The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-04-07 00:00:00

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THE STATESMAN

igto
IN"
nisit,thet)
(ember for Sandwich. He might ask
I Member if Ima-ilimkeeee the riper*,
There were Sin &ties "filch he
would .1* hated lb hod krereased
riacreased emus the tau bad beee.jespeeed.
. before the tat, those defies would be
52,0001. and is five years after, 181.0001.
iguana) of the. tax coeld net be priper.
the pockets of the Peeples sum of'
it into those of the tanners ; for no
'imagine that umber tax weold sot be im.
its: room. The line of argument that had
(*,sued was somewhat remarkable. First, the
Revenue had been examined; that would
the'' Reveries was improved then the
bad' been adduced; •-ergemeet.l
them also failed, for-tbey le had le.
. the Noble Lord batiarmed that OK
itutaished in _amber last yees.by,2l.-.-!.
, Wes in a state of advancement,
by the fact that the quantity of the
increased. • The Noble' . Lord might
as. a prim( of: its advancement, the
tan.yard of Angus. Brewell tied Co.
show how the tag opersted Qn principal
course of teas years, their trade bad
and in the very last year the trete.
ailianced from .5,9001. to 6,7001 That
degree, account .for what the. Noble
on. How had the smell traders
of the trade? He did not mean, to
the great traders;. he merely stated
the quantity of material in the matte
of former years, and the diminutiOn
lot owing to the tax, betthe greater
ised AI, the principal persona in the
was any doubt, the accounts might
He was not in the habit of trespass-
attention of the (louse, but he wish-
ttements. made nitb exactness.--[The
;lemma then read the lICCOUnti(3II we under-
geties paid by Brewell and Co., by
[red, that in 1809, there car opposite
sum of 1.9731.; in 1811,a sem of
1813, 53001. ;an increase in 1816;
,9001.• and in 1818, 6.7001.]—With
ts Ice thought he might fairly con-
Gentlemen on an increase in their
evidence in favour of the tax was
price of leather.—[Neer, hear !)—,
-igen from 15 to 20 per cent. since
to raw material had been purchased at a
The erticle,, however, hid • risen ex-
stated. The Leather Tax came out
of the People. The tanners were
for their duties even till .some time
Id the article. Before lie was called
!fitly- had his duties paid by the par.
lon. Friend who had opened the de.
entered so completely into the *abject, that
link himself justified in ping into it
For a century back the Leather
no additional burdens, when almost
had been loaded with them; and the
in a very prosperous conditiqn. The
had been granted had given so much
specially to carriers and shoe-makers,
declared it to be their desire that the
should undergo no alteration, and that
coder which a repeal of the additional
It to be obtained were scandalously
YAT said, that his statements had
official Papers before the H
presented on the 9th of March. lie
the accounts of manufactured and en-
leather, and his argument was, that
.terially tended to drive the trade out
NGTON explained.
...111A-NI said, there were one or two
had fallen from the Honourable Secre-
Asory, which he could not conscien-
liess unnoticed. He had argued that
'epealed, another to an equal amount
I.—[flear, hear9—This he denied.
'1
—lt was proper to repeal this tax,
necessary to impose another instead
they proceeded on an occasion pre-
The House had been pleased two
repeal a much larger, though not a more
Till this tax was 'repealed, Mini-'
impossible to reduce any of their Esti-
Imediately after' the repeal, they took
',themes, and made considerable re.
.etty of them. Why might they not
their former conduct! Why might they
leaf out of their own book ! Instead
iiiitional tax, let them go to the Esta-
take them-down 180,0001. He ob.
countenance of the Hon. Gentleman
he Woods and Forests (Mt. Huskis.
thought this a very absurd proposal.
le the Estimates were gives in, but
(mate had been obsoletely voted.—
lishosents were to be kept up as
might be necessary to tabatitute
to the present ; but there was a
Honourable Friend of his, whirls, if
I have the effect of producing a much'
ion of espence than 180,0001. namely,
reduction of 5000 men from oar mill-
ishasent. He was astonished that the Hon.
he Treasury should cite the trade of
to prove the innosious nature of the
tanners of the country, one and all,
ion of the correspondent of the Mem.
said, it the Tax was not repealed,'
Id be ruined. lie was not a little
this letter should have been given by
'Orman as a reason for his change of
did not wish to impute toy improper
lion. Gentleman—to impute such mo.
lon. Member was certainly unparlia-
he confessed at the same time, that it
that this letter should he given as a
change of opinion.—[No, no! from Mr.
