St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-14
IRISH FINANCES.
Three Methods OF Raising Needed
Revenue.

Il
Revenue.
1.-THE principal to which we are bound
to give effect in Ireland is: Ireland has
to bear fair share of imperial eXpendi-
ture. The word imperial is definite in
the schedule which gives the list of i'm
perial burdens. There are three modes
in which this fact may be ascertained.
The first method is the lump sum pay
ment adopted in 1856. This method,
although, should disappear naturally
from the new bill, for through the re-
tentiOn of Irish representation here,
Irish members will vote the
imperial expenditures. Consequently
it would seem strange under
these circumstances to revert
to the method of lump sum. Another
method is what may simply be de-
scribed as the method of Quota-that is
to say, that Ireland shall pay per cent,
or per cent, or per cent, or what you
please, Of the imperial eXpendit
which shall be taken out of the common
fund. She will be debited to that eX-
tent and will have to pay it over from
her account to ours. If you should fix
the quota, and the quota is absolutely
elastic, should the imperial expenditure
SWELL the principle of the quota would
still secure the relative share to De con-
tributed by Ireland.
But there is third method, which
one we adopt that of deducting from
the Irish revenues the amount Que
England. There is one of these reve-
nues to which the greatest difficulty adj
heres. When explaining the subject in
1886 pointed out that this was large
revenue locally received in Ireland, but
really belonged to Great Britain. The
principal of that revenue was within
the excise department. With the ad-
vantage of the consideration which the
inland revenue department has had
since the former plan was produced, we
get rid of the difficulty altogether as far
as the inland revenue is concerned. We
provide that revenue levied in Ireland
shall be revenue really belonging
to lreland-that is, revenue from
goods consumed in Ireland. 1t
is not so with the customs.
With the customs there is a large debt
from Ireland to this country. 1t is not
SO large as is involved in the case of eX-
else, but still it comes up to several
hundreds of thousands. If we adopted
the method of a quota. we should eX-
pose Irish finance to large and incOn-
venient shocks from changes introduced
in English budgets. Imperial reasons
also would perhaps make it necessary
for us to do what we are, think, very
unwilling to do-namely, to give I'M
perial Office meddling and intervening
power in relation to Irish affairs.
The third plan is to appropriate a
particular fund, say this fund shall be
taken by us and shall stand in acquittal
of all obligations of Ireland for imperial
services. This fund will sweep away
all the difficulties of calculation and i'll
tervention which might belong to the
quota method. Then we have the fund
practically i'm our own hands in the
management of the customs revenue of
Ireland which must be British. CouSe-
quently we shall be deprived of fund
which will never go near the Irish eX-
chequer. Ii it be deemed fair and
convenient arrangement, there can be
no question of handing it backwards
and forwards. We should keep it or
give Ireland a receipt in full, instead of
coming upon her for heavy payments
from year to year. Then, next. the
customs fund would be very near
ly the right amount. / don't
know what the house might con-
slider the right amount. Judgments
might f1uctuate. Some might say per
cent, some per cent, some little more
Glldtl y DEL C6HJ. Dut GilG dluOuIb ID llilS,
g., 430,000 yearly, e60,0OJ allowed for
collection leaves e2.370,0 900 net. With
the imperial expenditure at 959,000,000
g., 370, 600 is sum that drops between a
charge of per cent and charge of
per cent. The Irish members will Oh
serve that by that means everything of
a practical nature we will hand over to
them. Though the rates of excise and
the post and telegraph rates will be
fixed amount, the authority and the
whole control over them will be abso
lutely in the hands of Irish officers.
The fund plan falls short Of :the eXacti-
tude of the quota plan. The latter
method meets every eXlgency Of peace
and war, but this plan is not quite so
exact.
"Questions may arise such as we are
assured we shall obtain from Ireland a
fair share of assistance in great i'm
perial emergency. | myself am bound
to say that l think there is very little to
fear from trusting the patriotism and
lberaIty of the Irish legislature. Stin
gness was never vice of the Irish
people, and if we look forward very
much am afraid her suffering will be
due to generous eXtravaganceS rather
than to meanness. / will now release
the house from the painful considera-
ton of details which it has pursued
with uneXamLled patience. L have tried
to convey the fundamental conception
and spirit of the scheme. / submit that
the plan may be imperfect"