No. 411.
Mr. Marsh
to Mr. Evarts.
Rome, October 23, 1880. (Received November 13.)
Sir: The Italian ministry has made public a preliminary statement of its financial estimates for the next year’s service of the national exchequer, showing a balance of several millions to the credit of the public treasury.
As the items are, to a considerable extent, founded on estimates more or less conjectural, it is doubtful how far the expectations of the ministry will be realized; and in any case, the opposition will find sufficient grounds for assailing the ministry’s administration of the finances at the opening of the approaching session of Parliament.
The estimates show, as was foreseen, a large reduction of the revenue derived from the grist tax and an apparent relief of the burdens of the people to a corresponding extent, but the opposition will insist that practically the poor have derived no advantage from the reduction of the tax, the whole difference having merely served to swell the profits of the millers.
Besides this, the octroi or dazio consumo duties have been raised to an amount sufficient to neutralize the beneficial effects of the reduction of the grist tax, and the poorer classes do not seem to feel that their burdens are sensibly lightened. The ministry will be reproached also, as having made no serious attempt to carry out the provisions of their programme relating to the extension of the right of suffrage, but the complaints in that case will come rather from political agitators than from citizens who may be supposed to have a direct interest in the enlargement of their political franchise. These citizens are generally of the laboring classes, and they at present take little active interest in any question not directly bearing on the price and supply of bread.
* * * * * * *
The enormous expenditures of the naval service are criticised, and there is a great difference of opinion among naval men as to the wisdom of a policy which dictates such large outlays on ships of great magnitude and novel construction; but as this policy was adopted by the preceding administration, it cannot justly be charged upon a party which has merely continued a system inaugurated by its predecessors.
The new ship, the Italia, launched a few days ago, is alleged to be the most formidable vessel afloat, but there is very serious doubt whether [Page 652] her strength has not been purchased at too great a cost. She cannot, be fit for service in less than two years, and will have cost at least $5,000,000.
The apparent success of the Russian Imperial yacht Livadia, constructed on principles as opposite as possible to those of the Italia, will sharpen the criticism of the present system of naval construction in Italy, and there seems to be good reason to doubt whether the ministry can maintain itself against the unpopularity of much of its policy. I incline to think, however, that the present administration will be supported by parliament, though it may undergo some modificatian.
The day for the convocation of Parliament is not yet fixed, and as the court and many of the great officers of state are still absent from the capital, it is hardly probable that the national legislature will assemble much before the end of November.
I have, &c.,