.]-,Whlr, did not the Hon. Gent. give
the tanner of Bristol as a maven for
opinion? —[ Vol nc !frogs Mr. 11. Davis]

Wiwalfo,

...,~,,.,..f, .

if be did net give ; es
he gees no seestnt4st
slow kis etfte* Op ht.
bed used no ergeassit . the
But besides the tanners,
interested, namely, the coeseeters
I—i-Dentilentio-ibtr as/ mile 4 said

eon-
,t Secretary to ski Trawler,' It falls on OW eon-
sismer—the ti: did not fall oh tlitt trade, bet on the
consumer-4o tanner listinoietemlon iw complain,
be could shift the tau from his stioulders to those of
the consumer. But might •it hat happen that both
consumers end tannertlifed groind to complain ?
The consensus might Cmplain, 'because their ability
to consume was diasioieltedl—bocasua by diminishing
their abilitylo consume, the tax abridged their corn.
forts. From the consumers being less able to buy
from the tanners, the tanners might also km reason
to complain—the consumers were suffering from the
'diminution' of their consumption, and the tanners
from the diminution of, their manufacture. But hte
.great objection against the tax was,• that it fell en-
equally—that it. pressed
,most severely on those who
were least able to bear it. Every tea on the neces-
saries of life betlii .direct tendency to increase the
price of labour ;•and the effect of any tea like this,
on a necessary of lifrewes immediately felt in the
istereased vice of Meer of all those who lased
While they were olden, thasefers, this pelerjestom
of 180,0001. with one hind; they wore tinifgad to
Put their other hand in their pocket to pay it. Bat
besides, all the objections applied to it which applied
to * Poll Tas, a •Pell Tax indeed it was, wept that
it was laid on the feet instead of the head.—[Laitgh.]
--Every person paid so much, be his occopatien
what it may. ;'he peasants, who wore the heaviest
shoji,' were the'highest taxed bY it, as the tea was
laid on by weight ; they paid, twice as much as those
who now heard hitaiowbo'wore tighter shoes; cos
leather paying as, much as floe.. All the objectless
against a Poll Tesaaerefore, epplied to it ; it was a
Poll Tee of the worst kind, falling most bordettseme
on the limr people, who were least Ore` to bear it.
Mr. 11USKISSON **served, that 'the Honourable
Gentleman who had jolt ea,s- down forgot the dif-
ference between the Property Tat and the Leather
Duties. The formes was merely a part ,of the sup-
ply far the year, while the latter was solemnly
pledged on the faith of Parliament to the public
creditor, as a part of the permanent taxes carried
into the Consolidated Fund. •The Right Honourable
Gentleman said, he had listened to all the arguments
made use of by the Noble Lord opposite, and by
those individuals who supported his motion; he had
also read the voluminous tracts poulisbed• by the
Gentlemen connected with the leather trade, on this
subject—and, after giving the most mature consider-
ation to both, he was prepared to say, that if the
circumstances of the country justified the Legislature
in revising all the taxes, and in removing those that
were most obnoxious, the Leather Tax was not the
one which, in the first instance, he would recommend
to be abolished. There were marly others that
operated more unfavourably on the consumer than
the tax its question. Thil tax did not fall ott the
tanners, but on the Public, who consumed the ar-
ticle. The tanner was the person on whom the tax
was originally levied, but the Public alone paid it.
