Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-05-18

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lion, the recommendation u one dollar per gall n by h'
revenue commis.i.n would not be- disregafdsd by h
COMMITTEE " Ways and Means. II Is very clear tha
The whole tax fails 10 We collected and the price has ~
time any place been equal to the cost ofsph will
the tax add,d thereto, and in parts Of the count
the price has occasionally been below even the amour
oftaS The amount Of spins \ domestic manufacture
returned 10 The SCISSORS for 1868 was l6y 77S gallon
against IS 2S5 39l gallons Ia 1854 showing falnl
Of ofneaty fourhfths Of The shoe amount II 10 TO b.
noted however that much WAS distilled In lt64 In ex
pectaon q increase Of me and this accounts 70
diminished business m 1895 but does not prove di
minished consumption Eotwithstanding the heavy In
crease Of duties upon foreign quo the total impofta
tions have not been materially curtailed. Our exper
fence u likely 20 correspond 9Th that Of the world
which s that the appetites OF iot sptituous liquor
are held 10 check very t9e by high cost unless tina
cost is very exothAnt and louy these in the
dgent circumstances check The regularity Of th~f ndul
allowance
1,s curious to note that, iron manufacturers in making
up the calculation Of the increased cost Of ton Of iron
put In 81 90 the increased cost Of whiskey and the
employer is compelled doubt TO increase the amount
OF his monthly payroll to this new item In the oos
ofhving. II may be inferred that the consumption o.
liquors in the length and breadth Of the land IL large
Az ever but that the has not been possibly
be, collected, The great temptation " Illicit dstilaor
and 70 sugguR which arises in cases Of the imposition
OF high duties upon liquors calls for the enactment o.
stringent almost despouo laws, not merely ~ the pun
ishm-t Of fraudulent practoes, but Tor the protection
the hsnest importer and honest distller. Owng, o
the carrying of wool out Of the Kingdom. formerly
punsd In England by the imposition Of heavy psnsl
ties and we have found that the introduction from Can
ada Of tin battles fled with whiskey BY their reckless
parents can only be suppressed By heavy penales an,
BY their prompt enforcement. That large trade bal
been carried On the past year in the mAnufaoturs Of small
copper stills there is abundant evidence. II these SHOULD
be eafWed " be used osdestney, tits to be appre
hended may have been the design only would tn,
uoVemmsnt be deprived Of large amount Of revenue
but public morals would be more less debauched
The Commi tee Of Wayf and Means recommend with
some notifications lsfse part Of the changes in IN,
law as 70 spirits proposed BY the revenue commission ia
order TO increase its efficiency IL is believed that the
country well Congress are in favor OF obtanine
the msximum smount of revenue from spirits and tha
not so eager TO reduce the Of Intoxicating
liquors as 10 be unwilling TO wait until experience ha,
ui tested the policy or mpoisy OF the highest rate
taxation hxed by law. II Is understood that the
method OF mixing woodacd with alcohol, pIactoed
in knsand, that alcohol might be used in he arts an
manufactures without the payment Ct any tax, h q
proved failure, It having been found that such methya-
ted spirit be recthed aud made into pure spirits
again without any offensive smell II any chemical
preparation could BE- found which would accomplish this
object ~ discovery and aeoptiOn would be res
10 many legitimate branshes Of arts and manufactures
The Committee Of Ways and Means have proposed
some notifications NJ the income law. but have not
reached the conclusion, ~hile the industrial employ
ments must remain to considerable extent heavily
bufdened thatit can be wholly dispensed with BY IL
terms as originally passed, It expire in 1870,
thus temporary sharAotsr put upon its face In
our great emergency Il contributed be returned
again with interest larger amount than the rches
BANKERS IN Europe would have loaned at sixtl
pei cent discount. Our loyal people paid the incom,
YAK OF BOO. IN June q I4u,4Ol 49, and ihpn (esl
mated upon The sts they called upon in fsu
months ray another iuc tax and they reepon5e,
by contributing SIS 9293l202 Again in 1864 their in
tax f0ots S04 200 600 point thesa
only proud evidence OF their patriotism aud wealth
but proud evidence or their strict integrity Of eharao
ter. Strong as the temptation nigh, be f'r evasiv
returns sore as they might be In Of the svf
pursuit and the continuous exeeiions Of the tax gher
er, they paid more in 1868 upon The second cal
than the first. The country in need and even th
Peed for gain could not tempt the American people &
deffsud their Government The law let 1t almost q
she rsoience Of each man 70 how much he Shou,
pay, and all seemed to vie with each other as to WI,
should lay the most question still whether an,
free people ever paid tax more honestly AND accurate
" and question sti more whether any free people
imposed upon themselves, through their chosen Rerre
sentatges, takes so thick and fast
flour income tax should be contemplated a part o
the of the country is not to be depie
that il would need various and perhaps tunda.enta
Amendments The objections 70 such laws sufficient
ly obvious.
