Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-24

ne kepuOilcan papers ana speakers are Str1v
ing hard to make capital against Hon. John Law
for his opposition TO the revenue bill passed BIZ
the last Congress, and cry out that he is cop
posed to providing the moons to carry on the
Government '-'opposed to raising money to
pay our gallant soldiers in the field" &c.
These slanderers well know that their charges
are false-that Judge Law voted for every dol
lar demanded by the Government for every
bill comprehending the raising of men TO fight
the battles of the country. They know full we'll
that his opposition TO the tax bill in question
arose. not from hesitation or disinclination to
furnish all the means required to raise money by
taxation To keep the wheels of Government in
motion, but because he saw in the measure the
grossest and graveSt iniquties-he saw in it un
Just Determinations in favor CT the North ana
East against his own secton-that the whole
scheme was systematic swnde, for she benefit
of certain interests and localities to the detriment
of others-and that the plea that il for the
benefit of the soldiers was but a hollow pretense.
Let US look at few of its provisions:
In the first place the bill creates a new office
Commissioner OF Revenue-at a salary of S4 900
per year with whole retinue of clerks, at sala-
res ranging from 81 200 to $4,000 per year 1t
then provides for the appointing. by the Presi-
dent, of a Collector and Assessor in each Con
gressional District in all the States and Terrific
res of the Union, making total number of Off
ces to be flied by the President about 500, in
Guiding the Southern States or 500 exclusive of
them Should any friend OF the people vote to
give this high power to any President-to put his
tools and minlons in positions where they have
such direct opportunities TO Cypress and ruin
those whom they may be personally or even po-
litically opposed tOg-lor the antecedents of the
appontees under the act. in this State, show that
the Democrats have no friends among them.
These collectors and assessors have the power
TO divide their districts up to suit their conven-
fence, and of course they will use that power to
subserve the interests and promote the veal of
the party whose instruments they are Isn't il a
grand ell, pioneering scheme? Just think of the
myriads of partisan tools it lets loose among US?
Assessors are allowed 50 per day from the time
OF making arrangement" for getting to work,
and So per day Tor every day employed in hear
ing appeals, &c: assistant assessors get the same
allowance. Collectors are allowed per cent.
upon the first 81 000. 900 and per cent upon all
sums above 500 900, with proviso that their
salaries shall not exceed $4,000. Verv liberal.
truly, to the old political Republican soldiers i,
Reader, look ut it The whole expense of col
ecting our State revenue last year was but lit
tie over S35 600; according to the provisions of
this bill. il will amount To nearly $3.50 ,0O0--0r
one third of lndiana's portion of the direct tax,
l. this providing money to pay soldiers in the
Z
make the taxes provided for colectable by State
officers. according to amendments proposed To the
bill. and thus save To the States and 10 the Gov
eminent hundreds OF thousands of dollars.
Again-the bill gives the collector power to
''seize property for the non payment of taxes"
no matter what the circumstances of the den-
quent, and may offer the property seized Tor sale
i've miles from the place where levied upon.
That IS. if the collector or any of his friends
coyet certain property of poor delinquent, he
can fix up some out of the way place for the
sale and knock il off to whom he pleases. at
whatever his stool geons may choose bid.
The officer also has authority to sell "any amount
OF property, personal or real, he may see proper,
over and above the amount due for taxes. F"
and paw the surplus TO the parties interested.
&c. Another fine opportunity for parties in the
secret To get, on Their own terms, whatever they
may want--for all know at what ruinous f.
ures everything will 90 unde- the hammer, such
times a these
Another beautiful feature is that collectors are
authorized "to collect all taxes imposed under
this act, however designated;" and ''all fines
penalties, or forletures incurred to be sued
Tor in the name of the United States" one half
the amount recovered TO 20 TO the collector or
denuty who shall first inform. That is 10 saw, il
the officer becomes apprised that a neighbour
political or personal enemy-has not reported all
his property that the denquentS vile or chill
dren have slowed away "A set of silver spoons or
some old family relic or heirloom, subject To tax
ation-he searches the house, finds the property.
prusecutes the offenders, and pockets half the
amount of the jud sment-all for the benefit of
the poor soldiers. Or rather for the benefit of
an army OF hireling informers.
The taxation too l. unjust and unequal. For
instance, Judge Law. who, as We have shown.
would have heartily sustained any equitable rev
/ enue bill. offered an amendmen; and supported il
in a forcIble manner. proposing a tax OF 81 per
+ ton on pig iron, of which Pennsy lvania alone
produces over Sll ,0O0, 900 worth. The amend.
ment was flvorably received. but through the
committee, il was finally thrown out Why?
Because Stevens is largely interested in the iron
business,
Judge also opposed. in n speech which we
published. the of 81 per barrel on beer. ale.
and other malt liquors; because imported liquors.
. costly wines, &c.. only within the reach of the
wealthy, are not taxed in the same ratio a the
harmless beverages above referred TO, aud which
+ enter 80 largely into the home consumption of a
worthy and generally humble class.
The bill taxes bankers, brokers. &c. only
500 per year. while IL compels all retail lie lers
suclr srocers. tobacconists. &c. 10 paw from
so 10 SD Per year-thus discriminating in favor
Of the moneyet sri>tocracy and against the hon
e., dealer oi limited capital
Further is a remarkable fact that pianos.
gold watches. &c. are not taxed at alI--thas