The national Republican., 1861-12-19
FlNANCE.

The Philadelphia North American, Of the l4th
instant, after copying cur 'trictures upon the
recommendations Of the Treasury Department
in respect to taxation, as being inadequate to
the emergency, says:
d" Indications are beginning to appear, which
show that the people Of the loyal States are not
inclined to go # blind In the matter of the ma
statesmen seem disinclined to, that unless ade
quate provision be made for the future the
sinews of war must fail us. We are glad to
perceive ray Of light in Congress also, in the
Post once Committee had prepared a bill to
abolish the franking privilege, and make the
Department yield revenue. twill take many
such things to rectify our treasury, but we
shall lot be able to get Congress to pass thom,
unless the people speak out in unmistakabe
tones. Perhaps the first sharp reminder will
some from the associated banks, the represent.
atives Of which have already warned the Gov.
eminent that while they are willing to do their
utmost to furnish the money, they must have
some assurance that provision shall be made
against the future.
The whole amount Of coin In the country
does not reach three hundred millions, and to
get out If that a loan Of nine hundred millions,
and at the same time make II supply the people
with circulating medium, implies an issue OF
paper money or bondsto an amount reaching
| four times the whole value of the coin, an eS.
pansion which we do not deem desirable nor
healthy. II we shrink at this time from taxing
our country properly to provide sufficient rev.
| enue, what assurance have we that the case
would be any better at the close of the war,
| when the patriotism of the people could not be
| rs surely depended upon rs now to warrant
heavy taxation? The truth is that the spirit Of
the people is far ahead OF that of their repre-.
sentatives. The former bear all their burthens
oheerfully, but the latter shrink appalled, at
the task that is imposed upon them"
In this connection, we notice an article in
the Philadelphia Inquirer of the 7th instant,
showing the productiveness OF excise duties. The
Inquirer says:
"Those countries which, like the kingdoms
of Europe, have for generations made II study
to extract as much money as practicable by
taxation, have also studied the art of distribu.
ting the burden so as to be borne AS easily rs
possible, and we may rs well take lessons from
them in this respect in our present straits.
:" An excise duty upon spirits was included
Il in Mr.. Chsse's programme of taxation last win
ter, but was subsequently omitted. This is one
of the great sources of revenue in England. ln
the year 1860, the amount of spirits consumed
was "a 1855 1872 gallons, on which the excise duty
Of eight shillings per gallon produced the enor.
nous revenue Of 1894 O76 pounds, or within a
fraction Of $50, ,000, ,000-a sum almost equal to
the ordinary expenses OF our Government! This
mode of taxation was found to act so bench
cially, to be so easily borne, and TO produce
such an immense result, that, on the 18th July
it WAS increased by twenty five per cent, viz:
From eight shlings per gallon to ten shings
per gallon.
what is now the effect of land tax as com
pared with an excise on spirits? The former,
BY raising rents, drives the Industrious artiZan
out of his comfortable little house into the
mean room ef a tenement building. The hard
working laborer, who at least had his iolerable
room, or perhaps two rooms, Is forced into the
gsrret, swelterlng in summer and freezing in
winter, or into the damp cellar. A tax on
liquor falls chiefly on the liquor retailer, and
cuts down their exOrbitant profits, which are
never less than three hundred per cent. and
often more. 1t would diminish the number OF
, these haunls Of dissipation, check intoxication
and be every way productive of benefit. II
such a system is not adopted, it can only be
because those who are interested d in the sale OF
liquor have an influence to which they are no,
entitled. Ii is Time to see that this trade
should make some reparation for the mischief
which it does.
"In all, the English excise produces about
500, 900 600; Customs, $ll7 900 900; Stamp du
ties, $49 600 600; Income tax, Sj4 900 600. Lano
tar only SIS 900 ,000."
The pro- osed excise upoa spirits was omitted
from I" the programme of taxation" last simmer
q by Congress, and not by tie Secretary of the
, Treasury, who has again renewed that recon
! mendaton in his recent report. That, and tht
several other objects Of excise, which he ha.
pointed out, are moat proper subjects for tina
species of tax. Our objection to his report
. is that the total amount which he proposes t.
raise by excise duties, twenty millions of dol
. lars, is altogether inadequate to the emergency
and does not approach the capacity of thi
: great and rich country to bear taxation.
I