LETTER X. REFORMED COUNCIL 

 SESSION, 1910 



CALCUTTA, April, 1910. 



THE first Session of the Reformed Council has come 

 to an end, and it has been a living testimony to the 

 wisdom and foresight of Lord Morley, for his 

 reform has worked well and advantageously. But 

 it is a legislative revolution which has thrown a 

 very, very heavy burden on the Finance Minister 

 a burden which will increase until it becomes 

 unbearable unless a change is made in one respect. 



The present procedure admits of every con- 

 ceivable subject being discussed during the Budget 

 debate, and of this very full advantage is naturally 

 taken. In fact, the debate assumes the character 

 of a debate on the adjournment in the House of 

 Commons, and the unfortunate Finance Minister 

 has little or no rest during the greater part of the 

 Session. 



I find that my remarks cover no less than 73 

 foolscap pages of print (and Heaven knows I have 

 every desire to keep silence), and the whole debate 

 on Finance represents no less than 376 pages of 

 close print. 



By a curious coincidence the presentation of 

 my first Budget synchronised, as to the month, 

 with one introduced exactly half a century ago by 

 my namesake the Rt. Hon. James Wilson. His 



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