‟THE HOUSE.”
‟What's going on in the House?” perhaps a reader may ask, who does not like to be bored with daily papers. Matters very closely concerning him ‟went on” on Monday night last, under the comprehensive title of ‟Customs and Inland Revenue Bill.” The interpretation of this is that the Chancellor of the Exchequer sought certain means of raising a revenue by taxation as set forth in his budget— and obtained those means. One nasty little proposition, however, we are pleased to see he relinquished—that of taxing private brewings. No doubt Mr. Gladstone has seen how objectionable it would be to have an excise officer poking his nose into every private house that possesses a mash tub, and wisely run his pen through this part of the bill. Divers clauses, including the re-imposition of the income tax upon the same scale as before, were agreed to. Some little discussion took place on the propriety of granting temporary licenses to publicans to sell refreshments at out-door entertainments. Sir W. Jolliffe, as we have quoted in our Petersfield news to-day, divided the house upon the question unsuccessfully. The worthy baronet, although expressing himself with sincerity, appears to us to take a rather confined view of the measure. It is true perhaps, that the more facilities you give for obtaining drink, the more you increase drunkenness and crime; but this bill seems to place the sale of intoxicating drinks at clubs and races under the salutary supervision of the excise; and it is provided, in the granting of the license, that intoxicating drinks shall be sold only between sunrise and sunset. There is no reason in the world why a man outside the Grand Stand at Goodwood races should not get his pint of beer if he wants it with the same ease as the gentleman partakes of a bottle of champagne within, at Careless’s. The great curse to the country appears to be the use of maddening and poisonous spirits. True, the Chancellor of the Exchequer pins taxation pretty tightly on to spirits; and, perhaps, loosening the burdens on wine, he may direct the current that way. Anyhow, we believe that from many combined causes, we see an improvement in the bearing of holiday people, and it is our opinion that this measure of Mr. Gladstone’s in granting a three days’ license, is likely to help, rather than retard, that improvement.