Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-02-28

rprYvRRyn IN THE HOUSE os REPRESENT
ATIvEs, REB IL, 1867.
n En-, ~ % Ameas tRe Eris'ing L0tos Re
Isiiv0 10 Internal Rsreape.

latixo 10 Internal Rsrenue.
Mr.. Chairman, | have no ambitious
,rcech 20 make on the present occasion.
I prGpose merely 10 make some business.
like statements II eau do So in eX-
nlsuation OF the principles and details
o. the bill.
The committee OF ways aud means, IA
reporting the present bill, have sought
20 afford the greatest possible amount OF
relic! 10 the country consistent vita \
pyudon. regard TO the public credit, and
wgrr I'D In the sci "a consider what
would he the most feasible mode OF ac-
complshing this object and leave at the
same time the feweSt impedimcnts in the
wav &c. general industry.
t. the TAX on distilled spirits tobacco
and cigars were fully paid or collected,
;he taxes on the major part OF all other
articles O. manufactures could have been
q, onc. RENTED but unfortunately
necessary changes in the law, followed
nv unnecessary and more unfortunate
changes % internal revenue officers, have
proved tnat two dollars, whether above
the price Of whiskey or not, is certainly
above tie price OF those who make II
ths. Do -piHts have been sold by the
make .dt A. much as the cost OF pro-
iuc'iOn aud the tax bctrays the fact
,hat wauevcr Is In the business some
now cOrruptly evadeS the payment OF
SOM part OF the tax, large or small, due
70 tn Government. Trusting that the
amendments proposed now 30 this
branch o the law will hereafter secure
q more eGectual collection Of the revenue
rom spirits for the present we are
Jrcr1 tu lean temporarily upon many
Other articles, whibh will doubtless he
released ~ no distant day.
Two obvious plans present themselves.
either W. must reduce a percentage OF
the tax on all manufactures or entirely
exempt those articles having the strong
est claims to exemption, in consequence
OF inevitable duplication Of taxes or OF
directly swelling the cost of living.
From the first, and by intendment, very
little revenue has been sought by any
SlX upon property as such and therefore
the agricultural and mining interests
have been shielded, hut commerce, man
ufactuTes and the gains OF realized cap
ital have made by far the most bounti.
ful contributions through multiplied
taxation for the support of the nation.
Licenses or special taxes, stamp taxes,
and the tax on manufactures are at once
advanced and paid by the parties en-
gagged in business, and they have to
trust to their chances whether any pOr-
tion .. these large sums are ever recov-
cred o. not. In prosperous seasons, or
when prices are advancing, the ultimate
consumer pays his due proportion but
in adverse seasons, or when prices are
falling, losses by the producer are inev-
liable, leaving out Of the question
whether aggravated by taxes or not.
The committee OF ways and means
have adopted the second plan alluded to.
II is certain that to reduce the rate of
taxation from five to four per cent
and we could not at this time afford any
thing beyond such a reduction
have afforded very inConsiderable
amount Of relief, and yet the same labor
and expense o. collecting and paying
the revenue, both to individuals and the
Government, would have been perpetu-
ated. Is is true that this course would
have greatly simplifed and lessened the
labors OF the committee of ways and
means, but they have felt that the adj
vantage of the whole country was to be
studied rather than their ease or com
fort. When the articles remaining on
the tax list shall be found entitled to
equal favor this course may be properly
pursued.
BY adopting the other alternative and
exempting entirely from taxes such ar.
ticles as salt, clothing, leather, pottery
ware, tinware and cooperage of all sorts,
with large number Of other articles
npon which q tax was "a petty annoy
ance TO the payer as we'll as to the Gov
eminent, the committee feel that they
propose 10 distribute equal favor over
the whole country, and by removing the
tax from some Of the common necessa-
ries Of life we shall perhaps indirectly
actually aid all branches OF industry
quite SIS much as they would be aided
by direct one per cent. diminutiou of
the tax. The theory Ia well settled that
all taxes in the end are distributed, and
IL heavy taxation increases the cost of
production of raw materials or of man
ufsctures, so reduction of taxation
diminishes the cost in an equal ratio.
Whatever lessons the cost Of living is q
palpable benefit to all branches of indus
try, as much so as whatever lessons the
cost OF production. By pursuing the
plan indicated we shall soon reach the
point where taxes may be levied only
upon very small number of articles,
and the cost, vexstion, and annoyance
OF revenue officers, greatly reduced In
numbers, will be roundly diminished.
II the example of the country oftenest
held up for our Imitation is valuable for
anything, and arr not disposed to over
value 1t, it is in favor of combining ex-
else laws to the narrowest limits. Last
year We liberated very large number
Of articles, the benefit from which has
only just began to operate, and now we
shall have added TO the number to the
extent Of surrendering an amount of
revenue equal TO nearly one. half Of all
we obtained in the first year of the OPP
Grafton Of the internal revenue law.
For what we have done in each case
OF exemption | trust satisfactory rea-
sons and explanations, If required will
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