Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-21

some further legislation as to the tax on banks i
desirable. What that shall be will Of course b.
Tor the House to determine.
Upon the other question, however, feel com
yelied TO say that tax on sales has not appeared
to me any more expedlent now than when It Va'
broached here three years ago. There are many
gentlemen here and throughout the country, foi
whose judgment entertain the greatest respect
sho seem 10 regard the question with tavor, and
4 has the rec mmeudatiOn OF that Important Off
Ger at the present time, the Commissioner Of In-
ternal Revenue. II may be that the only way t.
satisfy ia advocates OF the impoIlcy of TINS meas.
are viii be to test it. feel certain If accepted
that the first thing our constituents would demand
at the next session would Ls It's repeal.
Tsxes, to b. tolerated at all, should be equal
u taxes we're placed upon sales, thea those LIVING
near the places Of productioa would have adyan
ages not available to those remote, 10 addlt on to
the less cost of freight. The meichandlse, for
eIgn or domestic, from the Atlantic coast, before
lt reaches the Mississippi passes through the
hands OF many owners, and according TO the the
ory Of taxing sales its cos, would be increased Al
each successive tr,n,fer. So a barrel Of -four
from NJ. Louis or Chicago, before il reaches New
u
Inc tax would be cumulative, and the internal
commerce Of our country, always tree uLtll nov,
would be choked aad damned up confined 10
barrow localities Instead Of being national, 50
Tar as our laws could mako it so, il would become
provincial "E sectional. We sh uld destr that
great feature OF America the spirit and enterprise
0i trade. VI what use would II be to produce or
70 manufacture, II the channels of trads we're 10
have distractions placed n the way and rising
higher and higher al every NepP Better collu
ne manufactures and producers afford 10 ply tbs
whole TAX than 10 have it imposed in this form.
linen 1t would reyoluiioIize trade and drive out
o. employment ne middle-men. In the cities on
~ meo OF large cIpltal--the impoitersand who'll
sale meichanls-wouldb be palroniEed. They would
81 onee comb ne the trade OF wholesas dealers,
Joooers, and retailers. Country merchints would
Ouy oi The original importer, The chose 10 break
up original packages, and the Occupation of Job
Oen would be gone. Those who desired to buy
ut retail YOU'D seek the stream of merchandise Al
VS fountain head before it had trickled through
Bsle~s)s "hete its cost would be increased by re-
pestsd taxation That merchandise often transfsrr-
ed would become unsalabe as con pared with that
DOL 30 transferred. 1t would be soon understood
lhat 'ne merchant, whose goods when distributed
we're charged with but one tax possessed advantage
over hIs more humble neighbor whose goods coula
not be disposed Of with haviag paid not less than
three taxes. think !. important that our laws
should disturb the usual sgencies Of trad. as little
as possible. This measure would clog and har IS
every business transaction Of the country. II,
would Increase the prices Of every raw material
aud oi every perfected manufacture out Of all pro.
portion to IN. amount Of revenue to be obtained.
According to the laws Of trade, prof. would be
taxed upon the tax itself as forming part Of the
original cost 10 the consumer il will be the
most expensive Of all taxes in prop rtion to the
amount realized. Nor could il be fsrly and fully
collected. More frauds and evasions would be
prseIced than under all other provisions Of the
internal revenue laws. The uum Der Of men who
DO not keep an accurate account OF their sales is
now large and would be larger. None but mer.
chants do this, and yet vast amounts Of property
are disposed Of by other persons. The farmer
aud mechanic would be compelled TO study book
keeping by double entry | could pursue this
subject much further, but 10 not think il nece sary
II cur aggregate sales should amount TO So, OOO,
O00, 900, the half OF one per cent. would weld
but 10, 900, 900. That i, no, enough for so iaree
an eIpelimsnt.