Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-15

addition 10 the restrctions limitations and condi-
IONS, which should be embraced in the laws con-
erring the consent of Congress, sefinterest will
iurnisn adequate and ample assurances and mo-
ives ior the faithful execution of the trusts. If
any Town, whose harbor needs improvement,
shouid Iaii 10 impose the duties, and make the
necessary works. such neglect would inevitably
tend TO drive the commerce 10 some rival port
winch would use all the means in its power 10
render It's harbor safe and commodious and afford
ton and trade.
If, on the other hand any place sbouh attempt
to impose higher duties Than will be absolutely
necessary ior The construction of the requisite
Improvements, this line of policy, to the extent of
the excess, would have the same deleterious
ELECTS upon its prosperity. The same injurious
| influences would result from errors and blunders
in the plan of the work, or from extrayagances
and corruption in the expenditure of the money
Hence each locality, and every citizen and person
interested therein, would have direct and per
sonal interest in the adoption of wise plan, and
N securing strict economy and entire fidelity in
the expenditure of the money. While upon the
rivers the plan Of operations would not be so di.
rect and simple as In the Improvement of harbors,
yet even there II Is not perceived that any serious
inconvenience or obstacle would arise TO the sue
cess OF the system. II would be necessary that
the law, which shall grant the consent of Congress
TO the imposition of the duties shall also give like
consent IN conformity with the same provision of
the Constitution, that where the river 10 be i'm
proved, shall form the bounary of, or be situated
In, two or more States, such States may enter into
compact with each other, by which they may,
under their Joint authotty levy the duties and i'm
prove the navigation.
In this manner Pennsylvania Delaware aud
New Jersey, could enter into q compact for the
improvementoft the Delaware river, by which each
would appoint one commissioner and the three
commissioners constitute board, which would
levy Inc dnties prescribe the mode of their collec
lion, devise the plan of the improvement and su.
perintend the expenditure of the money. The six
States bordering on the Ohio river, in like manner
could each appoint commissioner, and the six
constitute board for the improvement Of the ma
vigation of that river from Pittsburgh 10 the Mis-
sisslppi The same plan could be applied TO the
mississippi. by which the nine States bordering
upon that stream could each appoint one commits
soner and the nine form board for the removal
OF snags and other distractions in the channel
from the Falls Of ST. Anthony to the Gulfof Mexi-
CO. There seems 10 be no difficulty, therefore in
the execution fthe plan where the water course
hes IN two or more States, or forms the boundary
thereof in whole or in part and where the river
Is entirely within the limits Of any one State like
the Illinois or Alabama, il NAV be improved in
such manner as the Legislature may prescribe,
subject only to such conditions and limitations as
may be contained in the act of Congress giving its
consent. All the necessities and difficulties upon
TINS subject seem 70 have been foreseen and pro-
1890 III ~ TIC Sduic cldtlSc OF the constitution,
wherein il is declared in effect that, with the con.
sent OF Congress, tonnage duties may be levied for
the improvement of rivers and harbors, and that
the several States may enter into compacts with
each other for that purpose whenever il shall be-
come necessary, subject only 10 snch rules as Con-
gress shall prescribe for the regulation Of COM
merce
II only remains for me TO notice some of the OBJ
lections which have been urged TO this system. 1t
mas been said that tonnage duties are taxes upon
nfs h.ar 4
in the end by the consumers Of the articles bear
ing the burden. do not feel disposed TO question
the soundness OF this proposition. presume the
same is true of all the duties, tolls and charges
OF all public works-whether constructed by gov
eminent or individuals. The State of New York
derives a revenue Of more than two millions of
dollars year from her canals. OF course this is
lax upon the commerce of the country, and is
borne by those who are interested in and benefit
Tea by y. his tax is a blessing or a burden, de-
pendent upon the fact whether it has the effect TO
diminish or increase the cost Of transportation
Ii we could not have enjoyed the benefit of the
canal without the payment of the tolls and it, by
It's construction and the payment the cost OF trans
portation has been reduced TO one-tenlh the sum
which we would have been compelled 10 have
paid without il, who would not be willing to make
sun further contribution to the security and ia
cilitles OF navigation if thereby the price offreghts
are TO be reduced in still greater ratio The tolls
upon our own canal are q tax upon commerce.
yet we cheerfuy submit 10 the payment for the
reason that they were indispensable to the con-
structlon OF great work, which has had the ef.
rect TO reduce the cost of transportation between
tne iakes and the Mississippi, far below what it
would have been ifthe canal had not been made.
All the charges on the fourteen thousand miles
OF railroad now in operation in the different States
OF TINS Union, are Just SO many taxes upon COM
merce and travel, yet we do not repudate the
Wnoie railroad system on that account, nor object
10 the payment Of such reasonable charges as are
necessary to defray the expenses Of constructing
ana operating them. But il may be said that if ali
the railroads and canals were built with funds from
The national treasury, and We're then thrown open
10 the nses OF commerce and travel free of charge
Inc rates Transportation would be less than they
now are. II may be that the rates Of transporta-
ION Would be less, but would our taxes be re-
duced thereby? Nomatter who is entrusted with
the construction of the works, somebody must foot
the Dill II the federal government undertake to
make railroads and canals, and river and harbor
improvements, somebody must pay the expenses.
In order TO meet this enlarged expenditure, it
would be necessary TO augment the revenue by
increased taxes upon the commerce fthe country.
ne whole volume of revenue which now fills and
overHoWs the national treasury, with the excep-
lion OF the small item resulting from the sales Of
pubic lands, is derived from system Of taxes i'm
posed upon commerce and collected through the
machinery OF the custom houses. No matter there.
ore, whether these works are made by the federal
government, or by stimulating and combining local
ana individual enterprise under State authority
n any event they remain tax upon commerce ia
he extent of the expenditure.
That system which will insure the construction
u the improvements upon the best plan and at the
smallest cost will prove the least oppressive 10 the
ax-payer and the most useful to commerce. Il
'equires no argument to prove--for every DAVIS
experience teaches us-that public works Of every
can be made at much smaller cost by
private enterprise, or by the local authorities direct
y interested in the Improvement, than when con-
'tructed by the federal government. Hence, mas
much as the expenses Of constructing river and
larbor improvements must, under either plan, be
lefrayed by tax upon commerce in the first in
stance, and finally upon the whole people interest,"
ID in that commerce. | am of the opinion that the
BURDENS would be less under the system referred
Q in the message than by appropriations from the
edera treasury. Those who seem not to have
the difference have attempted to excite
prejudice against this plan for the Improvement of
iayiga.ion,by comparing il TO the burdens imposed
ipon the navigation Of the Rhine the EIb, the
Oder, and other rivers running throughthe German
states The people residing upon those rivers did
lot complain thatthey were required to pay duties
or the Improvement of their navigation. Such
vas not the fact. No duties were imposed for anv