Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-18
THE BRITISH BUDGET.
A Sad Commentary Oh British
Morals.
Immense Revenue Derived from
Alcoholic Beverages.
A Universal Rush to the Beer Barrel
and Spirit Bottle.
The Government Plan for Reducing the
Surplus Which the Tipplers
Have Piled Up.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
LONDON, April 17.-Goschen, Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, presented budget
in the Commons today. 1t shows that
the expenses exceeded the estimates by
Ell 800, and that the receipts exceeded
the estimates by over 93,000,OOO. Com
menting on the gross revenue from alco-
holic beverages, 929, 9,265, 900, Goschen
said the figures showed universal rush
to the beer barrel, spirit bottle and wine
decanter. 1t was a circumstance that
must be deplored. Closer examination
would not diminish the surprise, for the
largest increase had been, of all spirits
in the world, from rum. 1t was drunk
mainly at the seaports. 1t was an ex-
traordinary historical fact that in the
years 1875 and 1876, the greatest
drinking years recorded, there
was precisely the same rush, and
precisely the same proportion of revenue
from the different spirits. Increased
prosperity, therefore, meant increase in
the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
The postal receipts exceeded the esti-
mates by s1,0O0,OOO. The revenue from
telegraphs exceeded the estimates by
100000. The exact surplus reached
G3,221 900.
The total reduction in the national
debt for 1889 reached the sum of G8, 1885,
600. This amount added to the reduc-
ton OF the previous two years made the
grand total of G23 1928, 900, the largest
NJ ,,>+ e 1.
debt in the same length of time
Proceeding to the estimates of the
coming year, he estimated the expendi-
ture at esq, 1857 900, and the revenue at
500, ,406 900.
The duty on currants will be reduced
from to 2 shillings per hundred weight.
The increased beer duty temporarily i'm
posed in 1889 will be taken off. The in
all working-class tenements under
e2 900 rental will be exempt from the
/ house tax. (Cheers.)
Turning from imperial to local finances
he proposed to raise the revenue for
County Council purposes, there being
an increased duty of pence per gallon
on spirits, and pence per barrel on
beer. This would yield G1 100000 He
hoped the friends of temperance would
be satisfied, and the publicans take a
broad view of the question.
Goschen spoke three hours.
AS to the disposal of the surplus, he
proposed, among other things, to reduce
the Indian and colonial postage; the ap-
prentice agreement stamp to be reduced,
and the duties on gold and silver plate
to be abolished. The tipplers who had
largely produced the surplus, would
have a chance to redeem themselves
owing to the reduction of the tea duty
by two pence per pound. [Cheers.]
In reply to Mundella's complaint that
nothing had been done for the cause CT
free education, Goschen promised that
the subject would be dealt with at the
next session. He also hoped to deal
with the currency question, but would
reserve his opinion regarding the issue
of one-pound notes.
Sexton said gross injustice had been
done Ireland, and the Parnellites would
resist the Governments proposals by
every means in their power. Formal
resolutions were adopted authorizing the
proposed increased duties.
The Gladstonians, discussing the bud
get in the lobby, called it ''the dissolu-
ton budget"