Ile believed, that those who voted against the tax
could not have read the statements of the. tanners,
whose interests were said to be so immediately con-
cerned, or they would not have argued as they had
done. The statements of those Gentlemen proceeded
on this assumption, that the tax operated, not to the
injury of the consumer, bat of the tanner. This
tax had the misfortune to be laid on three years
ago, at n period immediately preceding one of the
greatest pressure and difficulty that this country
had ever experienced. Having been then intro-
duced, and not having produced the full amount
at which it was essimated, the Noble Lord came
forward and made that a ground for repealing it.
But, if he rested his case alone on the diminutiou
of the tax, and not on the public pressure, or its
operation in inducing individuals to give up the
trade, he might have foond a moth stronger one,
of the same description, for removing other tales.'
The business of a nialtster had been already alluded
to, and a Noble Lord had stated the diminution
of licences for carrying on that business. Now the
Leather Tax was nut in felt 'epere!ion fet a coil.
siderable time—but the double duty on malt bad been
for 15 or 16 years. During all that time the number
of licences were decreasing. This the Noble Lord
might attribute to the War Duty. But, if he Woke.'
to the old Malt Duty, he would find a much greater
diminution under it, of persons professing the busi-
ness of manatees, than of tanners, under the Leather
Tax. Toe old Milt Duty, for fire years, produced
on an average 3,000,0001. per annum—it wasre-
duced, and in the last year, it amounted to only
1,900,0001. The Noble Lord then, arguing On this
principle of diminution, might have come down to
to the House, and, finding the' diminution to ,hart
taken placeitn -consequence of the Malt Duty being
reduced one-half, call on the Legi.lai um to increase it.
The Noble Lord (Compton) said he would vote for
the repeal of this, and also of 1113 Salt Dates, because
he wished to lay on a direct tag, in the nature of the
Properly Tax. Bet he ought brat to know how his
new allies meant to act. Perhaps he might give them
his support on this occasion—but he doubted, st !te-
ther, in return, they would assist him with their votes,
if any substitute, of the nature he had alluded to,
were proposed. All that could be said with respect
to the tanning business was, that it was a trade,
which, like all others, bad suffered, but which
now, like all others, was reviving. With respect to
the repeal of the tax, it was to the consumer, to the
whole body of the Public, they were to look, rather
than to any particular body of applicants.' And he
would maintain, that it would be for the benefit sit
the Public not to repeal this tax—because the con-
sumer would not have the advantage of tbe diminu-
tion of the impost, et the same time that he would be
' obliged to pay some other tax, which it would Le UP.
cessary to substitute. The operation of the tax was,
to oblige the tanner to increase his stock and capital.
if, their, the tax were removed, what would be. the
effect ? Until the capital new employed could be
taken from one branch of its industry and embarked
in another, the manufacturer would be obliged to
make a charge on the consumer, in proportion to the
• capital he had embarked in the trade, and which he
could nut transfer to some other line of business,

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4 ftegtd.ll)All,7l St • not i end to trespass ' Mr. LUSUINC
'above a momeot ern 'the attention of louse, tread: siderabtatecal
lox afresh kinktrack •az bee a r ylk by a mop', testate to
.1
r
Written ofthe araenteors tobrffifit ifite homy anode agaiwat "0 tai
• w
• 1.,.) NA ltialbmeg lab. No -rd oitiobilid er3gi More surprised bb
naZjrnored the questror, and by othankflnnourable Honourable Mee
Membere who totended to vote, as he did% the' that Hamemeabiesl
;•.
