Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-06

L16 people S0u6rh4ly1 nEo "OAAAl5 AaPANlg
up to the doctrine that the expenses Of the |
var should be paid as the war goes on, by
a just system Of taxation, instead of By
loans and moltgaging future generations.
The amount of our national debt in the
eyes of many begins to look threatening |
and the question is being asked whether
We are not able to pay expenses as we fight. |
It is understood that the Chairmen of the
Financial Committees, both in the Senate
and the House are in favor Of increased
taxation and believe that there's no neces-
ty for the further issue Of bonds or cur
rency.
The taxation that msy be imposed upon
the people in order to effect this object, can
be easily endured in view of the fact that
the value of the currency must be greatly
improved. Then, too, the tax law is large
ly ineficint in its operation. Itwss inten-
ded that the income tax should be much
greater than it really is. Many who could
pay an income tax, pay none in conse-
quence of the negligence Of those officers
whose business it is TO assess and collect it.
The taxation on luxuries and superhuities,
on imported silks, gew- gsws and fripperies,
could be increased greatly beyond
its present amount, and nobody suffsr
The people that revolve about Paris and
worship the goddess Fashion, have more
money than they know what to do with,
Let the folderols and superfuities of the
rich, therefore, receive additional taxstien.
| We are grsfifed also to know that Mr..
Fessenden proposes lax On an sa'1esi
d source ofrevenue yet untapped, andfrom
which several hundred millions of dollars
nav be annually drswn. The plan OF
taxing sales is vastly simpler than the
present complex and intricate system
about which Government officials ethem-
selves in constant trouble, and which Is
very vexatious to merchants and msnutae-
, turers. According to the present interna
revenue laws, impOsts are levied on s'
many as three thousand four hundred anc
ffty-four different ways, and this number
can be infinitely increased by various ap
plications of different sections of the rev
enue laws, by the thousands Of Treasury
, officials throughout the country. On tn
f subject of taxation Of sales, the New Yorl
: san very wisely observes;
We cannot now raise over two hundre'
9 and fifty millions year. Under the sys
tam of taxation of sales, we could doubl
T that amount almost without feeling tn
burden. Careful statistics indicate ths
our sales amount to a minimum of thirty
It six thousand millions of dollars per snnum
II This is based upon the assumption tha
y products pass through three hands on thel
le wsv from the producer TO the consumer
A one per cent. tax on this sum woul
is Weld a revenue Of three hundred and sixt
Y milions-more than the sum now rsiseo
. An addition of one per cent would yiel
seyen hundred and twenty millions
ss year. This tax could be collected month
/ iy, and presents no complications or use
d less circumlocution. Every merchant an
,r storekeeper would keep an account OF b
sales subject 70 the oversight Of the co
y lectors, and hand over, at stated period
the amount of tax collected from his Gu
B. toners. One great advantage Of this mod
n is, that It makes no unnecessary demsnC
: on CzIpitul slIId tlEerofSro sL4sePo.ns 4A.aisl
10 to the consumer. Merchants are not tor
8. ed. as at present, to advance the amour
n of tariff and other duties, and wait on
three, on twolvo months for reimburs
1nent, charging the consumers interest f
the ontlay during the interval in Il
TX shape of sn increased price for the art
n cles. Under the system Of taxation
!: sales all this is done away with, and ever.
y thing is direct, rapid, and economics
ne Merchants and storekeepers will have I
IN motive for fraud. They are interested
Ms exaegeration rather than in diminishir
!. the amount Of their sales, Beside, if frau
y we're attempted, it would beamore glariI
al form of robbery, and could be easily d
mt tected. The amount of sales can be le
its easily concealed tnAn the quantity of ma
of ufactures. The more this system OF taxi
sales is investe ated, the more ample al
a. elective does it appear, and Secretai
las Pessenden has it in his power
n bsstow the greatest possible be
eRts upon the country by securing
- adoption at the forthcoming session Of Co
gress. --