No. 43.
Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.
Bio de Janeiro, December 30, 1876. (Received Jan. 27, 1877.)
Sir: The General Assembly having been called to meet on the 31st December, the newly-elected chamber of deputies, or, rather, the few in attendance, met in what is called “preparatory juntas” on the 13th instant, and appointed the three or four commissions to verify the powers of those elected. The election having been made (in September) under the new electoral law, it has been discovered that, in many places, the new electoral lists were not made out previously, in conformity with that law, and in some provinces, as in Rio de Janeiro, the lists were annulled or quashed by one of the tribunals or courts of law, so that from those provinces there will be no delegations.
The chamber of deputies has jurisdiction of the election of its members, but instead of there being always a presumption in favor of the regular election of those having the certificates (or diplomas) from the presidents of the respective provinces, it is held that each deputy must [Page 49] verify his powers, i. e., prove the regularity of his election, even when there is no contest as to his seat.
As this takes up a long time, (there having been already thirteen preparatory sessions,) it is at this moment doubtful whether there will be the regular opening, in due form, by the Princess Regent on to-morrow, (Sunday,) the 31st.
The new chamber is overwhelmingly—almost unanimously—in favor of the present ministry; and therefore there will be no difficulty, except from the usual and inevitable delay, in approving all that has been done, and in making the way easy for what is hereafter to be done, or omitted, or indefinitely postponed.
The question of revenue is not so easily disposed of. It seems certain that there is a large deficit to be provided for in some way; and the plan in use heretofore of carrying over imaginary or supposed balances and surplus will not answer now.
The revenue of Brazil has certainly greatly increased, doubled in fact, in twenty years; but the increased expenditure and the needless outlay for ironclads and war material, idle and almost worthless in their arsenals, and the addition made to the pay of the army, navy, and all civil employés, have far outstripped the increase of income.
Nor is it easy to see how there can be increased revenue just now, without a recast and readjustment of the whole system of taxation and contribution. The present tariff on imports is so ill-adjusted that it acts as a prohibition on increased revenue. The export duty is so heavy, (13 per cent, and in some cases 15 per cent, ad valorem,) that it has already annihilated the sugar industry and has paralyzed the culture of cotton. And yet immense bodies of fertile land are unoccupied, and contribute nothing to the cost of government.
The tax or contribution is upon the yearly revenue or upon the produce of the land, and never (except for some minor municipal purposes) upon the land itself or value of the property. Hence large proprietors can afford to hold these large untaxed tracts; which, if they were subject to their fair share of the general expense, would have to be sold in small parcels, be improved, and so increase the general revenue. Fortunately, at this time there is no longer the old well-used talk of and preparation for war with the Argentines. The sums already raised for internal improvements (in 1872) having been spent on iron-clads and to meet previous deficits, the internal improvement system must probably languish for some time. Nothing whatever of interest occurs, and it is, probably, intended that nothing shall occur during the absence of the Emperor.
I am, &c.,