New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-14
OUR NATIONAL DERT-CAN IT B8
PAID OFF,
To ne Editor a1 TAs ". y. 7rfbsne.

To tie Editor II TAs ~ y Tribune
SIR: day or two ago The TRIBUNE con.
tanned article urging the reduction Of che Naiioa1
debt by voluntary contribution.
There can he no doubt thst the subject paying this
debt Is receiving the attention Of intelligent men ~
over the country In this section II is being earnestly
considered and discussed Every truly loya pay,
bis taxes chceraly and feels grateful that the country
has escaped its perils with slight burden. But
nevertheless IL IL o subject OF annoyance and rIits
ton. that 90 large proportion Of the amount Of In
terna revenue fpsid remains in the hands OF thoss
who collect IT, The whole system seems TO b
wrong. 1t 10 too cnmbersome--reqares too many
men. and they are, most OF them. extsavagan,iy
paid. In each Congressional district We bsvs
Collector and Assessor. and in each town
Zip q sub-Assessor and now 10 addition. In
each district an inspector. And the pay Of these
numerous officers IL altogether dsproportioned to their
services; and when compared with the compensation
received by State officials is shamefaly extrayagant
Take ~ an instance the Collector Of this District 70
worthy gentleman ard receiving no more thsn the
law gives him. His compensation greatly exceeds thss
ofthe Gorernor eftAs State or the CaJsss cfts So
pr.~u Cogri And yet his office requires neither eStrs'
ordinary ability nor extraordirary intelligence IL a.
tended with very little expense (or all his clerk hire
paid BY the GOVERNMENT and under the present ar
rspeement, with no very great itsponsibiN. Ih",
we think In this of the country Is all wrong ane
should bc changed
Now why can We not pay of at once rs you have sns
scsted onetrd o. the debt by voluntary Subscription,
IA thank ofering) or by dir,ef Gsssssa<sf twl IN
would prefer; end then by uli,ous system ~ du'es
on manufactured src'es eyr"rt anh import du'eshnd
The sale Of licenses ana stamps raise annually sHs
sufficient fo pay the interest on the halsnce AMI some
thing more toward its final cytirc,ion snd thus eet
rid oi this swarm Of onieeholderr and the annoying
evils referred 10 Suppose our eNes were anadinmeo
increased even 10 greater extent ior tD'e hRh'
not ha done by judicious discrimination witfoai any
serious deiriment TO the Industry and business pf"
porty OF the country II might Is not the great ad
vantage OF doing il apparent e. ever. onet
And il must be overlooked that he 80 Il, ~ -
present system Of meeting the ecuniary wants ana 10
legations NJ the Government VIII be- seized ulNn y!
domagognes as ready means OF lnrhnntt We hiha'o'
unihinking men against the Administration 'ha !"
friends For tLle al least In the flare. the pr"
which shall with greatest piiu'linhy pi""i" w
people relief against the burdens If tssf'"n, c"hst
emily with honesty will b. likely {" b' i"e pair. -
CREATES favor; unless indeed il is further ~one
ref rsnce 10 oth.rgreai questions han any parry sup
ine it, course Just now is li.e.y 20 be- y
Wssteh,ster Pc. June :, 1900.
rive have no doubt that the expenses OF eoi'
lectinr the Internal Revenue may he conf
sideraby diminished by Congress, aud Thai me
oompensatlon al Assessors and Collectors aiii'
in many if not most cases, bear reduction w
trus, also. tina, means will be- devised -
greatly reducing if not paying OF the p'o'.
But the first and pressing daty is !" ss'
the whole If il into the hands OF per.o-'s '"s
and willing 10 hold it, and 10 give the Ample"
assurance thai il will under uo circumstances
be repuda.ed or arbitrarily reduced. II "e 10
So much this year, We shall nave done very
well. ftbereaster We can establish >mSne
Fund Of One HUNDRED Millions pr Ah"'"'
by reducing our Military and Naval force o."
Civil and Diplomatic expenditures, I" ~
lowest practicable point. and then RESP way
that We will not diminish our taxes 81" nv
Debt is paid on, we may see the end oi t"'a'"
twenty ycars.-Ed.l