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HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY,…

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HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY, APRIL 9. WINDOW TAX. Several petitions were presente for a repeal of this tax, which Viscount DUNCAN followed up by a motion on the subject, de- claring that the abolition of taxes upon air and light was expedi- ent, on account of their acting prejudicially upon the health and moral condition of the people. The noble lord contended that, upon an Exchequer rich enough to afford a remission of taxation, the window duties possessed claims at least equal to those ofbi-icks or stamps. Beyond the inevitable weight of this duty, the scale according to which it was levied rendered it peculiarly and un- justly oppressive to certain classes of householders. Class interests, possessing influence over successive Chancellors of the Exchequer had secured unfair exemptions from this impost in favour of Ireland, the public-offices, farm-houses, churches, manufactories, shops, aud counting-houses. Notwithstanding the enormous number of houses now annually built, the amount received from the tax had diminished since 1842, showing the shifts to which the builders had resorted in order to avoid or reduce the window duty. The various attempts to promote sanitary reform made during the last few years had been seriously impeded by the operation of this tax. Sir DE LACY EVANS seconded the motion, which was framed so as to carry the exemption from duty to houses not having more than 12 windows, and added many instances of the unwholesome style of building which had grown out of the window duties. The tax was of the nature of a property tax, but was most unequal and injurious in its incidence. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that as the law stood, all farming, trading, and manufacturing industries enjoyed ex- emption; and the same might practically be said of all the dwellings occupied by agricultural labourers. The tax, therefore, fell in a great measure upon the classes most able to support it. As a question of fiuance, he could not consent to abandon the tax with- out securing some substitute, which he doubted the willingness of the House to sanction, or their ability to find a source. of revenue likely to prove less irksome to the contributors. Lord DUDLEY STUAKT, Capt. PECHELL, Sir B. HALL, Mr. HOME, and Lord R. GEOSVENOR, having all spoken in favour of Loid Duncan's motion, the House divided, when there appeared For the motion 77 Against. 80 3 Loud cheers accompanied the announcement from the chair of this close run division. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a bill pro- viding more simple and ample securities to purchasers of encum- bered estates in Ireland. The report of various votes passed in committee of supply for the ordnance and naval service was then brought up and agreed to. The Charitable Trusts Bill was then read a second time, and the H'm « djourued. HOUSE OF COMMONS —WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10. The Report on the South Wales Railway was considered and agreed to. The County Courts Extension Bill was read a second time. An amendment having been moved by Sir G. GREY, which was lost by 67 against 144, giving a majority of 77 for the Bill. The House then went into committee on Mr. Ewart's Pu lie Libraries and Museum Bill. Col. SIBTHORP S amendment that t be read again that day six months being lost by 64 against 99.

THE EVILS OF THE TRUCK SYSTEM…

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'.-'-TOWJS LETTERS—x\o, 48.

. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY,…