Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-01


such balance, aler dcoying the ordinary charges Of
Government, may any unusual aud une xpccte
demands, other than those which woGd arise from state
oil regular and long continued warfare The chance too,
OF an accidental and temporary dimnuOn Of for
year two, arising from the fluctuations trade the
political changes u foreign nations, presents also another
strong argument for assuming liberal scale of revenue.
To this annual amount, however, of fifteen millions
the revenue must be reduced All beyond this be
needless burden upon the peopc-a falling direct
y orndirecuy upon the land and labor of the counry
certainly Injurious IN its effects and probably unequal
esabng the Treasury only divide distract pub
nc councils ny tempting to expenditures either OF doubt
iu constitutional right Inconsistent with the simplicity
of republican institutions staining their puritv and ha-
zdrding their pernanence
The act of 1882 has made partial reduction tow ards
this point But under this The revenue from the GUS
toms Tor the next year is calculated in the Report of the
Secretary of the Treasury about eighteen millions
This is made upon estimate founded on the average
importation OF the last six years. The probable average
OF the next six years, for which will hereafter
stated will exceed that estimate Ii this sum be add
ed the Income from the public lands the Treasury would
receive, under that act revenue, for years here
alter oil not less than twenty millions and hail. and pro-
baby oil than twenty five millions exhibiting an
annual excess oil from ve TO nine millions the just
uses oil me government taxing every family in the Uni
e states Its share, or more than its share, of that
cdlet-ior excess.
his excess, in the opinion OF the committee should be
reduced by the present Congress, and the present time
TIE eX,nguishment OF the debt and the commencement
oil tie new Presidential term, mark This fit
permanent fiscal regulations is vitality Important too
10 all engaged IN any OF those commercial ma
nuiacturiAg, or agricultural enterprises which are al
iecteu ny changes IN the rates OF import and
posed to suffer from uncertainty than from
legislation now TO know the intention and policy of this
government in regard their several interests The
casioh 100, oil economical reduction affords propous
poTtuniy TO make such adjustment the rates OF
post as may dstIihu'e and equaZe amongst ALL those
burhens which may be found to fall uneouaIly upon
any -whethtr pressing with peculiar hardship upon any
class oil the community any species OF labor in any
ton OF the country
Deeply impressed by these consider atoms the commit
lee have prepared bill tor reducing and otherwise alter
ing me rates oil duties upon foreign merchandise which,
should 1t meet with the appreciation OF Congress- may
serve as basis Tor our financial system for nIany years
Throwing out of view for the present. the progressive
reduction that expedency and justice may require,
they have fixed the be ultimately raised at a
sum not exceeding fifteen millions The stocks ow ned by
government they regard solely offset TO the remain
ing debt itiP
permit without urgent necessity, that the Post Office
should be made source of 1t should bear
own expense and no more It's whole profits should be
applied as they have heretofore been the mprov
and extension OF the SYSTEM giving the greatest possible
AZ me least possible private charge TO the difiu
dence.
The only source Of revenue which the Committee
propose TO rely the Public Lands and the Customs
The Public Lands, at the then present system OF SALE
may now safely be calculated producing annual in
| come of ttco millions and a hdE
III Is true that various plans dsposng of these lands
III such manner as to withdraw the proceeds from the
general funds of the Treasury, have been proposed by the
highest authority The Committee do purpose
er o any discussion OF the merit of these propositions.
Un 1t be altered by legislation they regard the ac-
ua system as the settled policy OF the Government. They
must however, observe, that should that policy be chang
ed such alteration would not of necessity overthrow or
dsarrange the plan of finance proposed.
Throwing out of account altogether the large sums ex
pended in former years by the United States acquiring
this territory, either by arms or by purchase
with the past expenses of our land system as vet uniou
dated by The proceeds OF the sales there other current
expenses now betrayed from the general funds of the
Treasury which might be justly chargeable upon the
income from the lands, should that be made distinct fund
and which, if paid from thence would thus far diminish
the amount oil revenue necessary be drawn from other
! tenn itSeL-about $50, 900 dollars annually
3D. The expenses of Indian .aInuitcs Education and
other shpuatlons arising under the treaties by which we
nave obtained possession of these lands These wholly
exclusive of the charge of Indian emgration amount at
present TO $392700 year. will probably be much in
creased before the final eXdngusment Of the Indian
3j. Revolutionary Pensions-The original title of a
great part OF these lands from the grants reeas-
eS oil The States to the Confederacy for the purpose of
mon defence and general welfare, during the war of the
Revolution and they have been again and again
pledged for the debts OF the nation The pensions now re-
ceved by the surviving soldiers OF the Revolution were at
rst granted under the harsh and unjust name of national
bounty But the act OF 1928 and that of 1892 have now
placed them on the sound well constu-
onal ground OF payments OF Revolutionary debt and an
equitable though not literal fuhment OF long neglected
and violated contracts.
The pensions for the next two years will probably be
or as yet the exact be asceraneO about
TWO millions year. But this depending upon the
Ves OF OLD men, all above seventy years Of age, must
Piy IeGroase' ana IN very lew years cease entirely
should these pensions be considered for the present as
III would be temporary only. With
In ier or i've years the greater part of the income
In lew years more the whole would be liberated and
at either period the surplus from this might be APP
Piled as the wisdom of Congress may direct leaving the
revenue from the custom sufficient for all other heads Of
public expenditure
There then remains 10 be raised by the mposts on TO-
reign merchandise TO meet all other charges contin
gencies than those just recapituated the sum of toeIpe
millions and hat.
The average value OF all the imports from 1927 to 1892
inclusive Is S62OO,OOO dollars The average the
SIX years Immediately preceding so 900 900 dollars
showing an average increase of dollars in six
ton arose solely from the natural increase OF population
and oil domestic products suited for export There can be
therefore little doubt that without any change in the ex
sung tariff the rate OF increase would 20 sn-not re
guiary, but holding good TO any average success
sion OF peaceful years.
On this principle of calculation, alone the average of the
next period OF years would be nine y-wo millions But
the operation of the revenue system proposed as
compared with those of 1924 and 1925 would relieve
the consumers OF imported goods from tax of twelve
millions year. These twelve millions heretofore paid
by the American people TO their Government, and by
that Government principally TO the public creditors abroad
VIII remain III the power OF the consumers be applied
according 10 his wants. habits and tastes in procuring
equal value OF the other accessories, comforts uxue
OF life, probably In grea. degree in increased con
SUMPTION or in the of higher quality of the goods he
had been accustomed 10 purchase From the operation
oil ths ana other obvious causes springing from
derate tdr foreign manufactures the average importa
ton OF the next six years may be safely computed fur
ther addition OF at least eight, perhaps twelve millions,
making gross importation of above hundred millions
in value, and not much varying from the large importation
Of 1881 and 1882
Judging from the experience of former wears one sixth