Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-12
TOBACCO AND. RUM
Push Great Britain's Revenue Above
Goschen's Clever Estimates
ENGLAND'S BIG DRINK BILLS
Far Greater Than Those of Bonnie Scot
land or Old Ireland.
THE WEEDS RETURNS THE RICHEST

! LONDON, April 11.-Mr Goscheu, Chan.
cellor of the Exchequer, presented the
budget in the House of Commons to-day.
There was full attendance of members
and the scenes were very animated.
Mr.. Goschen said that as traveller in
ascending hill frequently fancied that he
had reached the highest point only to find
} it was not the top, so had been for the last
| three weeks his experience with the finan-
cial prosperity of the country. The esti-
mates had been framed on the theory that the
| and upward. Good fortune again permit
ted him to submit a budget showing a sur
plus of 81, ,067 900. This was largely due to
the expending departments, for it was not
to any extent due to an expansion of the
revenue. There had been times when he
had suffered great anxiety. During Janu-
ary and February the prospect was not
bright, but during March it was better, and
this enabled him to submit satisfactory
result.
A Surplus Above the Estimate.
In the last budget the estimate of expendi-
lures was EGG. 264 900, the actual e1pendI-
lures we're e9s, ,92s, 900, leaving surplus of
e336, 600. This was remarkably small
difference between the estimate and actual
expenditures. The total estimates of ex-
penditure during the last three years was
f264 00O, 900. The total difference in the ex-
penditures was only f137o00. This state
ment was received with cheers. Analysing
the revenue Mr.. Goschen said that the Gus
toms produced ELS. .736, 600 being f36,0O0 above
the sum calculated upon. 1t was not alcohol
that caused the increase this year. but
tobacco. The revenue tax from tea was ex-
ceedfngly satisfactory yielding S4 600 over
the estimate. Tobacco produced S9.953, ,0O0
being s41s, 600 above the previous year. All
this, Mr.. Goschen declared, proved that
wages had not fallen and that there was
still widely diffused prosperity among work
ingmen.
The excise revenue showed E543,0O0 over
the estimate. The increase in the consump-
tion of home spirits was greater in Eng
land than in Ireland or Scotland, being
6% per cent in England against 3-5 in
Scotland and l per cent in Ireland. More
spirits were consumed than beer. MI.
Goschen estimated the revenue for the cur
rent financial year at S9o,477,000 and the
expenditures at EGO 253, 600, leaving small
margin Of This This Wi Viii not ALLOW of
q minor reduction in patent fees, absorbing
ESQ., and the fixing of the duty on spark
ling wines from 2s Cd and Is per gallon to
Uniform rate o. Is.
lne plVer Oh IrOsperlty DrOaus
Mr.. Goschen said he held himself RESPONSE
Bile for the prudence of the estimates. The
mighty river of national prosperity still re-
manned broad, and he trusted that the vari-
Gus water sheds of national wealth would
continue the stream undiminished in vol
ume. ICheers.1 Mr.. Goschen spoke for two
hours. He announced the resignation of
Mr.. West, Chairman of the Inland Revenue
Board.
Mr.. Gladstone suggested that the House
follow the usual custom and avoid discus
sion of the budget until the day fixed for
its mature consideration. He hoped the
change of duty on sparkling wines, while
benef1ting some wine producing countries
would not involve trouble on other coun-
tries. He eulogized the services of Mr..
West The resolution concerning wines
was passed.
The pointless character Of the budget
disappoints all parties. The conservatives
in the lobby did not attempt to disguise
their regret that Mr.. Goschen had presented
a statement containing nothing that would
influence the popular vote in the general
elections. The Liberals, who had expected
some coup to attract electors to the conser-
vative side, were pleasantly surprised by
the harmless character of Goschen's state
ment.