Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-04-18
ROBERT Cole, Superrisor.

VI ". tCbf AA w - In L \
Nr. Coltax, who made some mistakes at
first with regard to the treatment OF the
press, has come fully right at last. In
Wednesdays debate On the tax bill, he
thus hits the nail on the head:
g. In taxing the hotel keeper, you tax
aim according to his income, which is
just; bat YOU DO not tax him, also ac-
cording to the number of boarders he
keeps in hi, house Bat the newspaper
proprietor is taxed, not only on his ill.,
come, bat also on all the resources Of that
ncomc-frst his subscriptions; secondly,
his advertisements and, thirdly, his job
printing. The latter is not always an
addeuda ana many newspaper establish
ments derive their whole income from adj
ycrtiscments, and therefore it was he
complained. The bill taxes the staple,
nsed in this particular business, while it
let's the staple Of the tobacco maautaet-
urcr and others 60 untaXed. They might
IS well tax the merchant for each Of his
Customers, as to tax the proprietor OF Il
newspaper on his advertisements. Why
not tax the customers Of all other trades
as well as this particular one The law
y.r has two classes of patrons-patrons
in evil causes, and patrons in criminal
ctuses You do not tax him on each class.
TIE newspaper nan has also two classes
of customers.-the Subscriber and the ad-
yertiSer; for each Of these you propose
to tax him, while you let the lawyer 60
free. Why not tax the lawyer as well as
the printer! While they confined the
tax upon merchants and others to their
income, they propose to tax the printers,
not only on their income, but intermeli-
atcly through All the sources Of their in-
come. To this lie objected, and for this
reason he must say that the bill dlscrim-
mated against the newspaper proprietor
and in favor of other trades and profess
ions. This tax will operate against the
bill, for it will curtail the publication OF
advertisements and lessen the consump-
tion of printing paper, 1t will increase
the distress Of the country. 1t will throw
thousands out Of employment, and rob
the poor ana unemployed of the means OF
seeking and obtaining employment. In
every aspect he looked upon the aayer-
tiSement tax as unjust and pernicious.- =
They would be disappointed in their cx-
pcctations of raising revenue in this
way, for already advertising had fallen of
all over the country, and this provision
would destroy it altogether
How THE MoGTAgs AT ISLAND No. II
ARE MANAGED,-The mortars are being
worked into a HIGH state of effisency.-
The practice is to watch the effect of each
particular shot, make a note of the angle
at which il was fired, the charge of pow.
der, the lcagth Of fuse the time Of flight
and any general remarks as to its effect
From this record OF firing some gcncrali'
1ations are made as to distance, efficiency
aud capacity OF the mortars. The first
charges of powder were far too large
that is to say, the powder was not all
burnt, but '.blowcl out uncomsumed.-
The charge now most frequently used fol
long range is twclvc-and-a-half pounds
with an elevation of forty five and hal
degrees.
The powder is put loosely into the NOR
tar, aud the she'll deposited right upon
the powder without the use of cartridge
or wadding as before. The friction primer
is inserted in the vent, aud when the hour
arrives for firing, the angle is taken by a
plumb-line and quadrant, when, at the
sgnal Of the captain, who is perched OF
tree to witness the effect of the shell
the lanyard is drawn and the kissing, fiery
globe is Oh its way Of destruction. The
new fuses are of wood and are sawn oil
to the length of fight, allowing a second
or so extra for the shell to lie upon the
ground after it has reached. the pecu
Garity of these fuses is that they cannot
be extnguishel by water; so that If the
bomb alight in the river it is sure to ex
plole. We have seen one of them, wher
| ignited, burn furously under the water
through its entire length. This is O
some Importance when the land is consid
erably overfowed. The range of expert
ments with the mortars has effected I
great change in their efficacy, the cap
tains being able to land a shell within
two hundred yards of given spot at an,
time, and after one or TIVE shots, within