Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-18
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr.. eoscHEN's SPEECH ON THE AN
NuAL BUDGET.
Three and n Half Million
Pounds Surplus.
lBy Anslo-AmsrIcan rable 70 the Dlspa,cn.l

LONDON, April l7.-Mr. Goschen, Chan
cellor OF the Exchequer, presented the
budget in the House of Commons to-day. 1t
shows that the expenses exceeded the esti-
mates by eli, 800. and that the receipts ex-
ceeded the estimates by over fS,OOoO 900:
The duty on alcoholic beverages realized
over 5000. 900. The beer duty exceeded
the estimates by G2.OO0,oO0. The duty on
foreign spirits exceeded the estimates by
E4l2,O00, on home spirits by CT. 10000. and
on wine by fl2.000. The total receipts
from alcoholic beverages. both foreign
and domestic, exceeded the estimates by
fl 300, 600. The duty on coffee, cocoon, and
chicory showed decrease OF fl7 500, while
the duties on tea showed an increase OF
E40.000.
Commenting on the gross revenue from
alcoholic beverages--Ez9,26 5 ,000-blr. Go
schen said that the figures showed uni
versal rush to the beer-barrel, the spirit
bottle, and wine-decanter. Everybody
seemed bent on toasting tho national pros
perity and increasing the revenue: IL was
circumstance that must be deplored.
Closer examination would not diminish the
surprise, for the largest increase had been,
OF all the spirits in the world, from rum.
LLaughter.l
He. had taken pains to discover who
drank the rum. IL was drunk mainly at
been II per cent from British spirits,
per cent. from wine, 10 per cent. from
beer. per cent. from brandy, per cent.
In 1883 the number of drains taken reached
245. 000 900; in 1899. 275.000. 900. 10 was an
extraordinary historical fact that in the
years 1875 and 1875, the greatest drinking
years recorded, there was precisely the
same proportion of revenue from different
spirits. The increased prosperity, there
fore. meant great increase IL the con-
sumption of alcoholic drinks.
The postal receipts exceeded the esti-
mates by cl00, 600. The revenue from tele-
graphs exceeded the estimates by 10000.
The exact surplus reached G3,220, 900. He
said he was glad to give good account of
the continued reduction OF tho national
debt, which during the last three years
had been diminished by leaps and bounds.
The total reduction for 1889 reached the
sum Of 6. 295. coo. This amount added to
the reductions of the previous two years
made grand total Of f23. 1913, 900. This
amount was the largest ever paid in the
reduction of the debt during the same
length of time. After explaining the re-
suit of the conversion of the per cents
Mr.. Goschen referred to the calling in of
the Victorian gold coin, 21,00.OO0
sovereigns and $4,000 half s0yereigns
having come in for Teminting. There had
Dttn u Hlullltii Va LtftsODo huiAhH taN = NoA
from the profit on circulation. Silver
would be needed to meet the deficit from
light gold coin.
THE ESTIMATES.
Proceeding to the estimates for
mated that there would be an ex-
pendture of Gs6, $4,000 and a reye::
nue. Of 600, 100000 As 10 the disposal OF
| the surplus of c3,5i9,00O. he said he pro-
posed to allot $4,000 70 military barracks
| and 20 devote q 100000 to the equipment
of volunteers. The Indian and Colonial
postage rate would be reduced TO two
pence half by oS any be r2 2gdSced df fS
| half a crown and the stamp on health-ln-
surance policies would be abolished. The
| tipplers, who had largely produced the
surplus. would have n chance to redeem
! themselves owing TO reduction OF the tea
| duty by two pence per pound. lCneets'l
He said he was opposed to the total abo-
| lition of the tea duty because 1t was the
only article whereby the non-smoker and
non-drinker could contribute TO the reye-
nue.. Next, the duty on currants would De
reduced from seven TO two shillings per
| hundredweight. The increased beer duty
| temporarily imposed in 1889 would be
taken of. The Inhabited house duty
would be reduced. and all the working
class tenements under the twenty-Dound
rental would be exempt from house tax.
| LCheers.l
Turning from imperial TO local finances
he proposed to raise the revenue for county
council purposes by an increased duty OF
sixpence per gallon on spirits and three
pence per barrel on beer. T. Hear, hear"
and oh. oh."l This would yield El,OOO,-
600. He hoped the friends of temperance
| would be satisfied and that the publican
would take a broad view of the question;
IN concluding, Goschen said he trusted
that the budget would be recognized as an
endeayor to afford relief in various direc-
tons without resorting 10 violent measures.
He smoke three hours. Sir William YER
non Harcourt congratulated Goschen upon
the countrys satisfactory financial pros
meet.