane. s
possessedY
ot' tax,it wfoorul
giving to t that
employment extent
Nt%l.
and of consuming the fruits of their labour,
.aan_Lotie
prove a real evil to them, in place of the imagnl Pc,eive
with which the attempt is made to delude -and °;0.
11414,RGAI`'
them.—Yours, &c. loerk ingn 1,37,00

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