Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19
NafianaI Taxation.

ne New 1Ork tunes, on the authority OF n
verbal statement made BY Gen. ScorT, a week or
ten days ago, says there are now under arms and
IN the pay of the Government of the United States,
100000 men. The maintenance of this army
viii require, according to the Times, 81 900 900
annually to e eli re iment. ar 1920 DOC, 900
year. The navy will require, in addition, at least
half that sum, SO that, with the ordinary expenses
of the Government, may safely put down our
national expenses at the rate Of 1866, 900 900
yer, or 81 100000 Il day This estimate, it
should be borne in mind, is based upon the pres
eat state vi affairs, aal shows at what an enorm
GUS rate national indebtedness is accumu-
lating. By another year, if the war goes on, it
may be necessary to double or even treble it, 1t
viii be observed further that in the foregoing cal
culation, no account is taken of the increased ex
penditures of the State Governments These are
all accumulatng debts as rapidly and p. -haps
the General Government.
1t is interesting to note how the Times proposes
to meet our increasing national expenditure 1t
must be provided for by war tariff The ordi-
nary revenue will not, according to the Times,
even under the Morrill, tariff, exceed $50 0OO, 900
year; but by imposing a tax on tea, coffee and
other articles OF common consumption now adj
mitted duty free, the Times thinks the annual
revenue may be raised to $500, 900 900. To
show that this is practicable, the example ofheavy
taxation in European countries, particularly in
England, is cited, where the people pay taxes on
tea, coffee, and on almost every imported article
of general consumption as well as of luxury
The Times gives tables showing how many
sources of income are made available in England
of which our Government neglects the use. The
general results are summed ND in the following
paragraph which we quote:
The consumption of tel in the United States
in 1850 was p, 223 ,3I7 pounds, which, if taxed
at the British rate, would have yielded the trea-
sary about s. 000. 000 In the same year we con
sumel 1S0, 903 ,555 pounds of coffee, which, if
taxed at the rate of 6 cents pound would have
afforded some FIVE and half millions of dollars
The principal of which these yearly sums would
he the interest, very nearly represents the proba
bic direct cost of the war 1t would also be per-
fectly just ard expedient to impose decidedly
advanced duty upon foreign sugars and mOlasses,
Of which, in 1850, we imported 6 900 900 pounds,
and 81 ,0O0, 900 of gallons. These are develop
ments OF our own revenue system, as to the util-
ity Of which there can be no question.
However useful such system may be made to
appear for meeting the wants of the Government,
We question whether the people are yet prepared
to submit quietly to this onerous tax on articles
which were once esteemed as Injuries, but now
take rank among the necessities of daily life
But the foregoing calculations are based upon the
fallacious idea that with the increased duty, near
ly or quite doubling the cost of the articles named
the consumption would remain the same. Ii IS
evident that, if the proposed duties were imposed
in the present crippled condition of the country,
the consumption Of the article in question would
be lessened one half or more. and the anticipated
revenue diminished in proportion.
But the Times finds other elements in the Brit
sh revenue system which it recommends to the
careful study Of our Legislators, such as the ex-
cise tue stamp duty and the income tax 1t
links thas il may be found expedient to impose
AZ excise apon spirits, vine, tObaeco and sugars
60 home production. stamp duty on every
bank note, promissory note, or contract in wri-
ting. and an income tax on the profits, wages or
income that every farmer, and professional or la
boring man might make from his occupation,
migts produce handsome revenue to the Gov
err nont, but we suspect the people would gener
ALL regard it in the light of intolerable op-
preston. COG a
The Times is lending Republican organ, and
foreshadows in its recommendations in regard to
taxation, measures that are intended to be pres
sed upon the attention of the new Congress. 1t
will be urged that the necessities Of the Govern
ment growing OFT of the war, so urgent that
a system of heavy and general taxation, like
that adopted in Great Britain. must be re
things at this time, that the people may be fore
warned.