Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-31
TOBACCO. .pRINKs- AND DOGS.
Wehops Congress in making up its list OF tax
able articles will not forget tobacco, "drinks

lObACCO. "DhlNhS AMI DOS'
We hope Congress in making up its list OF tax
able articles will not forget tobacco, "drinks
and dogs. There is an immense amount oil
tobacco used in its different forms 10 our
country, and If taxes are laid on tea and
coffee. both of them nutritive articles In al
most universal use, for the very plain reason
that every tea and coffee drinker will poy
the tax rather than fOregO the indulgence
for the same reason should snuff takers,
tobacco chewers and smokers pay tax on |
their articles of special iudulgenee-articles
moreover v hich are for the most part an injury |
to all who use them, and hateful nuisance
to all who do not. Many hundreds OF
thousands, who Will be hardly reached
in any other way by the taz-gatheTer,
will be reached by tax on tobacco and
there will be this advantage IN it also, no
a solitary user IN any OF its forms will Use
O particle the less for the tax.
Tobacco Is deemed fair source OF rev eo1e
in every country in Cnristendom, where
internal taxes are laid. Great Brita D raises
about S25, 600 900 a year on Tobacco
France $4,000 900, and other European
,oyernments, very large SUMS. Some years
ago the National iaiei6geHoer published
table showing the average consumption and
the tax per head OF the male population over
eighteen years u sge,-a result which from
the published returns OF Expectations in
the different countries, and the known rates
OF taxation, could be GOT much more accu-
rately than most persons would think
! possible. It said
The average consumption in Austria was G. . ;
lbs; tax p cents per head France $50 lbs, tax
/ g cents per head. Russia rs 10 tax z cents
| per head Portugal $50 lbs; tax 80 cents per
head Spain as lbs; tax As cents per heal
Pspa States los; tax 90 cents per head. Eng
land 10 lbs; tax Is cents per head. Belgium
| lbs; tax Is cent? per head. Sardinia 80 lbs ;
tax y cents per heAa. Holland SIS lbs tax B
cent per head. The estimate for the United
states was 7.60 lbs for each male iuhabitant over
J. years Of age.
That estimate for this country Is too low
Tor the present time. The use Of tobacco hat
been on the increase, we apprehend, for come
years. A great many begin the use at a
much earlier age than / 5 and there ls ais
large amount used by females.
j tax on drinks, By which We mean
d Tax Oh anything which lie soid as a drink,
be j.; brandy. rum. gin, whiskey, cider, ale,
beer, strong OF weak, any distilled or fer
meuted compound whatever. will answer 5
double purposs. It vii curtaI the use
some, which vii be one blessing as far Is i
goe-. ard 1t will raise I47rs revenue 70,
the government, winch vii De another
We dnd good paragraph on tins subject II
the Springfield Republican
Speaking Of drinks naturally suggests cider
ale, ueeT, vine, Hhiskey. run, and tie whole lis
q fermeuted and distilled liquors, az even mon
1 properly the objects OF heavy taxation than 70
J uacco. They afford an immense profit 70 tn
. Z uaaers and retailer and the appetite Of tn
consumers Is So tvrsunical InAt they vii
I usually nave their cripple az whatever cos; o
cash, character or health. Foreign alec. wine
and liquors are probably loaded with as DGoi
: burden as they can carry ly the Nc nil t&ris
But 1ur domestic dsc0cti1-s fl- making druni
come are generally untaxel. We arrow tia
the sellers AID the drinkers are not rcmArkAbl
lsE-soiclng or patriotic class OF men, and tia
such t4z would ueet vita ugly hostility iron
: them cider excise II England nearly cause,
rebellion II 4145, and 8 Ehlskey else II TIL
coun y brought or a. actual insurrectiou dunn:
2 " sshingt1u's administration Bat We have nov
3 strong Temperance sentiment .nd a ufHcieu
military iorce 70 pui the thing thrvzra, If their
q -
states law Of 1881 Imposed OF domestic spirits 4
= duty Of from L 50 cents per gallon, scooruin,
g strength, and on small stllls annual tax o.
80 cents per gallon OF TIE capacity Of the still
D The war Of ISL caused an imposition Of p
/ cents per gallon all domestic spirits OF pe
Z oent I'd valgreu beeT, ale and porter, ais
license charges OF stuls according 70 their caps
I clty, and On al retailers Of vines and splrts
These tAIes were continued for several year II
p each instance, AID doubtless yielded large SUI
for ou- fathers AMI grandiAtaers were . hzro
I drinking people, ana IN their dsy i vas ''res
% pectAbie" % Inbibe even or such holy occasion
Oriiostion or funeral, ana e. get d-s
drunk OF thc Fourth Of July. The BRUSH gov
e e-lnent c1tJ-is 70 less t1au Sis,OOJ,OO0 pe
aznum .T0m home made spirIts $4,000 .uUu frou
malt aid ; 800, 600 from hops (Which are ehief
I converted INTO beer, ale and porter and a less
I 5000 700 from the retailers ~ the driu k
% Our estimate Is basel on the revenue returns 70
p Is-0 and 81. There can be little diligently u
abusing scheme o. taxation on these varl0u
beverages, anu o. the ueu who deal them out,
. | frequently IL violation Ct aw,-WhIca shAl
yieid one-i0urt1 a. muca O. Brother Jonathan
, coolers 10 his extremity IRON civil wa a. JonI
buI collects regularly - peace times, or say
Z 50 100000 per a-uuu--
f By al means tx the drinks Let 10
q "driuk'' maker. drink seller, nor ,
"drink" iutioer escape paying specia
tax 20 su7plr, gsverLmeu, and crush ou
rsoe-A.n.
As 3. dogs they to- should be taxed by
all means. \ really good and useful Dig
its oWnsr viii cheertully pay TX for. 4
worthless or miscaIsyoas dJ-. IL owne,
ought to be- made TO Jay tax Tor. wilhn.
or unwilling !, d TX shall be tile occ+snl
Of cropping d adudrei W two Thousand
Troublesome ours jus, behind The ears, 10,
community vii bee a great gain4r IN thu
way
a q VEDr OF EERoEs The R9c. ester
g. \ } Ienocraf t-.i> O. s.-.a story concern