Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-09-18
The True Financial Question.

THE responsibility for the debt we con
sidered last week II rests with the Demo
cratic party. Has the Republican party
shown disposition TO increase OF 10 d.
minish the national expensesS This is the
real financial question Of the campaign
The Republicans were compelled TO make
debt TO save the Government The
country Of course means TO pay IT, II can
not pay IL, however, without taxation and
without spirit of economy In the party
! that controls the Government. Yet even
| if that party evinoed recklessness that
can not be proved against the Republican,
! II by no means follows that the country
would find relief by throwing itself into
| the hands Of the Democrats, for reasons
that we have suggested What, then, are
the facts9
The receipts for the last fiscal year were
$d0G, 300 900. What becomes Of this great
sunny The mass Of II goes TO pay the nee
essary debt For interest, $i41 ,635,55l.
For principle paid, $34, ,749,771 For
bountles, pensions and other war claims,
SS3, ,6S3,20l. Here arc about $500, ,000,0 900,
including the cost Of the Freedmens Bu-
reau and Reconstruction expenses. How
could Democratic administration reduce
this amountY For the Bureau Is how 10
end, and the Reconstruction expenses have
mainly ceased. Besides this sum, however,
there are the ordinary expenses Of the
Government, the Civil list, the Interior,
the War and Navy Departments, and the
Engineer Bureau, all amounting TO little
more than $140,000,000. This absorbs the
revenue, and Senator Sherman, who is es-
pecially conversant with financial matters
In Congress, says: 81 can not recall q
single item of appropriation, except for
the Freedmen's Bureau and Reconstruc-
ton, that was not supported by all parties,
both in the Senate and House"
But Congress has materially lightened
the expenses. II opposed the enormous
pressure for extra civil and military pay,
involving millions of dollars. II has abol-
ished that temporary but most indispensa-
BILE institution, the Freedmen's Bureau.
Nothing has been more malignRntly op-
posed by the rebels and Copperheads than
the Bureau, because nothing tended more
to secure finally and absolutely the victory
of the war. The Democratic orators have
made the loosest statements of the enor.
nous expenses of the Bureau, devoted, they
declare, to the support of lazy able ne.
groes Mr.. ID. w. Voorhees, lately asserted
that il spent for that purpose ten or fifteen
millions year. The truth is, according
to General Howard, the unimpeachable
chief of the Bureau, that, deduCtinc the
pay and allowances of army officers and
the commissary stores from army depots,
the total actual cost of the Freedmen's
Bureau has been less than six millions OF
dollars. II has been no less the friend OF
the poor whites than of the poor blacks,
and its service to the country has been OF
the noblest and most invaluable character
In the other departments of the Govern
ment there has been similar reduction,
so that the aggregate appropriations for
ordinary expenditures have fallen from
$146,000,000 to $91 100000. With all the
drawbacks the expenses of the Govern.
ment this year will not exceed 100000.
coo, exclusive Of the public debt and boun.
ties and pensions
Now how is the money raised for these
expenses In other words, what is ouI
system of taxationY The subject was
comparatively new to us, and we began
with cumbrous complication, lovying
taxes upon multitude of articles with the
aim of equalization. Gradually, however
the system becomes simple. The taxes on
food, clothing, and the necessaries of life
have been repealed, and upon manufac
lures except spirits and tobacco. But the
CuhLOIUS Oulltb arc lull uDOH llHpOIlOu
goods, and yield about $165,000,000 The
taxes on spirits and tobacco nave yielded
as much as 5,000,000 in year. But the
frauds were so enormous that the rate was
reduced, and return of $100,000,000 from
those two sources is now estimated
There are besides these the income tax
on all incomes over $1,000; the license
tax; the stamp tax; the tax on railroads
and other corporations, and miscellaneous
taxes upon such articles as billiard tables
carriages, and plate, The expenses OF
collecting the internal revenue last year
were less than three per cent, which Is o
smaller rate than that of customs collec
tion, or of any local State or city tax il
the country.
This may not be perfect system of tax
alton. But it is constantly tested by eX
perience, and is vigorously modified Il
meet the necessities of the country. Hav,
the Democrats, who so vehemently dc
nounce the taX.gatherer, proposed an.
method more ellectualY Looking at tn
facts and figures, is the Democratic part
| likely to stop the visits of the collector eN
cept by refusing to pay him? If the part
of which the Southern chiefs have agail
taken the command should come int
power, will 1t probably insist upon paying
the cost of suppressiug the rebellion an
decline to consider the pensions of rebC
soldiers and compensation for rebel losses
Certainly not. II will either say, pay tn
whole; or II will stand by its platform an
repudiate the whole. Weekly.