They inquisitoria Of necessity in their oharsc
ter, and Americans, ike people eheshere ahsugh no
averse 20 knowledge Of the secrets Of others are ou
unwilling 20 disclose their own Among commtfcia
men such disclosures may be disastrous. IL they fhov
prosperity hey invite envy and greater competition
or 4 they shos any remarkable leannes1 they dlmag
credits.
2 The temp alton to make advertisements and len,
to these statements 'he sanction Of oath to
and mine public morals until begin excuse hem
selves for their wrong doing because il being SC
oommen that to do Otherwise would be to fail in syerag,
smsrtness.
s. When take into consideration the sources from
which income II derived. the hAbtuaes Of the different
persons bo pay thSfKx the difeulty Of annor,iop,n
that each viii have yaid in just proportion TO ever,
other person leaving each relatively in the came con
dons the perpleIiues become almost instrumental BILE
Entertaining such views and the pressing exisene-
having passed. we have undertaken 10 lessen but no
TO entirely remove the weight OF the Income tax I,
this end we propose 70 exempt the rit 81 900 Of ever
peis from tax al only 10 reach excess seyonC
that amount This will increase the sum exemst from
$500 10 81 ,OnO Exactly how much OF reduction i
will make In our receipts cannot be io'eod but proba
4ttff hffurV. Ia 1.
diminish the number Of persons taxed ne arly one half
II it should excuse tiny ihonsapd persons. then the re
duetiou will amornt % 81 COO for every such 6f,
thousand persons. There is re'hAps lust reason fo
1cuirg any portion 81 tho incline Of any on from III,
lax except that Of ths hardship and the liability o
persons with limited income 10 spare auy part Of ii
but that Is enough
In republican form Of government the true theory Il
20 make no distinctions as 10 peTaOns the rates Of tax
atom. Recognizing no Glass for special iavors, w
ought not TO create class for special burdens Pursu
log this principle aoiy Of the Committee Of WAY,
hnd Means have agreed 10 that portion OF the bill which
makes the income tax after this year uniform one Il
i've per eeit upon the annual gains he Ipsf 10 The
revenue will be iareeabout sly 600 oO0-end IA will be
for the Hsuse 10 say whether 81 snail stand as re-
ported or whether relief in any othef direction is
urgently demanded.
shall append my remarks an appendix containing
al rs mate made with the a'd Of she office Of the Com
missioner Of lotefnal Revenue Of the reductions ap-
pearins TO me llkey 10 occur in consequence OF the
present evsoh the law Other gente. en- may differ
from me and ccent 2aa greater compensatons to
that sansuine hzap pr,tctons were safe for legi,
latoTs NJ 81.
In our list u fxsapti.ns we s,rove to reach eare..
those articles upon which ne. ucton q ecst would
bropg relief - the Of people and tho.e VII
ate produced with such lean margins of profit as to be
opposed And in danger Of being AnnihlAed BY even so
small tax as five three per cent which il 10,
unftquenty, upon branches Of Industry closely corn
cred by foreign competition, IN Of what may be
considered regular and satisfactory profits.
know that many gentlemen will render valuable as
si'tsnee IL the progress OF the bill and all will feel
bound to shOw that they alive and unmIndfu
OF the interests Of their respective localities aud some
may wish TO press amendments giving such interests
further relief and 10 fair to allow promine record
OF the fact to appear in tse Globe but II the House
shall reach the conclusion that have proposed cas-.
ues which will reduce the revenue mus il will be
prudent TO do this yoaIkeepng IN view the unestina-
TED drafts our legislation has made and is likely max
upon the Itessury-remembetng, in the large opera
ton OF fuhding national obligations 30 that they
Gay bear the lowest rate OF interest that fifty million
now may be more important to success than two hun
died millions at later peTios that the good
and iufecast nf members will lead them 10 vos
down Propositions for essential changes
The result of the labor Of the ComRee Of Ways and
Means 10, that OF the headings In the 0oi.rissone a
report Of the receipts from specific aud general
nifty nine out of two hundres ssd sixty four will
ger be required, and the number OF articles released in
proportion to the whole number remaining taxed is still
greater
The law authorizing the Secretary Of the Treasury
assign to the Bureau Of Internal Revenue sufficient
force to carry iton will expire by it's limitation on
the lot OF July neat and II therefore becomes zoe
10 make some arrangement for the permanent ofgAni
cation OF the bureau IL will be sees that the bill
provision for this object The operations OF this bureau
are SOW on so large scale TO ure the services Of
able, cleArheaded men trained to business and OF un
questioned integrity. Such mea in our country are
highly priced, and osmmand the highes. salaries raid
In financial aud commercial employm ents and unle