repeal •,f tireNt'ditional Dories on 1-klltlgt. it ja -I en The 'abject: 'I
~_. kis ( Lord Deer lvaer4 laieltreatineNn.....nabila, It etptioned, that
--o'-... "is I 011,;11( 1143n...r5, "tbkt a Rations iconsidweed necessary -i teed of 41101.1111
by hie MsjestyMinisters; but 'repre.etstinslas hedid, During five years'
a great commercial City, deeply interested in the found te.be 52,00
. present debate., he could not give a silent vote with. The discontinoau
out stating, that the repeal of the additional Duties It was taking hot
' on Leather was of great import le many highly re- money, to put it
spectabie persons connected with that made in Wor- man could lumen
rester, tabu prayed to' be relieved from the burdrus posed in ita roe
of it, that they might, at Info, upon equal. terms,nreet been pursued was,
abe forelegs manufacturer in the markers which they state of the Raves
' ' Were unable to do with the additional Duties in force, not do; for the
• as they et present stood. Unzhould vote foe the re. leather charges I
peal of those DOOM . dwell from. the'
' Mr. HART DAVIS rase, when the same .cries creased. Then • I
' were yenewed: lle begged to troehle the Use“ tanners bad.ditait
• with a very few. words. Having formerly voted for That the trade
the repo,! of this tax--(11cor !jrom the Opmsttion) might be koown 1
—be wished to state, that On had taken the riPpor-
article was ham
• . . trinity afforded by the recess to confer with the mast call to mind, ae
• intelligent tanners; and they said; that they.did net state of tha lin.
think the trade could benefit from the repeal of this that would show
'h" `'tie.'—[Bear, hear!)—He had received a letter,. tanners. In the
• which he then held in his hand, from a very eminent been Increasing, _
' tanner. He knew him to be a person who hod a.• of that party ads
perfect knowledge of his own interest.—(Loud would, in soma
• loughier.)—With the leave of the House he would Lord had dwelt
"•• read this letter to them.—(Galls of read, mingled been driven out 4
. . .with cries of disapprobation.)—lt was coached in find fault with tl
' ', these terms :---" As the Leather Tax is to seine be- the Tads. that the
. .
, fore the House in a few days, I beg to express a con., eaceeded that of,
' . viction, that neither the manufacturer nor the eon. of tanners was RC
sumer is affected by the amount 6f it."—(!fear; means possessed
' - hear!)—" The 'trade Is certainly reviving."— trade. If there
. " (Hear, hear !)—" It H sliced, that the duty has;. be referred to. I
lately fallen off; but it should be remembered, that ing long on the at
there was a great importation of bides a.short time ed to have states
• before the additional duty was Imposed." Though; lion. Gentleman
_ I', in consequence of informatics!, he had received, he stood) of the do
- . .' bad formerly voted for the repeal, be had since, on, which it appeared
.f. more mature deliberation, adopted a contrary opi- their name a au
.t' "ann. He could not, indeed, see how Government 3,0001.; and iu
-• 'could possibly do without it, nor did he see how it in 1817, 5,9001
could he conveniently supplied by another tax. these statements
Mr. P.'METIIUEN (as we understood) thought gratulate those f.
' that if all England shoold be searched, there would trade. Another
'' not be found another tanner thinking like that one the increased pri
' whose opinion they had heard that evening. The price bad rim
Lord COM PION said *few words, which we last year. The r.
could not distinctly hear from the confusion of the reduced rate. T
house. actly as he had a
, Mr. MARRYAT said, that his vote would be an. of the pockets r
ticipated when he stated that his opinion was guided not called upon
by a far better criterion than any letter from any after they had sot
' single person; when it was recollected that there upon, he frequer
' hod been Petitions by hundreds laid before them, chaser. 'His Ho
_ .
and every one enanimons In favour of the repeal of bate, had entered
the Tax. It was much to be wished that the lion. be did not thin)
Gentleman who had lately spoken against the Bill much farther. I
• tied confined himself to particular facts and 'official Trade had had n
t
' statements. It appeared from roma that had been ell other trades h
' laid before the House, that, in consequence of the trade was now in
tax, the exportation of onmanufactured Leather had drawbacks that h
i) been doubled, and the export of manufactured arti. satisfaction, ape
clef had been diminished more than one-half. This that they had de
appeared by papers presented to the Mouse on the Leather Laws she
9111 of March. There were amongst those accounts the pretences end
. , the duties for five years before the additional tax, duty was sought
and for the last five years. From 1808 to 1812 the false.
duties were 5,600,0001. • and the export duty on un. Mr. MARRY,
, , manufacture.' Loather tor five yeses to 1817, was been made from
t nearly doubled. The reduction in the manufactured 'lshii had been pi
' article would be found to be as he had stated. From had referred to tit
1813 to 1817 it was only about 1,000,0001. This manufactured lea
reduction on one -side, and increase on the other, the tax had mater
t ~ eras evidently caused by the additional Tax. Whet of the country.
