The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-05


The Now Internal Tax Bill.
II is evident from the opening debate in the
House Of Representatives on Mr.. Schenck's
Internal Tax bill that there IL great difference
Of opinion on its various and numerous pro-
visions. 1t will not be treated from party
point Of view, and not 80 much a. might have
been expected in q sectional point Of view, but
chiefly on the merits of the propositions, as far
% members understand them, irrespective Of
party. So far this is very gratifying. At the
same time it Is clear there IL great want Of
harmony and lack Of ability in Congress on
this and other subjects pertaining to the
national finances. We suppose, consequently,
this tax bill will take long time to mature
and will pass through many notifications.
We regard the bill as much too complicated
and extending the taxes upon too many articles.
It would require almost lifetime to study
and master all the details. It makes the whole
machinery of our internal revenue system cum
brous, difficult to understand and expensive.
The fewer taxes the better, so that they be
sufficient to meet the wants of the government;
and they should be laid chiefly on articles Of
luxury that would produce the largest revenue.
are the Httest articles Of taxation; for they
are not only luxury, but for the most
part noxious as WELL A very large revenue
could be drawn from these IL the system
Of taxation were properly arranged and the
revenue department well managed. To say
4 Ill 2. -
have no government or that the country has
become so corrupt that government is imprac-
ticable. The whiskey tax and all other taxes
can be collected if properly adjusted, the laws
wisely framed and the government officials be
held to strict accountability. Great efforts
are being made to get the tax on whiskey and
other spirits reduced, and it may be that some
modification might improve the revenue but
if the tax were reduced to fifty cents a gallon
there would still be gigantic frauds and
miserably small income as long as the laws
are not executed. 1t is said the temptation
to commit frauds would not be 80 great if the
tax should be made low. This is true only to
q limited extent. There would be no lack of
rogues or fraudulent distilleries should the tax
be only fifty cents gallon, as long as the Inter-
nal Revenue Department is badly administered.
The proposition of Mr.. Wood, of New York,
to raise a revenue Of several hundred millions
from the mines belonging to government is
absurd and impracticable. The precious metals
have cost in all ages and countries as much
to extract them from the earth as they are
worth. OF course there have been exceptional
cases where rich lodes or placers have been
found as in some of the silver mines Of
Mexico and some Of the gold mines Of Cali
fornia; but these are only exceptional AS a
general thing, and in the aggregate, the pre-
cious metals cost their value in labor and
capital to extract them, and it is this, i'm
fact, which regulates their market value. Be-
sides, it is simply ridiculous to suppose the
government could work the mines with profit,
if at all Such vagsries only show what sort
of Legislators we have at Washington and
what prolonged and curious discussion we
may expect on this Internal Tax bill.
Proposed Reforms in tho Merchant Ser.
vice-Marine schools.