The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-03

The Increnae of the Revenue.


In reply to the resolution of the Senate, inqurng
the increase of the revenue by an imposition of
duties upon articles included in the free list
and also by an increase in some cases and reduction in
other upon articles already taxed the Secretary of
the Treasury having submitted to the consideration of the
Senate, tabular statements showing that an increase of
to the amount of million and half of dollars
may probably be looked for from such change of the
rates of duty levied upon certain specified articles holds
the following language:
The Senate having called for the present estimates and
being supported probable results by all data at This
time within the possession of this departments it becomes
dH to submit these results because they believed to be
true but this department has not recommended any change
oil the tr OF 1916 except duty of twenty-five per on
tea and coffee as the least onerous, the and
available 10 be levied only duty, and pay the
expenses OF the and iqudate the debt created here
The Secretary OF the Treasury also estimates that in
addition to the million and half of revenue to be gained
by the change in the rates of duty forth in two of the
tabular statements appended to his report another million
may be collected by tax of fifteen per cent ad vaorem
upon Tea and Coffee instead of twenty five per cent as
originally proposed by the Treasury Department 1t
VIII be recoected that increase of revenue to the
amount OF two millions and half was originally rec
commended by the Secretary of the Treasury in view of
the exgences OF the war; and to maintain the credit of
the government in the negotiation of the necessary war
loan 1t appears that, the judgment of the Treasury
Department, after another careful investigation of the
whole subject in obedience to resolution of the Senate
al temporary war tax OF twenty-five per cent on Tea
and Coffee, still regarded as the least onerous and the
most certain and available method of raising this add-
tional revenue
1t has been asked in quarters why select Tea and
Coffee alone for taxation from among the articles of the
Tree s' To this question the Secretary in his last re-
port, gives the following conclusive reply:
as regards the articles exempt from duty, their number
mas Deen greatly reduced by the tariff Of 1916 The prnci
pau Oh te Tree articles Is tea and coffee upon which
was estimated the of the session duty
- per cent ad valoem would produce Of
~ cast Sz,5OO0)O Upon the remainder the present
ace list might be possible to obtain revenue of 5000
v, rms however, IS extremely doubtful, for nearly the
Woe OF the Tree list Except tea and coffee, gold and
silver coin and bulion) composed of articles used in
Mcahlng cauking or repairing vessels the duties upon
wcp would compel the repairs he made and the work
done on the vessels while in foreign ports and thus operate
,nluriousy upon AMERICAN labor, with little no advan-
tge 10 the revenue The navigating interest is already
sufficiently burened by the duties imposed by existing
aws, without augmentng these burdens by increased du
no revenue" r ~ "
MS statement must as we conceive, prove to the sat
sacton OF candid men the nexpedency of resortinr TO
lakes upon any other articles present embraced in the
Tree list except tea and coffee The smallness of the
amount which can be collected from the other free ar,
cies and the manifest disadvantages OF collecting il. an
pear to leave no doubt upon the subject
But the proposition TO tax tea and coffee for war mr.
poses has been assailed upon another ground II has
been brought forward proof OF inconsistency in the
statesmen at the head of the government Reports
and speeches, and votes emanatng from the President
and from different members of his cabinet, have been
FAXED up to show just what nobody ever denied or
uoubte that they all have expressed their decided oppo
shon to tax upon and coffee to raise revenue to
meet the ordinary expenses Of the government an time Of
peace The inference attempted to be drawn is, that
hese statesmen inconsistent in proposing TO Con-
sress such tax to enable the government 10 meet IFS
extraordinary expenses and TO maintain its credit IN time
q rar. To those who have fallen into this error
as well as to those who have groaned so dsmaly over
The financial policy Of the present administration as utter
~ destructive to the credit OF the country we commend
he following brief, but instructive passage of the
oecetas report 1t presents with great force the rea-