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- THE EMPEUOll'S NEW Y$A1VS GIFT.
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entered into some months ago , there has recently been discovered * blunder of upwards of . £ 30 , 000 ; and in the first material alteration made in the permanent staff , a job of unparalleled effrontery in its way has lately Taeeri perpetrated by giving a salary of £ 800 a year—under the ludicrous misnomer of a retaining fee—to a gentleman who had previously acted as clerk to the Board , and who , in addition to this snug annuity , is to have counsel ' s fees on all his briefs in court . Minor illustrations . of the style of metropolitan administration now in vogue at Guildhall aie superfluous . But it may not be amiss to note two resolutions to which the Board has come within the last month , and which are likely still further to endear it to the millions subject to its rule . The reformers of gas supply in the
metropolis proposed in the bill they are about submitting to Parliament to refer certain questions that must arise from time to time between gas makers and gas consumers to the arbitration of the Board of Works ; but that patriotic body seeing no certain advantage , and a probable increase of trouble were the suggestion adopted , flatly refused to entertain it . An attempt was made by some of the members who do not appear wholly indifferent to popular judgment and feeling , to put an end to the mysterv in which the financial operations have been hitherto wraptf and as a first step it was proposed that the finance committee , like the other committees , should be open to all the members of the Board . The proposal , however , was peremptorily rejected by a decisive majority . Irresponsibility is the order of the day .
Such being the spirit and character of the system as now organized , the Legislature is about to be asked to transfer from the Imperial treasury to that of pur metropolitan uhaccountables the coal tax and carriage duties , with sundry minor sources of income . As the people of London exclusively pay these imposts , they have , no doubt , a paramount claim to the benefit of their expenditure . But , for that very reason , they ought not to be handed over from those whom Parliament compels to give an account of what they do with the money , to those in whom the people place little confidence , and whose proceedings they watch with daily-inereasing dismay . Before an additional shilling ; is placed at ' their disposal , it will be the imperative duty of , Parliawith
ment to inquire - what they have done . with the large sums which -they , have already had to deal . It will further be necessary gravely-to reconsider the constitution of the Board itself , both iis regards the qualification of persons eligible thereto , and with respect to the manner in which they are to be chosen . It is too lat . « to re-argue the / theory of indirect representation , — that exotic device imported from Prussia , which has never grown healthily here . Whatever its merits in the eyes of fine people or foreigners may be , we find its fruits bitter and worthless ; and we believe that the best thing to be done with it is to root it but altogether . If English ratepayers arc fit to elect members of the Sen-ate ., which more than any other assembly sways the destinies of the world , they are surely fit to choose the men who are
to make main drains and to concentrate cesspools in one particular city . But be the logic of the matter what it may , the blunders and abuses into which the Board has fallen render it . impossible that , as now constituted , it should be suffered to play the fool any longcav at our expense . Being practically irresponsible to the public , it is believed to have become a jobbing clique , and whatever else happens the public have made up their minds that the clique must be broken up . There is , we are confident , no desire to hand bacjc the powers of local government to the Imperial executive . -The feeling against centralization is gaining not losing strength in the heart of the community ; but if the benefits and privileges of local sell-rule are to be preserved , we must take care that their reproach of incapacity , waste , and favouritism be not permitted to lie at its door .
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Effects of this description ' may be speedily anticipated , because the customers for improved , more comfortable , and more elegant clothing are already in existence . If the power were given to the Emperor to double the supply of food , he could not at once , double the number of the people , nor promote a great increase . of consumption . But . the great multitude is everywhere imperfectly clothed ; everywhere women and men . desire to be more conveniently and fashionably attired . The demand for woollens and cottons , followed by a like demand for silks and linens , may be said to be indefinite . But the measures of the Emperor , . while they will assuredly increase the competition of the manufacturers , and will cheapen and extend the use of clothing , cannot suddenly increase the supply of the raw
materials . They . iriust be grown , and for this time is required . In the first " instance , the demand for them will increase the price ; the price will stimulate production , and if production be free * it will soon come up to the demand , and the multitude will get as much clothing as it desires and can pay for . By that , manners will be softened , and morals improved . The assimilation of the multitude in outward appearance , and in all the conveniences of dress to the upper classes , approximates them in enjoyment , feeling , sympathy , and tastes ; makes all more kindly and social , and improves all . From so small a matter , apparently , as removing a tax on the raw materials of clothing in , one country , the production , trade , and prosperity of society will be extended , and the whole morally improved .
