Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-05

Na"N ~ Nouiu ouslruct tndt commerce
which now passes through many hands
IN reaching market from a distant part
OF the country that 1t would concen-
trate all business into the hands of large
capitalists, who would become impor-
ters or manufacturers, wholesale deal
ers, .jobbers and retail dealers, all In one.
while the middle-men, unable TO compete
would be crushed out OF existence that
the consumer would find the cost OF his
goods increased that the manufacturer
in the end would be compelled TO dimin-
ish his prices or diminish his sales and
that the Government would be unable TO
collect the duties except from those who
might choose to pay. The evils which
wouh result from a tax on sales, If the
plan were TO be adopted, taxing goods
in cut pieces instead of by the bale or
case, are serious and the advantages will
not stand the test of a critical examina-
ton.
1t is proposed to tax the gross receipts
of theatres, operas, circuses, and muse
umS, but at the moderate rate of one
| per cent, as in most cases they are ven
lures, sometimes yielding no more than
expenses, and rarely more than five to
ten per cent after all bills are paid.
They are sources of amusement which,
in times like these, are sure to be more
literally patronized by men of all ma
tions than in the piping times of peace,n
and those who manage them can well
afford to " act well their part by pla-
cling something into the hands Of the
Government under which they live,
prosper, and win their fame.
The tax on railroads has been chang
ed, reducing that on passengers from
three to two per cent, and placing that
amount on the gross receipts, including
freight, but not without some reluct-
ance, as its tendency may, to some small
extent, if any advance should be indul-
ged in the rates, diminish the transpor-
tation of certain kinds of freight which
it is desirable to increase There are
also canals competing with railroads in
several of the States, but being own
ed by States it would neither be polite
nor constitutional to attempt to hold
any part of their revenues. The Govern
ment is forced to be great patron of
railroads, and their business is large
and profitable. Certainly this immense
business should yield up something to
the support of the Union, and, if any,
thing, not less than the amount propo-
sed.
Among the most wonderful of all our
resources, considering the extent and ra-
pidity of development, are our minerals.
The production of copper, iron, gold and
silver is increasing daily in amount. As
new mines are discovered among our
mountains, armies of laborers 90 forth
from ''peak to peak" and after few
summer moons behold Territories gilt
tering with the high ambition of becom-
ing States of the Union, or States in
their teens eclipsing the accumulated
culture and wealth of ancient Common
wealths already crowded with the spoils
of three-score years and ten. But
rich as is Michigan in copper, Pennsyl-
vania in iron, or California in gold, they
are all immensely richer in their untold
products Of the field. Any tax on met
ais in their crude state, as pigs or ingots,
or until they reach more advanced
stage of manufacture, would ordinarily
be Objectionable, as they are in some
sort the raw material from which manu-
factures are to be made; but now, while
all those connected with such operations
are undeniably prosperous and would
feel it reproach upon their manhood to
be excused from the draft, our country
demands entire equality, and the pack
that is carried by every soldier must be
borne by all as taxpayers. During the
present war there must be no drones and
no exempts.
1t is therefore proposed to largely in
crease the duties upon iron and to dis
tribute it upon the earlier and later pro-
cesses of manufacture. One dollar upon
pig metal, as it requires ton and half
to make ton Of bar iron, will be equal
to $1.50 upon bar iron. This, with the
duty of $1.50 on blooms, slabs, or loops,
will be equal to So before reaching the |
form of bar iron and then there is to be |
So more, making it equivalent to Sc duty |
per ton on bar iron, In addition to this |
the gross ton of 2, 240 pounds is reduced |
to the net ton of 1000 pounds, which in
creases the tax twelve per cent. Beyond |
this, small increase has been made on |
coal, of which three tons are used in ma
king single ton of iron. So much coal
10 hoW Wy uAC uluCu GtttIcS Ill
the Navy and in 'foundries, so much is
consumed as motive power by railroads
steamboats,, and manufactures, and so
much by gas companies--the receipts or
products of all these being subject to
duty-and so much is consumed as fuel
by our people, that any tax at all would
appear of doubtful expediency, especially
when we remember that under the reci-
procity treaty the coal of the British
Provinces comes in free of all duties A
small advance, however, is proposed,
from three and half to five cents per
ton and as the duty two years ago was
alleged to be the reason for adding at
least six times its amount to the price,
there will be no further occasion or
chance for further advance on the cost
of the article.
The amount of revenue to be derived
from iron will be very largely increased,
four times greater at least than the for
mer rates. The workers in iron must
bear il in mind that even now the rates
are not greater, if so great, than those
imposed upon all other branches of man.
and that they have enjoyed
for two years, in consequence of the great |
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