The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-18
TINE NEW YORK PRESS.
vDrroRIAr OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
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Mr.. Secretary McCulloch, in his report OF
last December, submitted an inquiry which
illby-and.by acquire paramount Importance.
How shall the necessary revenue be raised
ander a system Of internal and external taxes,
without sustaining monopolies, without re-
pressing industry, without discouraging enter
prise, without depressing labor l'' Mr..
McCulloch made ne attempt to discuss the
question he had raised, or to suggest the
answer of which it is susceptible. That task
he resigned to Mr.. Wells, whose report as
Special Commissioner of the Revenue forms
the only official notice of the subject which has
yet appeared. As record of facts relating to
the industry of the country, and an exposure
of the clumsiness and fundamental blundering
of the fiscal legislation growing out of the war,
Mr.. Wells report is of great value. But 1T is
neither exhaustive in its treatment OF the
evils of the system, nor thorough or consistent
in its suggestions of amendment.
Its author seems TO have labored under
sense Of the necessity of adapting his proposed
changes TO the predetermined will of Congress,
and hence, while its exposure of the disease is
conclusive, its prescription of remedies is
weak and unsatisfactory. With all his short
comings, however, Mr.. Wells is 80 far ahead
of the majority of Legislators, that his views
exercised slight influence upon the action of
the session. Congress not only did not enter
tain the problem presented by the Secretary OF
the Treasury, but left in full play system of
internal and external taxes which sustains
monopolies, which represses industry, which
damages enterprise and oppresses labor. The
very course which an enlightened financier
would shun commended itself to the favor of
the members, whose policy in reference to
taxation stands next in the list of crushing
Ills to an inflated and inconvertible currency
and a divided and dsOrganzed Union.
The burden of national taxation is bad
enough when stated in its simplest form, free
from the local loads, which vary according to
circumstances, but in the aggregate render it
intolerable. A taxation for the sole purpose
of the Federal Government amounting to
$ll'46, gold, per head-or about $3.50 cur
renoy--would be oppressive under the most
judicious management. 1t would settle upon
us the unenviable reputation of being the most
heavily taxed people in the world, and would
be a formidable incumbrance in the race with
other nations. The adjustment of the burden
however, has been the reverse of judicious
Instead of so distributing it that it should be
felt In the least possible degree-that it should
leave enterprise untrammelled and labor COM
paratively at iberty-the system which is in
operation makes itself visible everywhere, and
forms drag from which no device of industry
can escape 1t permeates every branch of
production, gripping its power, and fostering
the evils which make themselves manifest in
depressed trade and the discomfort that per-
vades the working classes. Considered from
this point of view, the strikes and combina-
lions that are occurring in nearly every part of
the country are the struggles of suffering in
dustry, unwisely directed, indeed, but evinc-
ing disorganization and depression of pro-
ductive forces to which no man should be in
different. Mr.. Wells last December described
the entire industry of the country as sin an
abnormal and most unsatisfactory condition,
and the six months which have since elapsed
have rendered it worse than ever.
la A sound fiscal system confines itself within
the narrowest limits, and works through
agencies which neither oppress the laborer
nor lessen production. The objects of taxa
tion are then few in number, and of a kind
not necessarily entering into universal con-
sumption. England-whose fiscal reforms
during the last twenty years render her in
this respect model worthy Of our imitation
has selected for taxation tea coffee, sugar,
spices, spirits, silks, tobacco, and other COM
modities which, like these, are not essential,
and, therefore, do not of necessity form part
of every familys expenditure. On the other
hand, according to Mr.. Wells the internal
revenue system established by Congress
covers an aggregate of not less than ten thou
sand articles, while the number of articles
subjected to taxation under the existing tariff
is estimated by the same officer to be about six
thousand
Thus, while England raises her enormous
revenue, amounting to $l0'92, gold, per head
of its population, from about three-score arti-
eles, all told, this country, to raise $l1'46
gold, per head, extends its taxation over six
teen thousand articles The relative influence
of the two systems upon enterprise and indus
try may be readily understood. One system
is economical in it's administration affords
narrow scope for fraud, falls lightly upon the
working classes, and is scarcely disoernible
in the movements of capital or the operations
of industry. Our present system, on the con-
frary, requires an army of ofhce-holders to
manage, provides endless opportunities for
evasion and fraud, cuts down the comforts
and even the necessaries of the million, and
deranges and damages every industry in the
land. r.,-
q For this system our lawmakers have no
excuse. It is the worst possible system,
viewed exclusively in relation to the net
revenue of the Government. 1t is worse foe
TO national industry than would be unfettered
competition with the so-oalled ''pauper labor
of Europe. 1t is drain upon labor and enter
prise so exhaustive to both as to endanger the
national prosperity and credit. AS a revenue
scheme, then, it is indefensible, and now the
turmoil of conflict is ended, the imperative
duty of Congress is to revise the system
thoroughly, simplifying it, and relieving the
country from that which now weighs most
heayily upon its energies. To do this
thoroughly, however, the work must be under
IaAen IN the interest of the people, not for the
OehehV OF monopoies. And there will be
soSney nope On the subject until Congress
ueiegaIe 10 some non-partisan enlightened and
eHective agency the task over which the Com
uii'Uee % ways and Means now exeroises
almost absolute control. 'N0-'''''
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