The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-21
LABOR AND BUSINESS.
state Or the country id u Ea6lbltstl In
Memorial. ~, fse@ me iIspslss,arss.' e. mo

CeyelAna, 70 the tWO Houses o
Congress. = 4. Z.
TO tlie Hon. Senate and House Of Rep,
TeseatdttpeS Of he United States, Il
oonDreSs assembled: ~ r.
Your. .memorialists beg leave most 70.
specially TO represent, that the BELLE
has become universal throughout the
United States that the interests OF thlI
country demand q great and decided
change In sthe mode OF appointment
and removals, and In the qualifications
OF all officers who are selected 70 exc
cute the laws for the collection or fol
the disbursement OF The moneys be.
longing 10 the United States. The evils
OF the present system arc SO potent and
80 gross that the Secretary Of the Treas.
ury and the Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue both admit the impossibillty
OF conducting the revenues and treasu.
ry OF the country creditably or salts.
factorl!y with officers appointed under
the present imperfect plan. t y. q
All the ablest and most sagacious
statesmen OF our country, including
Jefferson, Calhoun, Clay, Morehead,
Benton, Webster, and hosts OF others,
have during the time Of their greatest
political power lent the whole force oi
their influence and eloquenuet to change
u system. that, In the language OF u
most able and searching report 70 Con.
gress on this subject, says: "ThAt the
present system Of appointments IL fet.
tered by conditions destructive Of the
independence, reproachiul TO the patri.
otisnl, humlliAting 10 the pride, de-
grading 70 the character OF an Ameri.
can citizen, and II Is patent to every
the time has already arrived when (aa
predicted by those far.seeing men) the
finances Of the nation can no longer be
successfully managed by the men who
seek and obtain appointments under
the present crude mode OF selection oi
public officials. Il 10 true that some
worthy men obtain Office, but It Is no.
torious that the worth and fitness are
the exceptions. The Secretary OF the
Treasury reports that large per cent.
ages OF taxes on several Of the leading
articles subject to taxation is totally
lost through the collusions and inca.
paclty Of the officials charged with their
collection. M .f
II is'time that "a thorough system Of
examinations into the moral and edu.
catl0nal fitness Of all candidates for
office should be put In operation ID this
country, as It has been In all European
governments, and as is suggested In
the Rblea and practical Report OF the
Commissioner ofInternal Revenue, un.
der the head OF "Civil SerVice.n
Believing that no subject will be pre-.
sented 10 the consideration Of Congress
during Us present session, OF more i'm.
perative importance TO the well. being
Of this government than the one we
now press upon your attention, we
most respectfully solicit your early and
earnest efforts for the removal OF one OF
the greatest aud most dangerous evils
that now afhict the overtHxed energies
of this great nation, and threatens, II
continued, the total Decentralization OF
our whole collection system, ......
The hnmillating confession OF the
Secretary, that this government cannot
collect Its revenues, owing to the cor.
ruptiOn OF Its officers, Is u fragrant dis.
grace, and no time should be lost In
making such change as will wipe this
shame from the records OF the govern.
ment.
In proposing plan for a change OF
internalTevenue taxes, your memorial
tsts would respectfully yet earnestly
urge, that the depressed condition OF
industry and business throughout the
country, burdened with difficulties
and perplexed by uncertainties, de-.
mandS prompt and decisive action. In
a country 80 broad in lis domains, va.
rious In Its productions, and diversified
In Its occupations, 1t requires no small
amount OF craftsmanship, to harmon
iZe the various interests and secure the
largest amount OF prosperity TO each.
Exorbitant and exhausting taxation,
long continued, will wither and blight
the prosperity OF any nation, no matter
how abundant its resources We would
bear In mind that NIL changes In taxa.
tion must he shaped To meet the wants,
and Keep In view the Just discharge Of
the obligations Of the Governnen ent and
yet equaliZe the burdens, aud subserve
the best good Of the people; and would
ask your attention to some leading
principles important TO be kept In
mind.
Flrst-The industry of the country,
engaged In producing staple aud neces.
sary commodities, should be LEFT unen-
numbered 70 the fullest possible ex tent;
and II feasible, as we believe II Is, all
industrial products OF prime necessity
should be exempt, and all taxes levied
on luxuries, aud other sources least
Justly obnoxious TO the people,
Standardization should be slmpli-
ned, and thus better adjusted for re-
liability, ease, economy, and certainty
OF collection; and the em ploymelt OF q
smaller number OF officials, easily
reaehed and held rigidly accountable.
With Us. internal revenue, taxes are
but late necessity, and therefore an
experiment, In which the wiseat will
make mistakes, aud must learn from
their own Imperfect efforts, and the
larger experience OF others. 81.
In Europe, where taxation has been
reduced TO II science, II IL found that
ample revenue can be realized from a
tew sources, thereby inoui ring but LII.
tie expense for the collection OF the
same. II is very evident that we can
profit greatly by initiating their exam
ple to some extent, aB our system IL In
many respects very oppressive and bur-
densome TO the people, levyinE many
times exorbltant taxes on articles Of
prime necessity, and not nnfrequently
repeating the same four or Ave times
during the transition from the crude
materials TO the final resting place In
the finished fabric or mechanism.
Notwithstanding the actual expeudI.
lures OF the Government for the fiscal
yeRr ending June 80, 1867, were sS46,.
729, l29, including the payment OF the
interest on the public debt, 1t is be.
lieved that the expenses mny be re.
,duced to within three hundred millions,
without materially embarrassing any
OF the great interests that have received
the fostering care of the Government,
From the annexed sources, which are
both reliable, and most easily " collected,
the following sums may be realized as
permanent sources OF revenue:
Distilled spirits Whisky at least. go 1000
Eotmented lhquofs and wines...,..... 500, 900
Tobacco. cigan and snuif,.......,.....a. 2tO0GQ0O
GroSi receipts, tsteatDboatS, rail.
ways, dcD IL 300 000
hanks, Insurance, railways, 6p,
dividends and depo itaj ............... Id,O0OOO
Licenses, with 50 per cent added 10
lAt years rOoeip ~ 900
legacles and EtlcceSslon 2600,0O0
90 ODOUO
brokorA' sales OF for Ign bills, gold,
1900 go
aHecllaneoas'..... ......,............ 81 100000