On this page

• Text (3)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    The defeat of Ministers on Friday evening , and the general anxiety as to what would be done next , caused a very large attendance in the House of Commons on Monday evening . Thejrtesetttktion . of petitions , and other routine business , having been finished , and the House having gone into committed on ttifc Income Tax Bill , Lord John Russell said he thought it would be as well for him . to state what course the Government intended to take . The House had decided that the income tax shQuld be . tenewedfor one year instead of three . The object of Mr . Hume , in bringing forward his motion tor that purpose , had

    been with , a view to the " appointment of a select committee of inquiry , in Order to render the tax more just and equal . Lord John went on to say that he still thought it undesirable to abridge the duration of the tax ; but he could not suppose that the majority of the House , which agreed to the motion , had any intention of placing the credit of the country in jeopardy . They were simply desirous that an inquiry should be instituted ; and , after mature deliberation , he and his colleagues had come to the conclusion that , after what had occurred , there should be a fair inquiry , conducted by men who are looked upon as leaders in financial questions , and to whom the House is

    disposed to show deference . But , in making this concession , he wished it to be distinctly understood that there was to be no tampering with the tax during the present year . His understanding was that the income tax , as it stands , should be voted for one year , in order that the repeal of the window tax , and the reduction of the coffee and timber duties , should be earried out . Mr . Hume expressed his concurrence in the view taken by the noble lord , that no alteration should be made in the tax during the present year ; and he hoped that Colonel Sibthorp , who had given notice of a motion for altering the mode of levying the tax upon tenant farmers , would postpone his

    motion , and allow the bill to pass through committee without alteration . Mr . Diskaeli also thought it desirable that , after shortening the lease of the tax , there should be no criticism on any particular schedule . Colonel Sibthorp ' s motion was , however , entitled to special consideration on the part of the committee ; and although the gallant Colonel might not deem it advisable to take exactly the course which he had intended , he ( Mr . Disraeli ) hoped the Government would consider the propriety of adopting the principle that the tenant-farmer should be rated to the income tax in the same manner , and upon the same principles , as all other classes . As for

    the Budget , he considered that it had been fairly upset by the vote of Friday evening , and therefore he should deem it quite open to the House to reconsider the financial propositions of Government with reference to the new position in which they had been placed . He did not consider that the House was bound to carry out any of those financial propositions of the Government which were passed under the impression that the income tax would latt a much longer period . Lord John Russell was unable to see how Government could make any alteration in the mode of assessing the farmer without previous inquiry , and that inquiry ought to take place in the proposed select committee . Colonel Snvruoiu * having expressed his willingness to postpone his motion , the House was about to pa . su the first clause what should be

    of the bill , when the discussion as to done for the tenant farmer was renewed . Mr . Bankbs , Mr . Chaplin , Sir T . D . Aclanj > , and Mr . Alcock contended that the assessment on the farmer ought to be made on the same principle as on the classes in Schedule I ) . Sir Cjiaules Wood asked if they were willing , in that case , to allow him to surcharge the farmer where his profits were higher than he was assessed for at present . If he was to give way on the one side , it was but fuir that he should have ihut advantage on the other . The rural members seemed rather taken aback by this proposal . In bo fur as the farmers had any special ground for comp laint , their case would come fairly before the select committee , and as it was necessary that the report ( should ins made in the present session , they would be able to make the suggested alterations before the

    tax was renewed next year . Sir John luou , oi'uwas not atall satisfied with this pleat-ant mode of evading discussion . The course taken by Ministers was , no doubt , uii exceedingly convenient mode of shelving an awkward question , but it would not satisfy the members on his side of the House . Unless Government made some more satisfactory declaration , they would be forced to go to a division . Lord John denied that the notion of a committi-e hud originated with Ministers . The vote of Friday evening wan to that committee

    limit the tax for 0110 year . »» <> « - ' a might bo appointed . Sir John Trolj . oii : said ho had merely voted for the limiting the tax to one year . He had nothing to do with the appointment of a committee . Those with whom he acted had never assented to such a proposition . Mr . Dihiiaisi . i hiikI it was A mistake to suppose thnt there hud boo 11 « "y rtatliamentury motion for ft committee . Unit was the proposition of Government . He would now migffeat that , inusrnueh as the noblo lord hud come down to the Loubo that night , and xan . de a very

