, 1892-01-02

ZION. Inc &6SOIuIjOuE 'N"N
The Rule prohib@ Z Resolution from being
read three times and passed the same day,
having been suspended, the Resolution was
read o second and third time and passed, mem,
con, 1t was as follows
whereas the Joint Committee Of the Lee
g~islatnre appointed to consider and report
what further steps should be taken for secur-
ing the admission Of the sugar of this island
into'the United States of America, free Of duty
have reported to the Legislature that by tele-
grams rSeG4eived by them from the Delegates
in Washington on the Eth and 9Th inst, the
Committee We're Informed that the total re-
duction ropuired by the United States GoYean :
ment in the Customs Tariff Of Barbados do not
exceed G12, 900 and that it was not possible to I
obtain better terms; that a tariff had been
arrsnged for all the Colonies, and that Sir
Julian PaunqefQte, the British MinistR at
Washington, required tho acceptance of the
Legislature notified to- the, Delegates by the
Governor. recommended the Legislature to
accept the tariff arranged and request His
Excellency the Acting Governor to telegraph,
the acceptance by the Legislature Of the pro-
posed tariff to Yne Delegates and to the Brit
1sh Minister at Washington:
Res dIved-That the House accept the tafltf
arranged at Washington between the British
Minister, on behalf of the West Indian Colo
MES, and the United States Government, pro-
vided that the charges in the Custom Tariff OF
Barbados do not involve a greater reduction
therein than G12, 600, and that the Logisla-
tive Connoil be invited to concur herein and
if concnrred in
ResOlved-That His Excellency the Acting
Governor be requested to assent to the same
and to notify the acceptance of the Legislature
of Barbados of the proposed tariff arrange
ments to the Delegates, and also the British
Minister at Washington The Resolution was
subsequently sent up to the Legislative Coun-
ell, which met the same day. end concurred
in. And thus ended the negotiations. 1t
remains to be seen what good will result
from the transaction whether it will be a
case Of great cry and little wool, as some
think, or whether it will usher in a
gtolden era OF .prosperity and serve as apanacea
for all the Ills of the Planters, as Others seem
to imagine. One thing is certain. The
Treasury will sustain a loss of t9l2, 900 a year.
How the Government propose to recoup
this, we are not aware, but this we know
Z She opinion pretty generally prevails that
EeU Is noU Alcessary to recoup it all. And,
looking to the fact that the estimated balance
at the 3lst December is put down at no less a
sum than G59,615 6 3, it certainly seems as
though this opinion were well founded.
hOWCN6f WISE III may 10 III pIlNdGS INC 10
lay by money for a wet day. it is contrary to
all recognised principles Of Political Economy
to keep large balances in the public treasury.
Ma. PETERKIN must have startled the nerves
of the planters in the House by suggesting,
as he did in the course of the few remarks
which he made on the question,
that the greater portion Of the 912,
900 should be raised by increasing the land
tax. We do not propose to express any opin-
ion on this matter to-day; but we cannot
help saying that the reason which the hon.
member assigned for his suggestion is one
which cannot be easily gainsayed. 1t is
that the absentee proprietors might be made
to eontrY : their quota. Unless the land
tax was rnc~ ~J ~DlG Mr.. Petvrhin, they
wtQld go scot,free. Seeing that the absentee
propfietors own about one-half, and that half +,
the best and most fertile part Of the land
in the colony, and that the revenue which
they derive from their estates is spent else
where, is does seem hard that local. people
should be called upon to pay more taxes while
they escape. If they would even take an
interest in local affaiSs and contribute any
thing towards the upkA eof local institutions
beyond the little that is %rung from them in
the way of taxes, the feeling of dissatisfaction
which generally prevails 81 the comparative
immunity from taxation which they enjoy,
would not be as intense as is- But they
take little or no interest in Ayu- & Beyond