The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-12-27

Rut the main reliance Of the Government for
revenue should be IN q uniform tax sales Of mer.
chsndise The total quantity a merchandise sold In
ne LOYAL States. at present prices 10 one year, has
been estimated In value at $4,000, 900 900; and as
al merchandise changed hands on an average three
tines, the total sNlcs Que year would amount 10
SShWhVhm0 Thisrcsuli is rendered highly prob
able ny tho following estimate The population Of
the loyal States may he set down, At the pre- ient
time, to 22,OO1000. We think in assuming an ave.
rage annual expenditure, AZ Who'll sAlc p.'cea- of
$50 per bead, we shall be considered within the
truth IL eqrivslen,, at the present. price OF gold,
to t.o - Ior uead, N prices " 1860. This would
make the hrst sale amount TO G1lC0 O 900. Add 10
per cent FOR iobbers' profits and tho second sale
would amount TO Si,H1oOO0oo. Add 20 per cent.
for retailers profits, aud the III ri sale would
amount - s1,ij2,OooOo0 Total sales a., IG2, 200.
Op. To he entirely within the truth, call the total
sales Tor one year s30,O00, 100000. This would 10
at the rate Of $40 65 per head in prices of 1900.
two Per cent TAX on this sum would yieli
600 900, 0o0. Taking tho estimated amounts OF
custom duties and revenue from m Miscellaneous
sources as given In Secretary Fessenden's report
81 the Treasury Department. sud We have the fol-
lowing result as the possible revenue Of the Gov.
ernmcnt for one year
Taxes Ga real snd personal estate. ... ss5,o1Nooo
laNes on sales Of merchandise. ......... 6nIONGOOO
o"s"h duNeA. .......... ....... InVrpuo
Revenue from miscellaneous sources 25,OOO,OCc
'"thl' sssss.tsss faoufVvN''O'
The mode n 10 adopted for the collection Of =
Uniform tax on sales Of merchandise, Is matter u
prime Importance. That mode Is 20 he preferred,
which will most promptly convey tho revenue
INTO the treasury, and place at once ut the ltea-
surcr's disposd for tic uses Of the Government.
There Ia no possible way OF collecting this tax,
We think, aimjlc, certain, practical, sale aud
economical az that by the use Of stamps. Let the
Revenue Law require that every sale amounting n
the sum Of one uollAr and upward, be accompan-
iod, or completed by memorandum, bill OF par
cells or invoice, 10 which snail 10 attached IN
stamps by the seller the amour, Of the tax; and
that the same amount shall DO aidcd 10 the net
amount Of the bill. to be paid part Of the bill
invoice by the purchaser. Thus, at tho last sale,
the whole tax is infal'ibly COLLECTED from the cou-
sutner, who, all agree, shout pay IT, IL is not
alono sufficient that the proper stamps be attsched
u Is essential that their vslu" should be sided 10
the invoice, thus surely levying tho tax, finally,
where II belongs, on the consumer; and, at the
same time, by establishing a uniform practice
among Manufacturers, merchants and traders e.
iectunlly neutralizing the tax, d Sturber Of
prices, and au element Of injurious competition on
the one hand, on eNtoruonate combination on the
other. Tho taxes on petty sales, less than one dol.
lar each, might 10 collected monthly, IA the same
manner az arc now collected the taxes on rnAnuisc.
rucs.