The New York herald., 1862-04-26
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
Report Of the Special Committee ON Ma
tionai Taxation.

A special meeting OF the Chamber Of Commerce was
held at O'Clock yesterday to receive the report from
the committee appointed the 10th instant, with in
srucons prepare memorial to Congress on taxation
in conformity with the programme laid down in the re-
port of the Boston Board Of Trade 10 the Chamber p
Pcrit. ESQ.,. occupied the chair.
letter from Mr. Bright, NJ. p; of England thanking
the Chamber for the resolutions and address they had
forwarded TO him, was read.
Mayor OrpYKx, chairman OF the Committee OIL Taxa
tlon then submitted the following memorial which the
committee had drawn up for presentation 10 Congress-
To THE SENATE ASD House REPRESENTATIVES, OF TIE
UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS AssEABLED:-
The memorial Of the Chamber OF Commerce of the State
o. New York respectfully represents that the oxigeuces
Of the country demand the ADOPTION at an early day of
system OF taxation whereby the ordinary expenditures
OF the rnment and the interest on its public debt
shall provided for and sinking fund established the
proceeds OF which shall eventually extnguish the prnc
pal OF the debt.
That the masses OF the people arc ready and desrous
contribute their quota to the ordinary and extraordinary
Of the country so that the burden OF cxpcndi
ture may be eahtaby distributed between the present
generation aud that which shall Immediately succeed
That tho principles of taxation which have been dcvc
oped tried tested in Europe during tho past hundred
wears have clearly demonstrated that the burdens OF
should be borne by the people according 10
their individual ability to meet such demand.
That the current expenditures OF tho government
during the present and coming fiscal years demand an
public revenue OF at least two hundred and fy
millions of dollars, and that probably less
will no adequate TO the prompt payment OF such
dinsrv annual expenditures the payment o the interest
the public debt the establishment OF sinking fund.-
and finally the restoration OF the public credit to such
a point or condition will enable the Treasury TO
goatc favorable terms the rsqnist loans Of the
present and future years
That all revenue bills pending the rebellion aud subse
duent years especially il the present instance should
he brief as possible, and SO simple and SO easy OF
comprehension by the people at largo that all classes
may readily under stand how, and in what way aud by
what process they are TO be made contributors to
common fund for the benefit Of the whole Union
That In u. the expenses OF collecting the plblc
revenue the convenience II taxpayers, and prompt
szston Of such income is requisite that the subjects
or objects Of taxation should be as few as possible
That in the selection OF objects of taxation, the neces
OF s should be so universally aud equsbly taxed
as 10 make the burden fall on all CLASSES according 70
each mans ability to pay and as lightly as possible;
NhIe uxurief of society, or the cnoymons OF the
rich should contribute args share o. the public reys-
nue. and finally that the leading products OF the south,
which hyo been among the leading causes of the exist
ing rebellion should be made to contribute towards the
speedy restoration Of reace and TO the final payment Of
the public debt.
Assuming those truths to be ssfeyident, your
norissts pray that Congress wl early day frame
revenue system, based upon subjects depart
ments of taxation, viz. -
from all sales OF goods and merchandise and other pro
psrty at retail and wholesale, tax OF one per cent
yielding, your menorislists believe, the annual sum
or 3i15 600 900
From the srfi the off,. ........ 10000 ,OJ9
From excise or tax on cotton OF two cents
perpound. .............. AVOV;Veo
from an excise or tax on tobacco q twen.
~ cents per pound ................' s0oo0,sOO
From an excise or tax whiskey and other
liquors OF twenty-hv cents per gallon. 1000 600
From excise OF tax on malt liquors Eve
cents per gallon, ssuvOtVo
prorer,y. ......................... 1000 GOO
1894 600 COO
In defence Of this brief schedule of taxation your
morslists take occasion TO say that, fro extensive in
quifes and calculations recently made, tsprears that
tne sales OF goods and merchandise ~ sl Kinds in
the United states annually smoun. 70 at lesst eleven
thousand FIVE hundred millions or dollars; and that The
tax Of one per the frequent sale OF transfer
Of this property, while i would produce the large
sum of one hundred and fifteen millions TO the public
treasury, would 10 light upon the Individual
sumers tha, the people would scarcely feelit.
That from the present, and from reasonable estimates
Of The quantities " foreign goods imported during the
present and approaching hscsl year the tarh, a. low
| framed will yield no less sum than sSo,0e0,c00.
That excs. or tax upon cotton, a. one of the pfoni
uent or leading products of the South, while II viii ED
revenue Of twsnt y.for pilions the estimated
duced crop Of three millions Of bales, will not
competition ID ihe growth Of this ftac IN fore 90 eoub-
tries and that tine United states must continue 20 be
heretofore the reliance Of Europe for ths supply
cf tn article and further, that the return o. peace may
be relied upcn restore the country aggregate
nual production Of four millions Of bales which WI still
further contribute IN future yesr 70 The proposed ieye
| nue. from this source
Thai the proposed excise or tax upon tohseco "a 40
article Of us-ry, viii yield this year tho named
and thai from The peculiar fitness of The climate soil
81 the tobacc owoducng sates, no foreGu competition
need be feared 10 their production of tnis important
stapie, Iov largely used abroad and consr bstinl
| materially TO tne wealth ol this nation
That the excise tax on whskey and other doneel
rquors while ~ Ia less than hfth o. tbe tax lev 90 On
such products 10 Other countries, VIII yed permanent
revenue u st least twenty-five mops OF otyNIs, and
plOsteetvsIy nearly double that sur.
| Your menorialsts beleye that such lax viii have
highly Conservative influence upon me community at
large by reducing ntemperance which the principal
source Of the crime and poverty prevailing IN neny por
| tions OF The land.
Your memoTialiss urge that txcse Of Eve cents Ter
gallon on malt liquors Will scarcely be felt by the tar
payer and that articles Of loSury they should be
made 70 contribute large share towards the publ.c
revenue.
Your meoriaiss further represent that these taxes
when imposed and realized, win obvate the necessity
OF laying further burden upon real and personal pro
perty which Already In. local districts and for State
revenue are heavily afed and that the present law
whsrsby twenty millions Of dollars Tor less than one dol
lar per espts) are 10 " realized, s suthesut on this
AL