:, be had stated was further confirmed by the fact, that Mr. LUSHIN
the consumption of foreign raw hides amounted for. Mr. BROUG I
mealy to a much greater number of late years. This things which had
was another proof of alteration in the trade, in coo. eery to the Tress
sequence of the Tax. The raw material was in a tiously suffer to 1
manner transferred to the foreign manufacturer, in if this tax was re
consequence of the Tax. 'rho foreign manufacturer must he i:nposed.
had an immense advantage over this country by yea. —[Hear, hear!l
son of that additional duty. When the effects of but it was not ni
' that Tax were considered, it ought to be recollected of it. How had
that it had become almost a system to assist the wages cisely similar ?
iof poor persons out of the Poor Rates, so that the Tax years ago to reps
was repaid by the rich to the poor in the shape of the oppressive tat.
• ]Poor Rates. Government would find that they lint sters found it ins'
.r more by indirect tasetion, than they gained by such mates, but imme
impositions. The Hon. Gentleman, after shortly back all the E 4
• stating the precise proportion which the Leather ductions in matt
a' , Tax bore to the rest of the revenue, concluded by now imitate limit
expressing it as his opinion, that he could not con- not now take all
histently with sound policy vot• otherwise than with of taking an addi
it the Bill. blishmepts, and 1
Mr. BENSON, said, he was rather surprised to served from the r
see the Honourable Member for Bristol so suddenly at the head of the
i ' changing his sentiments on the subject adder discus- son), that he flat
sion. [The Honourable Gentleman made a further --It was *rut
.
i observation on this subject, we thought in connection not Outs Estima
. with the approaching election,' which we could not if the Estabils
t., hear for cries of question and order.] He had visited they were, it 1
many parts where trades materially affected by the some other tax
) ._
••tax were carried on, and was confirmed in the opi- motion of en H
nion which he had before offered to the House. lie carried, would h
was farther confirmed in that opining, by persons who greater fettucine
1. : • had given 'widower to the Cooseittee, who con- a motion for are
sidered the repeal of the tax as il necessary measure tary establishmet
for the interest of the country. Secretary to the
4 . Mr. H. DAVIS explained. Ile was surprised to Messrs. Brewin t
• bear that any Hon. Member Should rnske Poch in- tax, when the t
_ einnations on his. conduct is appeared to have been with the *sceptic
cast on him by the Hon. Member opposite. ber for Bristol,
I i , The SPEAKER. was persuaded the House would their trade wool(
*ree with him, that if the words of the Hon. Mem- astonished that 1
ber were intended to bear the construction put on the lion. Gentle.
• them, they would be highly discreditable and im- opinion. He di,
1% - proper. If tnich was their intention, bethought it motives to the II
• would be his duty not to allow them to pass in titres to any Ili
• -silence.—( Hear, hear!) mentary. Bet 1
‘.... ,
Mr. BENSON disavowed any serious meaning in did surprise him
the expressions he had used. lie thought the under- reason fora char
-standing that en election was not far distaut would Bart Davis.]—,
excuse the allusion to the lion. Member, which he the letter of de
had merely made in jilt. his change of opii
• ,
ts,

TON bad been led t. asks eon, hettiAirpr. B.
!to tee, 'object, and ems,
if Hist -therottewerMis ikoompahst -40.4 opiniontekh.lese real groiss, Ndthing --L*llighl--.lle
Abel) to Aar the statement of*. galiseW Letter.
MN' Ear Sandwich_ He in him ask not another class i