The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-17
The BRITISH BUDGET.
Harcourt Outlines Plans For Meeting
the Deficiency.
An Additional Duty Upon Beer Calls
Forth Adverse Criticism From Irish
Commoners.

LONDON, April 1.-THE house OF COM
mons yesterday was crowded with mem
bers and visitors who had assembled 10
hear Sir William Hareourt, chancellor OF
the exchequer, present the budget.
Sir William referred 20 the difficulty OF
the task he had undertaken, attributing
the difficulty to the adverse crisis which
beset the past year, and to the financial
difficulties in the United States, India
and Australia, as well as TO the labor
troubl in England, and the agricultural
depression prevailing there.
All these conditions. said Mr.. Harcourt,
contributed TO the difficulty which he
had encountered in presenting a satisfac-
tory budget, but it was some relief 10 be
able to add that the result Of all these
troubles were not so bad as it was feared
they would be, thanks TO the financial
system of the country. which had well
stood the test and which showed that any
attempt to change the currency of Great
Britain was unnecessary.
Estimated Expenditures.
Continuing, MIR. Harcourt estimated
the total expenditures at 95, 45S, 900 pounds
sterling, and the revenue he estimated at
80, $50, ,009 pounds sterling. saying that the
deficit OF about 4, SOC. 600 pounds sterling
would not be met by borrowing or aban-
doning the fixed reductions Of the national
debt. He then stated that foreign spirits
had increased the revenue by $4,000
pounds. and that all spirits, except rum,
showed a. increase.
Tea Had increased 1of, ,O00 representing
e00o,0W pounds; coffee continues 20 show
. reduction, and tobacco only increased
2o00. which In under the estimate. Wine
decreased IS, 600 pounds. the consumption
of strong wines having steadily fallen of
from II. .0o0. 600 gallons in 1879 TO 4,700,000
gallons last year On the other hand.
light wines increased 1000, 600 gallons
during the same period.
The loss on spirits, Mr.. Harcourt re-
marked. was compensated for by the duty
on beer. which was 9,537, 900 pounds The
consumption of beer was the highest on
record. exceeding any previous year by
$1,000 pounds
Satisfactory to Harcourt.
According to Mr.. Harcourt, the years
revenue was not unsatisfactory, for there
was no sign ef decrease In the resources
Of the working classes; but there had even
been q substantial increase The only
revenue had been $50, 600 pounds in the
stamp duties The government proposed
90 change the system of death duties, by
which an increase in revenue of 800, 900
or 1000, 600 pounds yearly would be
secured eventually.
But they could not reckon upon more
than 1,000, 900 pounds increase during the
coming year. The extra penny in the
-. III
crease the income tax would yield about
1,790, 900 pounds, however. intended to
raise the limit of exemption from 100 10
400 pounds, and to relieve incomes between
400 and 800 pounds BY an abatement of 100
pounds These abatements would mean a
yearly loss of 10000 pounds, reducing
the net gain ON the extra penny In the
pound on the income tax to $3.50, 600 pounds.
In order to meet the remaining ,000, 900
pounds deficit he proposed TO add Cd. per
gallon to the duty on spirits, and I'd. per
barrel to the duty on beer.
How 10 Was Received.
A desultory discussion followed the pre-
ssutation of the details Of the budget.
The criticism was almost wholly devoted
TO the governments proposal to impose an
additional duty Of Cd. barrel on beer.
The Irish members voiced their objec-
tions to the proposal to increase by Cd.
gallon the duty on spirits. 1t is probable
that the Parnellite members will vote
against this latter proposal. The anti
Psrnellites will call meeting to deter
mine their attitude ON the question.
The Conservatives strongly object to
the system of death duties. The debate
On the budget Is likely to be protracted.
il n stated positively that a bill provid-
ing for the disesta blishment of the church
in Wales will be introduced In the house
aext week.