The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-16
Probable Important Changes in the Inter-
nal Tax Bill.

We clip the following from our Washington e1
changes of the 18th:
The Committee Of Ways and Means will probar
bly, tomorrow report tie amendatory Internal Tax
Bill. 1t is based on the theory Of getting rid OF
the general tax on manufacturing at the earliest
possible moment, but the wants OF the Government
this year will not permit it to be done at once.
Hence the principle is to be gradual in its opera
tion. To partially carry out the object the COM
mlttee proposes to exempt from tax oil articles
which enter largely into the cost Of living; for in
stance, salt, leather and tin, earthen pottery and
hollow ware, are all exempted, as are also hoes,
rakes, scales. all steam and horse engines, all
drain, gas or water pipes Of iron wood or other
material. All clothing made from articles subject
to tax, drawers ind shirts and other such articles
in cases where a tax has not been paid on the raw
material. Advertisements are to be relieved from
the tax.
Many manufactures which are now taxed two per
cent are to be free from tax. Among these are all
glue and varnish and all wagons, drsys and trucks
costing less than 5000, used for freightng purpos
es. Butter and cheese are to be free from tax. A
section is added to avoid duplication of taxes, 70
that where there is tax on the raw material there
shall not be another tax on the manufactured arti
Gle in its various FORMS The tax is to be either
on the raw material or on the manufactured arti-
Gle. A largo number Of articles are to be exempt
from tax because the expense Of collection is not
equivalent to the receipts therefrom. The bill
also proposes in this and other ways to reduce the
labor OF assessors and the duties of the Internal
Revenue Bureau. The tax is to be removed from
match boxes; but the stamp is to be attached for
the matches. Boxes or other packages or bottles
are also exempted where there contents are taxed.
The committee propose in addition to dry casks
and barrels to exempt all other casks, barrels or
other cooperage including oil, liquor, meat and fish
barrels and casks The tax on raw cotton remains
as now provided by law. The tax on cane sugar is
placed at uniform rate Of one cent per pound.
This will be relief to the planters Of Louisiana
The tax remains the same on liquors or distilled
spirits, but the license for distling is increased
from 500 to $500 The provision relating to.
distillation from grapes, apples and peaches
remains unchanged; but brandy made from
grapes is to be fifty cents gallon. The income
tax is to be on the amount in excess over $1,000,
instead Of 5000, and at a uniform rate Of five
per centum. The rent, taxes, insurance and repairs
Of all kinds are to be taken out Of the income So
in effect the income is to be exempt to an average
amount Of $500. In addition there is new pro-
vision for the collection Of the tax Spirits Of
'iron-clad" character; where the present law says
q fine or imprisonment the present bill visits both
on the convicted offender, and where it says the
shall not exceed two or three years,
the bill provides the Imprisonment shall not be
less than two or three years nor more than four
years. Other sections have been ddded to prevent
fraud, such as the following: Where an article is
offered for sale at less than tho amount Of tax the
fact is to be regarded as rinG acie evidence that
it has not paid the tax aud is therefore subject to
seizure.