    extraordinary proposition , hV should now move that the Chairman report ^ progress , in order that Colonel Sibthorp should h * ve an opportunity of bringing forward his proposition in a proper shape , and on a proper occasion . Lord John Russell could not assent to that proposition . He and his colleagues having , after mature deliberation , acceded to the wish of the house , he was not prepared to take any other course than the enactment of this tax for a year , to enable Government to carry on the measures necessary for -the public credit . As for Mr . Disraeli ' s statement that he never intended to vote for a committee , it was rather inconsistent with his repeated statement that he and his friends , in supporting Mr . Hume's motion , were doing so from any different view from that taken by the honourable member for Montrose . Mr . Hume said he had distinctly stated , on bringing forward his motion , that if he carried it , he would then move for a select committee . It was not fair to misrepresent his motion . Some desultory discussion followed , but the Protectionists did not venture to divide , and the Income-Tax Bill went through committee without any alteration . Ministers received another defeat on Tuesday evening on Lord Naas ' s motion that the House should go into committee to take into consideration the present mode of levying duty on home-made spirits in bond . The object of the motion was simply this : when spirits were placed in a bonded warehouse , and remained there some time , the duty was levied , not on the quantity that came out of the bond , but on the quantity originally measured in the spirit receiver , the consequence of which was that the distiller had to pay duty on a considerable quantity which was always lost by waste or evaporation . It was said that any alteration would open the way to fraud , but he had never heard any calculation made as to what the probable loss from that source would be . All that the distillers asked for was , merely that the same regulations which were granted to importers of rum and brandy , should be extended to the distillers of this country . The revenue would gain by the alteration . The manufacture of whisky would be considerably increased , and that increase would take place without any increase of intemperance ; as the raw horrible stuff which the people of Scotland and Ireland now consumed would give place to a light and wholesome beverage . Mr . Wilson , opposing the motion , endeavoured to show that the amouut of loss to the distiller was very small , amounting to only about l £ d . per gallon . Besides , when 4 d . per gallon was fixed as a fair amount of countervailing duty against colonial spirits , it was intended that Id . of that 4 d . should represent the deficiency in homemade spirits from being in bond ; and as a large amount of spirits went directly into consumption , the distillers had the benefit on the total amount , although the loss fell only upon what went into bond . He thought the English distiller had a much more just ground of complaint than the Irish distiller . The latter was at liberty to send his spirits into the English market , but the former was not allowed to send his into Ireland . Since 1841 the produce of English spiiits had decreased 100 , 000 gallons , while that of Irish and Scotch had increased 4 , 000 , 000 gallons This did not

    look as if the Excise favoured the English distiller greatly . Mr . Reynolds ridiculed the statement that the loss in bond was equal to little more than Id . per gallon . In one case he hud heard of , the loss was six times greater than that . Ho reminded the house that this was not a spirit dealer ' s question merely . It was a labour and agricultural question , and us such he hoped it would be supported . Mr . Giiouan complained that , while opening ; their markets to the whole world , they were endeavouring to shut out u portion of their own subjects . Mr . Giiison , as a member of the committee on the sugar planting und rum question , said the impression on his mind was that , on the whole , 4 d . per gallon was a fair differential duty to meet the disadvantages under which the Irish and Scotch distillers were said to labour . Mr . Humk and Colonel DuNnb both supported the motion . Sir Guohuk Clmric said a few words uguinst it . Sir Ohaklkh Wood oppobed the motion , because the alteration proposed would virtually give a premium to fraud . All that could be abstracted and brought in without paying duty would be a clear gain to the distiller ; whereas all they abstract no * is a direct loan . Lord John Huhhkll viewed it simply hh a question for reducing the duty on Scotch ftiid Irish spirits ; and an

    lie did not intend to reduce the duty on spiriiH in general , und us lie wau not prepared to f ^ ive an advantage to the producer of Scotch and liinli spirits , lie could not iigree to the motion . Mr . Dihkaki . i ridiculed the arguments of Lord John , and cxpresHcd a hope that the decision of the Jlouse would show that the routine and stereotyped reaHonsof the public officers would receive another check . The House then divided , when tho numbers

    were--J '' or tho motion Ifl !) Against it l / 3 <) Tho announcement of the numbers whh received with loud cheers by the Opposition , which were rcpeuted when the Speaker guve Iuh casting vote m favour of the motion , thus placing the Government in ii minority . Mr . Rujsuuck . appealed to Lord John

