Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-10

less than one quart, and who sells to be
Wholesale liquor dealers pay at this
time one-tenth of one per cent. on all
sales above $4,000 We propose that
wholesale liquor dealers shall pay two
and half per cent, twenty, ,fve times as
much, and shall pay on. all sales over
$4,000, instead Of over $50, 900. 80 i
| have made an estimate that from this
source we can obtain about $24, 900, 600,
judging by the statistics of the trade. 4
come then to the special tax imposed
upon the distiller himself We have
made it 800, and 81 on each barrel pro-
duced. We have also added this system
of taxation of sales. We have also added
to that tax tax upon capacity. We
provide that there shall be So q day paid
on the capacity Of each distillery that
mashes and ferments one hundred
bushels or less, and an additional 50 a
dsy for each additional hundred bushels
mashed aud fermented. We have re-
tained the tax Of 80 gallon as direct
tax on whisky but take occasion to
say here now that it is not the expecta-
ton, | believe, even Of the committee,
that that amount Of direct tax will be
retained by the House or by Congress-
If we had let it be known four months
ago that whisky was to be taxed only one
dollar or seventy-fve cents gallon, we
would have lost about $4y000,0O0 Of
revenue qHu lGalhsf ~ a5GG aaait Nat
But | have come to the conclusion
that keeping this tax at two dollars q
gallon will eventuate in continuing the
rule of the whisky reign in this country,
and that the tax, therefore, had better be
areduced.8I believe that seventy-five
cents is about the standard at which the
tax can be collected, and which will
make it impossible for illicit distillation
to be carried on with pio6t Illicit dis
tillers cannot carry on their business in
concealed places, in cellars and garrets--
in Chicago and Philadelphia, the two
great points at which most of the enor-
nous rascaIity is carried on-with any
advantage at all, if we can beat them ip
the market.
From number of calculations that ]
have made, can come to no CONCLUSION
but we shall gel at least seventy millions
out of whisky in the coming year, instead
of thirteen millions, 10 which we are
now reduced. s
In reference to the income tax, it was
TO be retained at FIVE per cent; but sala.
ries from the Government, on which no
allowance was now made for house rent,
bad debts, etc., were henceforth to be ac-
counted for as other incomes, instead Of
having the tax deducted ON their being
paid. aoas q ~ 80 g,.1i sa'
10 reference to the tax on railroads,
particularly horse railroads, they were
no longer to be allowed, under the reve-
nue. law, to exact from their passengers
that tax, or rather eight times the tax,
but would have to apply for relief under
that head to the local or municipal gov
ernment. a. s ~ I.
In reference to mineral oil, it would
have to be put on the footing of general
manufactures, or the present tax Of one
tenth Of one per cent. would have to be
dispensed with altogether.
As to tobacco, the committee had
made great many amendments iu re-
gard 10 the collection of the tax II had
endeavored to make the law rigorous,
certain Of execution, and TO have the
collectian made through the medium OF
stamps. ..-..-
Instead Of the three classes Of taxation,
40, 30 and Is cents a pound, the com
mittee now recommend only two classes
at 40 and l6 cents. The committee
also provided that smoking and chewing
tobacco should be put up in small pack
ages, and the tax paid with stamps
As to cigars, the committee bad
thought Of doubling the present tax of
five dollars per thousand; but that, per
baps, would not be insisted upon. His
own opinion was that they ought TO re-
duce the tariff on cigars, as not ahording
the protection which was intended FOR
home. manufactures The tax onni inn
ported cigars now averaged SIC on the
thousand and the Consequence was that
smuggling was carried on TO an alarming
extent.
Mr.. Schenck then read q statement Of
the financial condition Of the country.
A resume Of his estimate gives as the
total anticipated revenue for the next
fiscal year: Customs, $l65, ,0o0 600
internal revenue, S210, $50, 900; public
lands. $1,000, 600: miscellaneous, S30,-
600, 600; total, $4O6. 100000. Supposing
no increase Of receipts from distilled
spirits and tobacco over the receipts for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1861, the
above estimate would be reduced TO
$3.50 $50, 600 Estimais Of expenditures
for ihe mex, fiscal year, before submitted,
S351. 800. go; balance 20 accuuut Of sur.
plus revenue, S2s, ,239. 81.
Mr Sohenck vent on 10 say that an
cludine boun;iss, including appropris-
tions Jet 20 Be made, Or likely 20 Be
made, including al probable expendi-
tures Of the eoVernment be had arrived