New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-17
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..


Yesterday afternoon at o'clock special meeting
of the Chamber of Commerce war held Tor the pur'
pose Of considering the several subjects specified IN
the call. When Mr.. PELATIAH PERT called the
meeting 10 order, six members and seven reporters
for the public press were present.
Mr. OPDYKE took the floor, and stated that the
meeting was called at the request Of the Boston
Board Of Trade for the purpose Of considering their
report on internal taxation. In regard to the tax
bin before Congress, he bad not sufficiently examined
it, and consequently was unable 10 pass upon II as
whole II was estimated that the Government
would require $50 600 900 or $500 600 900 per an'
nun 10 carry on the war, and it found that the
imports would not yield such large revenue. In
his opinion they could raise som between those
amounts, say $2O0,cO0,0OO which he deemed
would be sufficient 10 pay the expenses OF
the Government. This could be raised
both by direct and indirect taxation lie was oP-
poeed to the income tax, and did not believe that
such a system would work well. IL would take al
mos as large All army OF collectors and assessois as
there were soldiers ia the field. The best and only
proper way in his opinion, 10 raise the money
would lie TO tax the sales OF all articles 40 that the
revenue would bs equalized by their consumption.
II tax of one per cent was placed on sneh sales II
would not decrease the consumption, and the a1onnt
of revenue would be ra sed with comparatively htte
trouble. Mr.. Opdyke, III concluding introduced 10
the attention OF toe Chamber the system of taxation
IA yored by the Board Trade OF Boston tcopies of
which were distributed, aud moved that the subject
be referred TO a Committee 10 report thereon.
Mr. CHARLES GoULD thought the document good
as far az il went and the plan was admirable. lie
thought there should be good hnancal eystein es-
tablshed for raising the tax, and he moved & an
amendment that the same Committee consider and
recommend system OF finance. One gentleman
has CHIN Tor II 900 900, and another for $5OOOO,
which Government ought to payi but II seemed to
him as ii Congress was utterly torpid, aud didn
care whether the country was bankrupt or not.
NINA NJ
subiect should not DO brought up at present. lie
did mt believe m mixing the two questons OF tax
alton and finance, and in TACT be thought II wrong
Tor the Chamber TO emtarrass and hamper Congress
with suggestions and memorials thereby retardng
the passage ~ the bill.
Mr. ). s. Low was also opposed to mixing up the
two questions.
Mr. RuGGLEs made few remarks in favor Of the
French system of taxation.
A resolution was adopted to appoint Committee
of five 10 memoralize Congress the subject OF a
system OF taxation for the Government OF the United
States, and to report thereon at an early meeting
. OF the Chamber. The CHAIR appointed as such
Committee Messrs. Opdyke, Gould, Lambert Grit
fith, and Thomae. MIR. THoMAR desired to call the
attention of the Chamber 10 the fact Of the Govern
ment yi,ating its liability TO pay those who have
the past year furn she'd the army supplies. He Of
iered the following:
Where's. The Secretary ot the Treasury Of the United
States Ia now susaged n ,sI OF the Gov
eminent to individuals from whom purchased cash bill
duTLs the mouths oi October. NoveEhef and December AS
snd .nce then In certificates Of Indebtedness hss ~ ey'
months 10 run and bearing D. cent interest nom date tc
issue And .
Uhe,cas Said certScs,.s sell ia the market heavy dis
count whereby large sse oeeu! to such creditors oi he Gov
R,or,2 q. the juismen. ot thi. Chsmber That snch
mode ought NOS 10 be persisted and that
but u equitable thAg Government should allow ani
10 tie parties 10 whom such indebedGes due rate %
interest with that which II ~ paying upon III
loans from the time Of sae up 10 the time OF sne
ssd certihcs,es
Ge.ors That certified copies o. this preamble and rssou
tions be transmitted by th Chamher 20 the Hop Secretary
of the Tesury to the Senators OF this State and the REPRE-
son tstives IN Congress from this city
Mr.. TousEY thought, with equal Justice, that the
men who were in the feld-the brave soldiers who
were fighting our battles--were entitled To such
interest as the contractors and he did not see why
one should be favored than another. lie
alluded to the frauds that had been committed by
contractors and hoped that the resolution would mol
pass.
loaned contractor $4,000 To buy horses with, and
after having waited month, received notes at pe
cent dscolnt.
After some debate the resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. GRANT offered the following resolution:
Resorsi That, in the opinion Of the Chamber would be
proper and just for the United states Government In nes
tang its loan receive Ia part payment for its bond
the months certificates lately issued TO s Creditors
Mr.. ToUsEY moved that the resolution be lai'
upon the table, there was only IA bakers dozei
present and he did not think II proper or right TOR
/ low If tho members to act upon such importan
measures. The Chamber had hundreds of members
and here were few assembled TO act for them :,
! The motion was lost, and the resolution adopted
Mr.. Low presented Committee report, deenlins
any action OF the Cnamber unnecessary ut presen' III
the llarbor defenses. Adopted.
| The meeting then nd ourned.