The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-27
Amendment or the Revenue Laws - The
Forthcoming Report OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury.

Amendmsnt OF the Revenue Laws - the
Forthcoming Report OF the Secretary Of
the Treasury.
There are several subjects of very great import
ance to the country connected with the revenue
laws which, it is TO be expected, will meet with the
attention of the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.
Cobb and that he will present the result of bis
inquiries TO Congress at an early day. We un-
de,stand it is his intention to Jay before Congress
at the opening of the session q report of the
working of the revised tariff, brought down to as
late period in November as possible-instead
of, as heretofore, combining himself to mere re-
port Of the operations of his department to the
end Of the fiscal year, the 30th Of June. No
subject has been more used by political dema-
gopues to make capital out OF than the
tariff; and the natural result Of this tinkering Is
shown in compilation of laws almost as
contradictory, and in many instances as absurd,
as the Revised Statutes of our State or that still
more extraordinary production known as the
Code" The manufacturers of New England
a. the last session, after fighting for years
for the Hinciple of protection, fading that
a little free trade in the shape of free
~ool would benefit them, suddenly turned tail
on all their former professions and managed to
carry their point against the wool growing
States. The railroad men tried the same game
as to iron, but Pennsylvania was too much tor
them, and they were compelled to postpone their
success till pext winter So far every conces-
sion to free trade has been the result of mere
selfish considerations as well in this country a.
In England. Here nlggers aud the tariff have
about equally mouopolized the attention OF the
public for series Of years; but as the enact
ments regarding the tariff were merely the effect
of psrsopal considerations, it is not wonderful
that, with all the socaled amendments, we have
some regulations and laws connected with the
revenue which not only place US far behind
Eogland in respect to the march OF commercial
Improvement, but that We also are saddled with
large amounts Of expenditures as uncalled for as
they are unwise.
AS an instance OF this, we refer to our light
house system, carried on at an expense to the
government yearly Of some tive million dollars,
whilst in England, with more efficient service.
the government makes no outlay whatever The
lighthouse establishment OF England s sustained
by tonnage duties, whilst in the United States,
unlike any other country on the civilized globe,
foreign and domestic ships pay no tonnage dues
for lighthouse purposes, but TIE people at large
are taxed for their accommodation. Here Ia a
leak Of s2,000,0O0 annually which might and
should be stopped. OF course, TO make the
Huh -.
Post Office Department Is sought to be made.
would meet with the opposition Of the chip own.
ere whilst its advocates would consist only of
tina, class Of legislators who we're actua.ed by
the general good Of the country; and this fact may
account for no movement having yet taken place
in this direction.
Another matter which requires looking into il
the system Of bounties paid TO the fishermen en-
gagged in the codd.hery, under the act of 1913.
At the time this Law was passed there was a
scarcity Of American seamen and il was urged
that the cod1snery would afford foe school for
The education Of sailors, and nursery out Of
which the navy could be supplied Ia time of war.
This argument may have had strength then. but
IL is ridiculous at the present day. The regular
commerce Of The United States affords nursery
large enough for oil the requirements of the
navy, ard the ownets of The fishing vessels OF
Name and Massacbus. tts have no more claim
upon the elcemosynary regard o. Congress than
any other class Of individuals, ahoat or ashore
engaged 10 business
These are but two Of the subjects which the
s. cretaty Of the Treasury will no dopht call The
attention Of Congress TO, In connection with our
revenue laws The whole system requires re-
modellng-tbe leaks must be stopped up, and the
details simplifed by the establishment OF decimal
rates of duties instead Of the present schedules
at sixteen, teoniy-one and other irregular scales
which now prevail Mr. Cobb has an ample Geld
before him, and we believe he will be found fully
equal TO the requirements Of his responsible 20.
sition.