Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-17
BON MARCEIE,
3IA=3I6 Seventh ST.
INCOME TAX INCREASED.
Plan of the English Government to
Raise Revenue.

The budget provides for the increase of
one penny in the pound in the income tax.
The house of commons last evening was
crowded with members and visitors. who
had assembled to hear Sir William Har-
court, chancellor of the exchequer, present
the budget. 1t is estimated that a deficit
Of "a, 5000 must be provided for.
When the chancellor arose at 4 o'clock in
order to outline the financial program of
the government he was loudly cheered.
Sir William Harcourt referred TO 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 troubles in England. and the
agricultural depression prevailing there.
All Of these conditions. said the chancellor
of the excheouer contributed to the diff
Guilty which he had encountered in present
ing a satisfactory budget, but it was some
relief to be able to add that the result of
all these troubles were not so bad II was
feared they would be, thanks to the finan-
cial 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.
Continuing. Sir William Harcourt esti-
mated the total expenditures at f95, AS, 900.
and the revenue he estimated at f90.956.-
CO., saying that the deficit of about q. 800 =
600 would not be met by borrowing or by
abandoning the fixed reductions of the
national debt. cloud ministerial cheers)
The chancellor of the exchequer then
stated that foreign spirits had incres sed
the revenue by $4,000. and that all spirits.
except rum, showed an increase. Tea had
increased f101, 900. representing 6o00.o0
pounds Coffee continues to show a reduc-
ton. and tobacco only increased f2,0U0,
which is under the estimate. Wine de-
creased f5S.O00. the consumption OF strong
wines having steadily fallen of from H.
100000 gallons In 1876, to 100000 gallons
last year. On the other hand. light wines
increased 100000 gallons during the same
period.
The loss on spirits. Sir William remarked.
was compensated for by the duty on beer.
which was f9.53T, 600. The consumption of
beer was the highest on record. exceeding
any previous year by $4,000.
According to Sir William Ha-court, the
years revenue was not unsatisfactory for
there was no sign of a decrease In the re-
sources of the working classes, but there
had even been a substantial increase. The
only serious and unexpected reduction Of
revenue had been f5S9, 900 in the stamp
duties. The government proposed 10
change the system of death duties. by
which an increase in revenue of e. 500 600
or "a. 100000 yearly would be secured event.
ually. But they could not reckon upon
more than 100000 increase during the
coming year.
The extra one penny in the pound. by
which II was proposed to increase the in
come tax, would yield about FL. 7S00o0. He.
however. intended to raise the limit OF
exemption from fl20 to $780, and also to
relieve the incomes between f4O0 and 600
by an abatement of flO0. These abate-
ments would mean a yearly loss of Fl, 49,
600, reducing the net gain on the extra
penny in the pound on the income tax to
$4,000.
In order to meet the remaining fl.ooO. 900
Iaaa ta al odd II
to the duty on spirits. and Cd. per barrel
to the duty on beer.