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2% METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM
be relinquished, or shall it be applied to the redaction of the
national debt ?
In considering this snbject I may first point out that there
probably exists no grievous pressure of taxation, and no conaidorable
inequality as regar& the several classes of the people.
We are now able to estimate, with somo approach to accuracy,
tho actual proportion of income which is paid by persons of
different incomes. Tho accounts now published by Government,
and the labours of several eminent statisticians, especially
Professor Leone Levi and Nr. Dudley Baxtor, permit us to
make this calculation. The most recent addition to our information
is contained in an elaborate paper read by Mr.
Buxtor before tho Statistical Society in January, 1869, and
since puhlishcd in the form of a volume. Air. Baxter has,
with great industry and skill, collected n mass of information
concerning tho habits of persons in different classes o€ societr,
which he combines with the published accounts of the revenue,
and with the statistics of income previously estimated by
himself and lfr. hone Levi. Both he and Professor Levi
come to tho conclusion that tho morkir;g-classes, so long as
they make a tempernto use of spirituous liquors and tobacco,
pay n distinctly less proportion of their income to the State,
and even intctnpcmnco does not mskc their contribution
pmportionnlly greater tlmn thosc of no re mealtl~y persons.
It flappcns that, before I was aware of Mr. Baster’s elaborate
inquiries, I undcrtook a similar inquiry on a much more
limited scale, by investigating the tarea paid by average
familirs spending rt40, f8.5, and .€SO0 a year. My conclusions,
ns might bo especteci, were not exactly coincident with thoso
either of Mr. Baxter or Professor Levi, pet there was no
great discrepancy. I conceive that families of the classes
mentioned, consuming moderate quantities of tobacco and
epiritaous liquors, all pay about ten per cent. of their income
in general or local taxation, allowance being mado for the
recent reduction of tho sugar duty nnd the repeal oE the corn
duty.* But thcre is this distinction to bo noticed, that t,he
* See Appendix A, p. 212.