The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-03-05 00:00:00

14.

was found that thnie papers Mere still in esictetice,

' lied it was hardly possibly to yo into a country shop
without meeting with sumo of the returns ender the
Income Tax, with all the cirtaila of the property of
intlirideals,beittg used and citculated as waste piper.
This was complained of, and a circular was written
for the destruction of the originals, after copies had
teen taken, tot. the ramose, as it was said, of regu-
lating the-testi:sty rates and assessments. However,
be did not know whet. was done its consequence of
Ibis circular. lint he had again been. informed, that
some of thesecepies were seen in the country, under
similar circumstances to the preceding; and he, in
consequence, put some questions to the Right lits-
'Stowable Gentlemen a short time ago, which not
being answered eatisfictorily, induced him to give I
notice of his present motion. It was, indeed, said,
that the copies cousained only the items, and not,
tiara's ; but it was evident, that the assessor, or ai
'neightlear, into whose hands such a paper might fall,'
would have no difficulty in discovering that it was
the return of A B, though A B was not upon the
schedule--L Hear!)—Sa far as these documents were
usefel to rising the rate of the county assessments,
the sums total of the parishes would be stifficient for
that purpose; mad, therefore, that could be no good
reason for preserving copies of the Returns India
-
thistly. He should propose a Committee to enquire
what steps had been taken in the destrection of these
Papers, to which, he understood, there would be no
- opposition. Ile could tint help saying, that he was
,afraid of the effect of the Circular, because it was is-
sued to a refractory department.—(llear, hear !)
He did not mean to reflect on the Hon. Gentleman
his private friend; at file head of that Department ;
bet lie thought the esperience of the House would
bear him out in saying, that there was an indisposi-
title in the Board of Taxes, to a prompt attention to
the orders of that House, or to facilitate any of the
objects entertained there, touching the affairs of that
Board. He begged also to remark, that witS-thes
Property Tex, a number of Sinecure Places had been'
collected, chiefly those called Inspectors, whose bu-
siness it was to whip up the Tuts, as it was called, to
a greater retorts, when money was much wanted at
the 'lreasury. To these persons, salaries of nine or
eleven hundred pounds a-year were given; and when
the Tax ceased., considerable Pensions were bestowed
on them. It was 'possible, then, that these persons
• would not be very zealous in destroying the vestiges
of their former libbers. In proof of what he had said
with respect to the Commissioners of Taxes, he would
remind the House, that on 3d Feb. last, a Return
was ordered, on the motion of his Hon. Friend (Mr.
Bennett), of the &levies and Pensions of persons em-
ploy ed,or who had been employed in that department :
and it was not yet before the House. Had this order
been received by the Board with ordinary. .good.will,
the Papers might have been furnished in half the time.
But he understood there was a tone of feeling in that
office, unfavourable to the House, ever. since it had
destroyed the Property Tel.—Ulcer, hear 9—He
knew that its one part of the country a house was
still kept, to preserve the Property Tax'Returns.—
It Might be that the names had had a pen drawn
across them. or a little scratching had been bestowed
upon them; but they were still legible, and the object
1 for which he had so frequeutly addressed the House,
•nd the Howe was anxious to accomplish,' WI! thus.
defeated.— (Hear, hear rj—la several instances
shopkeepers bad sent oat their goods,, wrapped
in these Returns ; end when a Gentleman midis en-
quiry how these papers were obtaiued, the Shop.'
keeper said, Oh, if you will go to such a place, you
may get the returns of any body, or ewery body, if
you like. The fact was, a Collector of the Pro-
perty Tax having died, these Returns were sold for
waste paper. The Hon. and Learned Meesei con-
eluded by remarking, list the Right Holt. Gentle-
. matt had ofteu lamented the loss of the Property Tax.
to the House ; but he was persuaded, that there was
not now one in ten throughout the criuntry,•-who-
would join with him in that feeling.—Lllear, heai i).
r ----He then moved, that a Committee be appointed to
. enquire what steps have been taken to destroy the
Returns of Bodies Corporate autl of iudieideals, en-
; der the I, Tax.

r .ncome
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER,
said be had given no promise to assent to the motion,
es he found it was to be proposed to the House ; and
he thought the enquiry would would not tend to any
beneficial effect 'whatever. lie was sure the charge
against the Tax-office department could not be sus.
coined, for there was no want of alacrity in furnish.
ing the returns ordered by that House. If the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman would loek into
the Vole.olfice, he would find, that the papers or-
dered on the 3d of February, had been presented,
_ and were ordered to be presented on the 10th.-
-[Hear, hurl—They had, in fact, been presented
long ago. Ile did not wish to enter into the general
argument, upon the policy of the Property Tax, be-
cause, whatever had been the advantages of it in war
(and be would maintain, that it had been gteatly in-
strumental in saving the libertiei of the countryh he
bail no intention to propose it iu a time of peace.—
[Hear!]—.The arguments of the Learned Gentle-
man, therefore, were entirely unnecessary on that,
point. In the neat place, he had discriminated he.
• tween those papers which ,were dune with, and Oboes
which were not, but called fur the destruction of thaw
all. The fact was, that some of the arrears of the
Property Tax were not yet paid, and be regretted
the destruction of papers which had already been
mode, for much mischief had been the consequence,
and many frauds might have bees detected, had they
still existed. He bad no wish, nor had tho'fax.
office, to keep these papers longer than was neces-
sary for the settlement of the accouuti. The returns un-
der the schedule H.,which related to commercial pro-
perty, ought to be destroyed : hut if he were anxious '
to retain them, they could be of little nse now, fronri
the great change which has been effected in commerce,
in the Ater years since those returns were made.—
.
Tbe returns oti•laeded property could never be con-
nected with the question of secrecy; and they were
necessary in the regulation of the county assessments.
There was 11111, from two to three hundred thou.
sand ponds remaining to be collected of the Pro-
perty Tax ; and he trusted the Haase would see the
propriety of withholding these returns from destruc-
tionoill it was all paid. Ile should therefore oppose
the motion.
Mr. BROUGHAM, in explanation, said, that
with tegard to the papers ordered on the alotiou of

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