Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-30
Associated Press Report.
Revenue.

New York, January 29.-The official pre-
liminary report of the Revenue Commits
sion is published. The Commission have
adopted the plan of taking up specifically
for investigation those sources of revenue
which their own experience and the expe-
rience of other countries have indicated as
likely 10 be most productive under taxation,
and most capable of sustaining its burden.
The result OF these Investigations they pro-
pose to submit in the form of Independent
and special reports. The Commission COM
plains of imperfect and incorrect stat. sites
being furnished them by the government
bureaus, and of the great difficulty expert
enced in conducting their Investigations,
owing to the abnormal and disturbed condl-
ton Of every branch of trade and industry.
Since 1861 the frequent alterations of tariff
and the inauguration of the internal reve-
nue. system, many branches of trade and in
dustry have been curtailed during this pc
riod from 80 to 20 per cent. Every advance
made in tariff and excise has been antici-
pated by every class Of importers, dealers,
manufacturers and spectators, so the gov
ernment has not tested a single one Of its
legitimate sources Of revenue.
The Commission estimate that on the 1st
of July, 1854, the date when the advance in
| tax on distilled spirits of from sixty cents to
| one dollar and fifty cents per gallon took
effect, there were made and stored in antici-
| patton of this advance at least forty mil
| lion gallons, or a quantity sufficient to sup
| ply the wants Of the country for at least a
/ year in advance. Of cigars it is estimated
| that from seventy 70 eighty millions were
manufactured and stored in the city of New
| York alone in anticipation of the tax. The
| stock of species imported into the country
previous to the advance Of the tariff was
also probably equal to nearly two years
| SIMPLY, while in case of the insignificant
| article of matches, on which tht tax is only
one cent per bunch the stock accumulated
In anticipation of the tax SO larg, by that
it has not even at the present date, January
1866, been exhausted.
The Commission then give an account oi
the revenue system of Great Britain and
France and the per centage yielded by zach
item to the revenue. The Commission
condems our present system OF revenue aid
| regards its differences as one of its creates
imperfections. A system of taxation so dif
fuse as the present one necessarily entail
a system of duplication of taxes, which II
| turn leads to undue enhancement Of prices
a decrease both of production and consump
ton and consequently of wealth, restric
ton of ofimportations and foreign commerce
and large increase in machinery and ex
pense of revenue collection. 1t cannot speal
TOO strongly of the injurious influenced of thi
duplication of taxation upon the industry @
the country, The influence of duplication G
taxes is also, in the opinion of the Commits
sion, far greater than those not conVersan
with the subject generally estimate.
The price of gold and of mercantile cur
rency at once to approximate and the pres
ent revenue system to continue unehange
would be impossible.
The report says, in respect to the evil
arising from excessive duplication of take
: under the Internal Revenue system, an
: from lack of the equalization Of the tarit
the remedy, in the opinion of the Conmii
sion, should be sought fer in such revisio
of the present Internal Revenue system .
t will look to an entire exemption OF th
manufacturing industry of the United State
: from all direct taxation, distilled and fel
s mented liquors, tobacco, and possibly fe
9 other articles excepted. This the Commii
sion are unhesitatingly prepared to RECON
| mend, but the change recommended ahoul
be made gradually and according as e.
perience satisfies US on DUR abibility to sui
stitute any less Objectionable forms Of tax