The reduction of the duties on coffee and sugar will operate in the same direction . For both , already extensively in use , a large market is prepared in France . . A . great-multitude - is ready , if they have the means , to increase their consumption of sugar and coffee ; and the measures , which permit the increase of manufactures , cheapen clothing , and reduce the duties on sugar and coffee , will tend to augment consumption . These measures are placed first in the Emperor ' s renowned programme of free ^ - trade policy , published in the Moniteur of Sunday . It is dated Jan . 5 , and , when fully carried out , will be the noblest New Year ' s gift ever handed by a despotic Government to a suffers ing and still confiding people .
The remission of the duties on raw materials may be expected as soon as laws can be drawn for the purpose-of giving legal forin and effect to the Emperor's declaration . The . duties on sugar and coffee are to be gradually reduced , having regard , probably , to the manufacture of beet-root sugar in France . Other parts of the programme , referring to treaties of commerce and to articles of which certain classes in France have a monopoly , and in which we are deeply interested , such as coals , iron , &c , cannot be at once carried into effect . The treaties have to be negotiated ; faith has to be kept with monopolists , to whom the will
State is bound till 1861 ; and , whatever diligence and good there may be in the legislative bodies , and however little opposition the measures may encounter from the public , it will require time to give the form of law to the whole programme ; Whatever amount of funds may be directed to improving drainage , constructing more railways , adding to canals . and roads , and extending public works , these can only be executed after a considerable period . Tt is the duty , therefore , of those who are most devotedly attached to free trade , to warn the public against expectations which even despotism , with the best will , cannot realize immediately .
The programme involves an application of public money winch some necessity may divert to other objects . To meet the expense ,. tlip operation of the Sinking fund is to be suspended till the revenue is increased , This , together with the increase of speculative and other business—which is sure to ensue—occasioning a demand for capital , and enhancing the value of money , will prevent the French and other public securities from rising as rapidly as some persons may expect . To them this will be a source of disappointment , and ! it may also disappoint a Government which assumes a rise in the funds to be a proof of increasing
public confidence . Again , the certain rise in the first instance in the price of raw materials which cannot be immediately augmented , will postpone cheapness , which all will expect . It is possible , too , that officials , in carrying out the programme , will look more to what they are to do towards improving public works , than be in hasto to trust the private interest and good sense of individuals . They will want ' to do , instead of allowing things to bo dono , and they may postpone indefinitely the free trade which tho Emperor has announced . v Even if they should carry it out in the most efficient manner , they cannot by any means impart to tho French the skill , the knowledge , tho division of labour , tho system of' credit , which have slowly grown up hove , and oro the causes of our succoss . Admitting then , tho probability of much disappointment , and ovon warning , tlu > public , hero and in France , against it , wo must ; still miy thai
Rio Plata , will all experience an increased demand lor wool . Our possessions in India , the Southern States of America , Egypt , tho Brazils , &o . will find a larger market for their cotton . Moves trade will arise , more ships will be wanted , a » uj very soon ship yayds will . be again alive with exertion , and tho shipowners , acquiring" a brighter prospect and a bettor temper , will , think only how they can most ohenply supply the increased demand for carriage . Mqi'o goods , too , will bo sont by rail , bettor dividends will be paid , and n » extension of railways will bo promoted .
THE measures announced by the Emperor ot the J ' rcncli in his . letter to M . Foulp will , undoubtedly , if they bo carried through , promote the prosperity of France and other countries . To suppress the duties on wool and cotton—the first object proposed— -will increase and accelerate the production of clothing : it will be cheapened , and the production of wool and cotton stimulated . Our own colonies , the plains of Hungary , and of tho
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Jan . 21 , 1800 . ] The Leader \ und Saturday Amifyst . 59
- The Empeuoll's New Y$A1vs Gift.
- THE EMPEUOll'S NEW THAU ' S . GIFT .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 21, 1860, page 59, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2330/page/7/
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