    Russell whether Re ought , or was fit , to carry on the affairs of the couhtf y with the Government so completely in tnfe Hands of the House of Commons , as four recent divisions had proved it to be ? "• I ask him if he ts in a position to govern this country ? ( Loudcheer ' s from the Opposition . ) Is he wise , is he politic—I say nothing as to his honour—is he wise , is he politic , to retain the powers of Government under such circumstances ? ( Cries of " hear , hear , " and " , oh . " ) It is all very well to say " , " but let us understand what is going on in this country . At the commencement oT the session of parliament we were told that certain things were tobe done with respect to

    the finances of the country . The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave an intimation of what he intended to do . There is not a great concern in the country that has not been affected by the declaration of the right honourable gentleman . Do not let the right honourable gentleman suppose that this is a mere party act . I am looking at it with reference to the country itself ; and if the House of Commons is so bound to the interests of the country as to keep us in this state , hanging ( as it were ) , like Mahomet ' s coffin , between heaven and earth , let the House of Commons have the responsibility . ( " Hear , hear . " ) But I appeal to the noble lord—I appeal to him who is responsible upon this occasion—not to lend his authority

    to this state of things . I say that any Minister—regarding not only the Ministry of this country , but his own personal character—would not lend himself to such a condition . ( Cheers , and cries of " Oh , oh . '" ) It was very well to say ' ' but I recollect an instance wherein the partv of the noble lord putting the Administration of the Duke of Wellington into a minority—one who certainly is not on these benches now , but who has been exalted into the other House of Parliament , as soon as the minority was declared on that occasion , rose to ask the right honourable baronet ( Sir Robert Peel ) if he was about to retain his Government after such a vore ? ( "Hear ! " ) Why , the noble lord

    lives on minorities . ( Cheers and laughter . ) And I say it is contrary to the interests of England , it is contrary to the spirit of our constitution , that any administration should sustain itself by the mere difficulties of its position , and by mere sufferance , and be insulted every day by being conquered , and be unable to advance any one of the principles on which the Government was founded . ( Hear . ) We are now upon the fourth defeat on a matter intimately connected with the taxation of this country—on matters intimately connected with all our mercantile concerns . And I ask the noble lord

    whether he thinks it wise , under the circumstances , to continue in the position he now holds ? ( Cheers ) I believe he would more fully satisfy the desires of those who wish to advance the great principles on which his Government is founded , if he were to say , ' I will not lend myself any longer to such a state of things ! ' And I advise him at once to declare that if the House of Commons wishes to take on itself the administration of this country . it ought to have the responsibility of finding an administration which may be able to obtain a majority in this House . ( Cheers . )" Lord John Russell ( amid the profound silence of the House ) rose to reply . He said he must respectfully decline the advice Mr . Roebuck had given him in regard to the preservation of his personal character , ¦ which he would prefer taking care of himself . He contrasted the recommendations Mr . Roebuck had given him that night with the warning he had uttered that " free trade was in his ( Lord John ' s ) hands " when the Government was last in abeyance . He hud never hesitated as to the resignation of office when principle demanded it ; but he conceived that not only had he a right , but he owed it to his colleagues , to consider with them the fitting time for

    giving up his office . He referred to the four defeats which Mr . Roebuck had said the Ministry had sustained this session ; and he refused to recognise any of them as defeats of such a character as necessarily compelled a Government to resign . He therefore declined to tell Mr . Roebuck what future course he might intend to tnke ; but he would say that a change of Government now would entail very grave consequences ; and he hoped that those who were in the habit of voting with Ministers would leave it to them to decide their course under existing circumstances , assured that for his o wn part he would not hastily abandon the interests committed to his charge .

    A short discussion followed as to whether the resolution should pass without a division . Lord John thought it perfectly fair to do so , because the House was now fuller thim it had been . Lord Naah thought tlusa bad reason , as the formerdivicuon had taken place in a house which hud been attending to the debute , whereas the members who had just come in would vote without knowing what they were voting for . Ultimately the chairman reported progress and . tin ; House resumed .

    The St . Albun ' s election proceedings gave rise to a fthoit discussion , which was opened by Mr . J <] , Ki . i . icjo , who moved for leave to bring in a bill to appoint commissioners to inquire into the existence ol bribery in that borough . lie took a rapid glunco at the evidence taken by the committee for inquiring into the validity of the return of Mr . Jacob Ilcll , and showed the existence in St . Albnn ' s of a welloigiinizcd system of corruption , screened by the inost dexterous contrivances for evading SU ( . h ( ij H .. covery as might legall y affect tho corrupt or corrupting parties . Ho alluded to the disappearance of tho witnesses at the moment their cvidonco would

    Untitled Article

    PAKLIAMENT OF THE WEEK .

    Untitled Article

    430 t&fyt $ , ia&ir < [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 10, 1851, page 430, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1882/page/2/