Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-13
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FEBRUARY 8, 1889.

Mr.. McDuffie. from the Committee of WAYS and
Means, to which the subject had been referred
made the following report:
The Committee Of WAYS and Means, in ob'dt
ence to the order of the House. have had ands
consideration so much Of the message Of TX
President of the United States as relate. 70
.sreiieving the people from the burthens Of ~
necessary taxation," after the payment Of d.
public debt, and now beg leave to subml, he
following report.
In dschargins the duty thus assigned to arA
the committee have deemed it lndispensIO.r
determine the preliminary question ssmt
be the annual expenditure Of the government a.
ter the extinsuishment Of the public deb? D1
ing the three last years Of Mr. Monroe' h 7
minstratinn, the average annual expendtu'
for all objects, exclusive Of the public debt. IN
less Than ten millions Of dollars When ~
considered, therefore the annual amount OF d.
bursements for revolutionary pensions is now"
ny greatly reduced, and that the expenditure To-
this object. as well as erecting fort6catlons aat
building ships, will be progressively reduced and
must reach very low point in the course o.
few years, the committee are of opinion that eIt
ven millions Of dollars will be abundantly ,uh'
cient for all the necessary disbursements OF n:
Government, when relieved from the chars
the public debt In this estimate. they have a.
lowed one million Of dollars and The suns a''c
may be realized from existing objects Of aPPT'
pratiun, TO meet the various demands. oil COZ
tingent nature. to which the public Treasury ma
be liable. The income from the public lan0s
and the dividends Of bank stock. to say not'h
of the canal stock. cannUt be reasonable 's'Ini
ed at less sum than two millions of dollar.
There will. therefore, remain only nine million
to be provided by duties OH imports; and theco'
mittee have endeavored SD to adjust these d1to
as 10 produce this SUN in manner most c"l''
tent with equal justice to all our national ''f
rests"
The amount Of foreign merchandise. imPor"
for consumption during the last year, was ne'l
eight millions Of dollars. And though this sfc'
ly exceeded the importation OF any year sa
1915, yet, as material reduction OF the o'
would certainly augment the quantity Of mere,
die imported. the committee would deem u
extravagant TO assume the operations OF I've
year as the basis Of their calculation TOR "
wears To avoid, however, the hazard o.
ficit in the public revenue. they have esf"nl
the annual amount of the imports paying 0,
at only seventy.two millions Of dollars s''
thi, basis have reported bill imposing d'n
Isl per cent. ad valorem. upon all foreign
chandize, with the exception Of such article
are now admitted duty free, or at "a daty
than lea per cent. They have provided ~
ever, for a gradual reduction Of the dn'Ieso
imports as come in competition with oO"''
manufac lures.
In adopting general system Of ad '1'"
duties, the Committee have been governor
cipaiIt by two considerations. In he trS
a specific duty is obnoxious to the strong y
ton, that it Ievies the same tax on articles
ferior quality, consumed by the poorer cI'' ',r
1t levies-oa similar articles of the very oe'.
lty and highest prize, consumed almost 9s,, Is
sIvaly BY the more wealthy classes. WIN" "~
poor man, for example. who consumes 'Os
ced French wines, is made to pay duty -" ss
or hundred per cent. on their value ". -,
thy man pays only twenty-five or hf'y G ,A n
on the value Of the high priced wines VIM
titles his taste for luxurious indulgence .as
same remark is applicable to tea. Gomez me-.
and indeed to almost every article a.
subject to specific duty. The o'hei s. ga 5,5s
preference for al valorem over spec'h' 4 u
is the perpetual fuctuation in the Prlee
cIes of the same denomination and qua a.,as
fall in the price of an article will 'ne 9.
rate Of taxation, contrary to the inten'v .,pn