The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-08
Notes and Queries ON the Annual
Reports,


1t has not often happened since the earlier
and more quiet period of the Republics ex-
istence that the annual "summing up" by
the President and the heads of departments
and bureaus has been SO really satisfactory aS
this year. disappearance ofprosperlty given
by these REPORTS is only partly delusive, though
it cannot be denied that the appearance is
much heightened from being brought into i'm
mediate comparison with the record of
much less faithful and efficient administra-
ton. For instance, the reduction of the ma
tional debt at the rate of more than a hun
dred millions a year may not be anything
more than ought to be expected, or not SO
much even, but no one will be disposed to
md fault with it when it is remembered that
during the last months of Johnson's admins
tration the debt was being increased at about
the same rate.
The new Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue, Mr.. Delano, seems to justify the exalted
opinion OF his character and ability that
placed him in his present most responsible
position. But he has not, like his predeces-
sor, to fight the Executive and the whiskey
ring at thesa time. Consequently with a
whiskey tax of only fifty cents gallon he
collects hundred per cent. more revenue
than Mr.. Rollins could with tax of two dol
lars gallon. The reduction of the tax on
whiskey more nearly realizes the expecta-
lions of those who suggested it than perhaps
any other financial measure that was ever
proposed. To Mr.. Wells, Special Commits
sioner of the Internal Revenue, the credit of
this successful method of increasing the rev.
enue chiefly belongs.
The principle of increasing revenue by re-
ducing the rate of taxation, which seems so
paradoxical in theory but proves practically
SO true, may perhaps now be applied to othe r
sources of the governments income. The
President and Secretary of the Treasury are
OF the opinion that the tax on incomes should
be reduced from 5 to 8 per cent, anticipating,
no doubt, that the revenue from this source
Will at worst not be materially reduced.
] Secretary Cox of the Interior Department
reports that there are at present on the pen
sion rolls of the United States the names Of
more than one hundred and eighty thousand
benefcaries, large additions to the number
having been made during the last year. Here
is large item of annual expenditure that is
not likely to be speedily diminished. As pen
sioners die the scope of the pension laws will,
judging from the past, be enlarged SO as to
embrace persons and degrees ofdisability that
ale not now recognized as entitled to govern
ment aid. This is claim that no one is
likely to dispute and which no patriotic tax
payer grudges. But will not this partial ex-
hibit ofthe tremendous outlay of money for
an indefinite series of years, necessated by
great war, make our people little difident
about rashly INDUCING whatever belligerent
propensities they may have?
General Sherman recommends that the for
tifications of the principal cities along the
coast, Portland among the rest, be completed.
Some wiscacres will discern therein an omen
OF foreign war, but not if they read General
Grants most pacific message at the same
lime. ,s-..-,nl -... tata
Ofall the reports that of the Secretary Of
the Navy is the least interesting as usual.
Nothing can be apparently more useless than
navy in time of peace, and one would lust
as gladly read the muster roll of ships in
Homer as that of the Secretary of the Navy
be his name Welles, Borie, Robson or Por-
ter