The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-09

TAKES.
Next in Importance to the subject of the cur
rency is that of the revenues. Taxes are indis-
4 pensible for the support of the government. for
4 the maintenance of the public credit, aud the
4 payment of the public debt. To tax heavily, not
4 only without impoverishng the people, but with
out checking enterprise or putting shackles upon
industry requires the most careful study, not
only of the resources of the country and its rela-
ktions with other nations, but also of the charac-
ter of the people as affected by the nature of
ktheir institutions. While much may be learned
by the study of the revenue systems of European
nations, which have been perfected by years of
experience and the employment of the highest
talent, IL must be obvious that these systems
must undergo very considerable notifications
before they will be fitted to the political and ply
sica condition of the United States In popu-
lar government like ours, where the people vir-
tually assess the taxes, as well pay them, the
/ popular will, if not the popular prejudice must
be listened TO In the preparation of Revenue laws.
Justice must, in some instances, yield to eXpe-
diency. and some legitimate sources of revenue
may he unavailable because q resort to them
might be odious to majority of taxpayers.
The people of the United States are entorprisng
and sef-rcliant Most of them are the architects
of their own fortunes; few the inhcritors of
wealth. Engaged in various enterprises, with
constantly varying results, and in sharp compe-
tition with each other, they submit reluctantly to
inqusitions of tax-gotherers, which might not be
obnoxious to people less Independent, and living
under less liberal institutions.
Then, too, the United States are a new country,
of large extent and diversified interests; with great
natural resources, in the early process of develop
ment. Not only may systems of revenue when
are suited to England, or Germany, or France, be
unsuited TO this country, but careful and judi
cious observation and study are Indispensable to
the preparation of tax bills suited to the peculiar
interests of its different sections. 1t with
f. view of supplying Congress with such informa-
ton as was needed to secure the passage of equal
H ami wise excise and tariff laws, which would yield
the largest revenue with the least oppression and
n Inconvenience to the people, that a revenue COM
mission was created in 1860 The creation of this
commission was the first practical movement to-
wards careful examination of the business and
resources of the country, with view to the adop-
tion of judcious revenue system. The reports
of this commission were interesting and valuable
and they exhibited so clearly the necessity for fur
ther and more complete Investigations, that by
the act of July 13, 1866, the Secretary of the
Treasury authorized to appoint an officer in
his Department, to be styled the Special Commits
sioner of Revenue, whose duty it should be "to
inquire into all the sources Of national revenue,
and the best method of collecting the revenue;
.he relation of foreign trade to domestic industry;
the mutual adjustment of the systems of taxation
by customs and excise, with view of insuring
lhe requisite revenue with the least disturbance or
hconvenience to the progress of industry, and
he development Of the resources of the coun-
Try &c.
Under this act Mr.. David A. Wells was ap-
pointed Special Commissioner of the Revenue.
With what energy and ability he has undertaken
The very difficult duties deyoved upon him. has
been manifested by the reports which he has al
ready submitted to Congress. That which
Companies, or will soon follow this communica-
ton, will prove more fully than those witch have
4 preceded 1t have done the importance of the in
yestigations in which he is engaged, and the judi
cious labor which he is bestowinT upon them.
The facts which he presents, and the recon-
mendations based upon them, are entitled to the
most careful consideration of Congress. These
reports OF the Commissioner are so complete that
they relieve the Secretary from discussing e26o-
which
III THE TARIFF
AS has been already stated, the receipts from
customs for the fiscal year ending June So 1866,
were $179, ,04G, 65l'5S; for the year ending June
80, 1867, SIG All, ,S10SS; and for the last fiscal
year, $164, AGA, 599'56. These figures show that
the tariff has produced large revenues, although
il is III no just sense revenue tariff In this re-
spect it has exceeded the expectations of its
friends, if indeed it has not disappointed them.
1t has not checked importations, and complaint
is made chat it has not given the anticipated pro-
lection to home manufactures, not because it was
not skluy framed to this end, but because an
inflated currency-the effect of which upon i'm
4 portatiOns not fully comprehended-h in
A measure, defeated its object. 1t has advanced
Y the prices of dutiabe articles, and by adding to
Il the cost OF living has been oppressive to consum-
ers without being of decided benefit to those in
dustries in whose interest it is regarded as having
been prepared In his last report, the Secretary
l recommended the extension OF specific duties,
but did not recommend complete revision OF
Il the tariff on the ground that this work could not
I be intellgently done as long us business sub
4 ject to arrangement by an irredeemable
currency.
:. The same difficulty still exists, but as decided
action upon the subject of currency ought not to
be longer postponed, the present may not be an
untavorable time for thorough examination OF
the tariff 1t is obvious that revision OF 1t is re-
quired not only to relieve it of incongruties and
obscurty and to harmoniZe II with excise taxes
and with our agricultural and commercial inter
ests, but also to adapt it To the very decided
change which must take place in the business OF
the country upon the restoration OF the specie
standard. Large revenues are now derived from
customs, because redundant currency produces
extravaganza which stimulates importations ii
the currency were convertible and business were
regular and healthy, the tariff would be severely
protective, if not in many instances prohibltory
Indeed, of some valuable articles ii is prohibiory
already.
There will be in the future, as there have been
in the past, widely different opinions upon thle
long-yeXed and very important subject, but the
indications are decided that the more enlightened
sentiment Of the country demands that the tariff
shall hereafter be tariff for revenue and not fo
protection and that the revenues to be derived
frOm it shall be larger than, in connection witt
those received from other sources, Will be re-
auired for the economical administration of the
government the maintenance OF the public faith
and the gradual extingishment of the public debt
While the country is not at present, and may no
be for many years to come, prepared Tor the abro
cation of all restrictions upon foreign commerce
il is unquestionably prepared Tor revenue tarl1
The public debt is an incumbrance upon th'
property of the nation, and the taxes the neces
sity for which it creates by whatever mode an(
from whatever sources collected, are at least
charge upon the consumers. Taxes should not
therefore, be increased, nor will the taxpayer
hermit them to be permanently increased, for thu