The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-01-22
NO. 80.

domestic manufacturers. mus the
amount required for all the purposes
above designated would be reduced
from S37l 100000 to 2240,000,000.
The sources whence the revenue is
to be raised are steadily increasing,
from the natural increase of popula-
ton, from immigration, from the
growth of manufacturers, and the pro-
gress of invention. The report takes
a hopeful view of the condition Of our
general industry. The Northern
States have paid off within the year
from six per cent to fifty per cent OF
their State debt, The town and coun-
ty var debts are being wiped out.
Our people are importing and con-
suming as largely as ever the luxuries
of life. And we are to day the only
nation which is either reducing or Sc
riously trying to reduce its debt. The
fall in prices during the year has been
general and even, applying as well to
cost of living as of labor and Of goods
and has, therefore, rested fairly on the
the mass, and injuriously ON very few.
1t has had the effect, indeed, to make
our currency go further in exchange,
and hence has been equivalent, in
some degree, to an expansion OF the
currency. There are some branches
of industry whose very existence, how
ever, depends on the removal Of the
internal taxes from them, removal Of
all the internal taxes which thus i'm
pedc production would be followed
by stirring revival of business all
over the country.
Mr.. Wells lavors the reduction of
the tax on whi;key from 81 to so
cents per gallon, and believes the
lower rate would result in abut %25,
100000 Of revenue, while the higher
has never produced more than $50,
100000, being collected on only one
gallon in three Of the quantity manu-
iactured. He recommends the increase
Of the license tax on retail liquor
dealers from 1925 to 300, which would
produce a revenue Of &l0--l2,0O0,-
600. The present license tax on
wholesale dealers in liquors is 500
$50, 1000 of sales, and Ito of per cent
on all over. and on rectifers it is $25
per 500 barrels. These two taxes
amounted last year to Sl,l77,320.
BY substituting for the above tax Of
81 per cent on sales, collectable
monthly, and 10 cents per gallon on
spirits rectifed, payable weekly, they
can be made to yield $20,000,000 per
annnm, making the total on distilled
spirits from &j0,0O0,000 to HG0,000,-
| 900. The tobacco tax is still more
difficult of collection, and is cyaded
| by dishonest Of inspectors, by coun-
torlGit brands, by using thesamo pack
ages over again, by substituting high
er-pricel for lower after inspection,
by allowing snail sale to be nade
without inspection, by irresponsible
bondsmen, DC, As remedy for this
the Commissioner recommends the
stamp system, and sale in packages.
The income tay viii produce about
&35,0OO,0Q0. The Commissioner rec
ommcnds that the exemption Of 81 900
therefrom shall be changed, SO A. to
apply only to incomes which are less
than $500, or $1,000 and also TO
cqualize owners of residences with ten
ants, that no exemption be made Of
rent. The stamp tax ought to pro-
duce S25,000,0OO, but through eyas-
ions fails to produce more than $l7,
100000. 4 rccapitulation. Of the
sources of revenue as estimated results
as follOys