The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-16

The Internal Revenue COmmtssioners'
RePOrt-The Income TR1.
From the Herald.
Commissioner Rollins, Of the Internal Reve-
nue Department, is preparing his report for the
Secretary of the Treasury; and 1t is to be pre-
sumed that, in addition TO complete history
Of the working and condition of the depart
ment, he will recommend some notifications in
the Internal Revenue law for the consideration
of Congress. The operations of this law have
been successful in an extraordinary degree IN
providing q vast revenue to the general GOV
eminent; but at the same time 1t has Deen'
and is now, more than ever excessively oppIes-
sive upon the people. The most opIectionapie
feature in the law is the income tax, an ltnpost
which can, under any circumstanceSS De ohy
justified by its absolute necessnS sr tor,,or ,ie
question arises whether II IS any longer
necessity for the maintenance OF tue Govern
ment in view of the immense returns coming
into fhe Treasury, under all PROVISIONS Oh tne
Intornol Reven1e law, amounting to over a
naiIIion dollars n day, and the large accumula-
Ton in tbe Treasury, which amounts TO hun
dreds of millions. 1t Is decidedly the popular
nfnion that no necessity exists for the continu-
oPne of a tax on incomes. 1t involves in the
first place a large expense to collect it. 1t is
fraught with difficulty in the collection, and is
a constant source of annoyance to the tax
payers. 1t is inequtable, too, inasmuch as it
man of large means, and against the man VINO
earns little more than bare subsistence, out of
which, beyond certain limit, he has to pay
five dollars out of every hundred which he
works hard to get; and lastly-whch is the
strongest argument of all against the continu-
ance OF this obnoxious tax-it is not required
tor the expenses of the Government
The Internal Revenue law was enacted in
time OF war, and the returns under it now
largely exceed the requirements OF the Govern
ment in time OF peace. The notifications made
during the last session of Congress were made
quate to the changed condition of things, and
il is to be hoped that it will be altogether re.
modelled at the approaching session, and the
income tax abolished entirely, Every con-
cevable thing which we use is taxed, from a
lucifer match to pianolorte and tie watch we
carry in our pocket; from silver spoon to a
carriage or yacht. The bread we eat, every
thing we drink, the medicines we are compelled
TO consume are taxed; the very doctor who pre-
scribes them, and who brings us into the world
is taxed in the shape of license, and the un-
dertaker who bures us after the nostrum, fail is
taxed also; so that the Internal Revenue
law follows us to our very graves There would
be no objection TO this system of taxing early
and taxing often If there was any necessity for
it. No one complained OF high taxes during
the war; they were paid cheerfully; but the
opinion has taken strong hold OF the public
mind that the present rate and method of taxa
tion-the income tax especially-ts not requ-
site for the maintenance of a peace establish
ment.
1t will be we'll for Commissioner Rollins to
take these things into consideration when draw
ing up his report, and also to make some refer
enCe, in a comparative way, 10 the tariff.
Though not exactly within the limits OF his
department, yet, as a source Of revenue, 1t
bears somewhat upon the question he has to
deal with. 1t should be paramount duty of
the forthcoming Congress to reduce taxation in
every shape to the minimum essential to carry
ing on the Government on basis of peace.
They win not be doing justice to the country if
they overlook this important measure.