Year: 1868

AUS STRlA.


yaperiaI Finance-Attempted Settlement Of
the Debts and Credits-A Reduction of Inte-
rest a Coupon Tax-PostiOn Of the


GOvesnment-Baron Bcust's Speech-Prince


Napoleon AT the ssGOlden Lanb"-His Visi-


sOrs md the Non-Invhed-Frst Marriage


Under the Civil Law.


VIENNA June 10, 1858.


II the settlement with Hungary was the prominent
event of 1867 the settlement Of the finances Of the
empire is the characterzing and dominant event OF
this year. 80 far as the politics OF the country are
concerned. Inasmuch as Hungary under the settle
nent, had consented only to pay fixed annual sum
towards the interest and redemption Of the debt of
The old united empire. the burden OF settling with
She national creditor was placed upon the shoulders
Of the Reichsrath and the oisLethan Ministry. The
performance of this delicate task, in which there
was the Scya Of the public creditor on the hand
and the Charybdis Of the taxpayer on the
other hand to consider was the crucial
test Of the efficiency OF the present responsible Minis
Try. short resun,e Of the facts which led to the
framing Of the issue, which, after four days. morn
ing and evening debate was decided yesterday, will
probably be necessary to the comprehension Of the
decision ITSELF


On the oath of March Finance Minister Brestel
brought forward three years budget 1t included,
~ Its main provisions, a property tax, non-com-
pulsory unifcation Of the State debt, stoppage Of
the repayment OF the capital of the debt and special
coupon tax amounting to seventeen per cent. The
principle on which the special coupon tax was based
was ths:-That the share Of the interest which Hun
sary had agreed to pay twelve millions Of orns
less than she would have paid had the empire not
been dualfzed. OF course the people OF West
Austria could not be expected to assume this sd
ditional burden; and therefore, to that extent the
State creditor must consent to q muct. Further
than that the Auersperg Cabinet were not prepared
% 60 as any higher mulct would be an act OF injus
on the part Of West Austria Ia particular.


the a got before the
che corner stone Of the Ministerial scheme-namey,
lhe property tax-and with IL the three years. term.
y also agreed upon compulsory conversion Of the
creditor however an important difference arose in
fis ranks. The minority Of the same accepted the
ought only TO be mulcted to the extent of the Hun
garian abatement OF payment but the minority
norns instead af Twelve and aecordinply "
nxed the coupon tax at twenty per cent
IN iieu OF the governments seventeen Ihe majority
State necessity and OF making both ends meet In the
most convenient manner. They proposed, there
the amount OF twenty-five per cent Both majority
and minority were agreed in principle that in lieu
levied to cover the dect; but the minority felt to
be their duty to give more precision to this their
progressive income tax and taxes on articles OF
luxury.


The issue that came up for debate on last Wed
was that which was raised by the majority
and minority reports.-namely, twenty.fve
Der cent coupon tax. The proposition Of the major
ity was first voted down by ll3 against 40. A COM
i've per cent was then voted down by 100 against So,
and lastly the proposition OF the minority report
ne s na as OF f e
consisted OF the Poles, the Slovenes, the Tyroese,
snd about ten members OF the Left. 49,,


The position taken up by the Ministry during TINS
debate was as follows-They heldto their own origi-
ma proposals the best Nevertheless they declared
and would II the House wished II, accept
the hints OF the minority report as regards new
taxation. They also were ready accept the twenty
per cent coupon tax, because the minority had pro-
ceeded upon the same principle "a the government,
latter But Prince carlos Auerspers o distinctly de-
clared TO the House that the government would not
carry out the resolutions OF the majority report,
which were unjust 10 the State creditor. Hereupon
the financial crisis became Ministerial crisis. and
this declaration made only towards the close Of the
debate, did not fail 10 create immense sensation
IN the House, and several members who do not want
to administer vote OF want OF confidence TO the
government changed Sides and voted with the twenty
per cent men on political, not on financial grounds.


Baron Beust who sits In the Chamber Of
Deputies as representative from Reichenberg, In
Bohemia spoke on the second day Of the debate from
q seat in the centre OF the House. He dwelt upon
the international aspect OF The proposiilons for
mucting the state creditor He said:-"That this
measure would cost me many an unpleasant honr
could foresee. Nevertheless l perfectly
comprehend that the Minister OF Foreign Affairs
must take into account the necessities which arise
out OF the internal situation OF the empire: that he
must accommodate himself to them; that he must rep
resent them as far a. possible. am CONSCIOUS OF
having thought and acted in this sense and there
Iore, on the other hand hope that the Rechsrath
and especially this House, VIII also take into account
the task which the Minister OF Foreign Affairs has to
perform under difficult circumstances that this House
VIII not deem II to be it's duty TO enhance the diff
cuty OF this task ana by intensifying an unwecome


hn ausoute necessary measure render its defence
aoioad almost an impossibty. In the course Of this
debate reference has repeatedly been made TO the
se,uement with Hungary that lies In the nature OF
tnls deDate IL has, however, often been referred to
az az some,nlne which ls to he deplored. II
tne questlon ~ on the other hand whether the set
tlement was 10 pe made at all, Immediately we find
oursevct upon the domain OF hypotheses which give
Uee playto Inc IMAGINATION In regard to what would
now be happening. That should not, in thar
case, be seated here to-day comfortably; that
think, may set down as something highly probable
not certain az also that to the various loans which
Austria has TO show, two or three more would have
been added-loans which would have been contracted
not at the figures OF seventy sixty but st
still lower figures. should, however, any one Of
you honorable gentlemen labor under the impres.
sion that there IL In particular TO blame for
this, and that this man In the Deputy from Rechen.
berg then let such console themselves by the relec.
non That precisely this man has at present 10 bear
perhaps larger share of the burden which sprngs
Eroin TIE force of circumstances tl8Il any es.
Ego Dol sfriDb, fyCW this bDlDrI. ilUt beg ytg u