The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-01
Proiec,ed Revenue Reforms.


| this country from an extended tour through
Europe, whittier he proceeded for the purpose
of examining into the different revenue sys-
TENS in operation there. On his arrival in the
United States, Mr.. Wells made tour through
the West, to investigate the practical workings
of our own mongrel system in that section of
the country. He is now in Washington, en-
gagged in preparing for the consideration Of
Congress an elaborate report upon the result
of his observations at home and abroad, in the
course of which he will recommend such
changes in our present system as will tend to
relieve it of many of its most Objectionable
features. That Mr.. Wells will succeed in
finally disposing of the great financial problem
of the country-how to meet the current ex-
penses and maturing obligations of the Gov
ernment, and at the same time impose upon
the people the lightest burden of taxation oon-
sistent with our national requirements-oan
scarcely be deemed possible as many of his
previous schemes have met with strong oppo-
sition at the hands of some of our leading
statesmen. The question will have to be set
tied by Congress, and it will undoubtedly
prove one of the most vexatiOus that will come
before that body during its approaching ses-
sion. But the observations and recommends
tiOns of the Special Commissioner cannot fail
to be of great service, and his forthcoming re-
port is now awaited with an almost feverish
anxiety.
From occasional addresses made by Mr.
Wells during his Western tour and some
foreshadowings of the leading points of
his report, as given in our recent Wash
ington dispatches, we are led to believe
that he will meet this great question
in the true spirit even if he does not succeed
in presenting a solution which will satisfy
both Congress aud the nation. Our revenue
system does not need a mere reformation-a
complete and thorough revolution is the only
remedy that will prove effective. In the first
place, there should be a great simplifcation of
the system of taxation. At present, we can
scarcely point to an article which does not
legitimately come under the merciless eye of
the tax-gatherer, and this very multiplicity of
taxable articles is one of the strongest possible
incentives to fraud, on the part of taxpayers
as well as tax-collectors. OF the latter there
are now over twenty thousand, force greater
in point of numbers than the standing
army OF the nation for many years
preceding the Rebellion. That this host of
officials should prove honest aud trustworthy
to a man is not to be expected, especially
when we consider that their appointment is
almost invariably owing to political influences.
The true and honest men of the nation could
not be persuaded to accept of these petty posi-
tions under the present system, even if their
claims would be listened to by those who hold
the reins of power. No Independent business
man-and none but practical business men are
! qualified to discharge such trusts-will cast
aside his private interests for the sake of hold
ing Office on the most precarious Of tenures,
that of proving able and willing to crafty all
! the wishes and accede to all the require
ments of the political middlemen who stand
between the appointer and the appointee. One
grand result of simplifcation of the tax list
will be corresponding defamation of the ranks
of this great civic army-a result which will
be hailed with positive joy by an overburdened
people.
But a far more desirable result will be the
more equal distribution of the burdens Of
taxation which will be possible under diff
ferent system. We will not at present dis
cuss the advisability of abolishing or increas,
ing the tax upon incomes, but conine oul
remarks to the duties levied upon the multi
tudinous articles of natural and mechanical
production which now go so far towards
swelling the list of taxables. All the neces
saries of life should be entirely, or at Least
comparatively, relieved from taxation; while
the deficiency in our national revenues which
would result therefrom should be supplied by
a corresponding increase in the duties imposed
upon the mere luxuries of life. 1t is true
! that this change will result in a reduction o
the share of the national burdens to be sus
tanned by those whose limited means deny then
the use of luxuries, while those who live upoI
the good things of the land will be compelled
to make up the deficiency. But this policy il
dictated by both common sense and expe
diency. man whose annual income exceeds
five thousand dollars is less oppressed by
tax of ten per cent. than is he whose resources
fall below two thousand dollars by tax of twt
per cent. Nor is there any inherent injustio,
in this apparent inequality, for the capital 0
the wealthy can be made available onl,
through the wearisome toll of the poor and nj
reasonable man will deny that capital shoulC
relieve labor of portion of its burdens Il
| ratYy,, for tbis oraat sarvica which is uava