The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
THE REVENUE.

THE REVENUE.
From the NJ Y. Tribune.
IL is encouraging to know that the receipts
from both customs and excise have shown such
improvement of late that we may confidently
expect total at the end of the current fiscal
year terminating on the Both of June next,
considerably i'm excess of the official estimates.
The most careful one of these on excise was
that made by Mr.. Rollins himself in his last
report calling for $145, 100000, and in forming
his conclusions on the subject he was materially
aided by the actual returns from all sources for
the FIRST three months of the present fiscal year.
These returns revealed considerable increase in
several specific sources as compared with results
for the corresponding period of the preceding
wear. The total tax paid by spirits, for instance,
during july August, and September 1867, on all
accounts, only amounted to $5,293,0O0 while
for the corresponding months of 1868 it amounted
to IS, 465,000. This however, was the heaviest
increase shown by any one source for the time
named. The totals for fermented liquors were
respectively @1,716,492 and 81 100 COL; and those
for sales 1924, ,203 and ~, 739, 512. In place of
tobacco giving an increase somewhat in the
ratio of that on spirits, as we believe should
hal been the case, there was large falling off,
the aggregates being S5,029, 800 and $4, ,295 673
res nCtiycly--a difference of @734, 900 in favor
of g. gmented fraud, beyond doubt.
J MS last report, Mr.. McCullOch estimated
tia. we would this year receive $174, 5000 600
from customs and Sl3S, 750, 600 from internal
sources. But we have ground for believing
that his figures on these two sources will be as
much exceeded as will those on other sources
lands and miscellaneous Tor example. He
erred on the right side, however; for il is much
better to underestimate the public income than
to Oyerestimate it-more particularly where
there is a sincere effort to bring the expendi-
lures within the estimate of receipts. Assuming
the total receipts up to the 1st instant to be
lS,000,000, and the average daily returns for
the remaining sixty days of the year to be
WI in6pnpndpnt IN
Jirely of the special taxes which fall due this
month, which last year paid much above
S16,OO0,000, and which will be likely to pay
more this year. In addition to this we shall
have the benefit of collection of the income
tax and the taxes in Schedule A, the former of
which last year yielded between $41, 900, 600
and Si3,00O,00O, and the latter upwards of
II 900 900.
Our estimate of the per diem average for the
balance of the year, from the 1st instant is
based on the results for the preceding ten
months but we think we might safely enlarge
our ng ures and advance upon the totals of last
year 10 correspond with what may be reason
ably expected in the way of increase from the
changes that have been made in the service
HndGr the new administration. Of course these
must 90 for something, and many of the rogues
in once having been replaced by honest men,
it is but right to expect that much or all of the
revenue actually collected, but hitherto diverted
from the Treasury into the pockets of knavish
officials, WILL under the new order of things,
Unu lJS way safely luIO IuS puDllC COuGTS lOr
proper application. The receipts from spirits
during the first half of this fiscal year were
10000, compared with $9,000,000 for the
corresponding period of last year. At this rate
we should have $40 600 for the entire year
under the same general condition during the last
half of the year as that prevailing during the
first half of it. But there was a change OF that
condition, covering four months out of the six
remaining ones up to next July; which ought,
in the nature of things, to cause healthy i'm
provement, not only in the revenue directly but
also indirectly, through the increase of general
business resulting from removal of disturbing
political causes, and consequently of its ability
to pay more revenue; and under this change we
ought to get $25 0000 900 from this article, at the
lowest bringing us within 5000 600 of the esti-
mate of the Committee of Ways and Means last
year on this subject.
Reviewingthe whole situation, and taking into
consideration all the causes which should legiti
mately tend to improve the inland revenue, al
least, we see no reason why we should not pre-
dict total of $175, 000, 600 from that one branch
This would give an excess over all the othcia
estimates varying from 920 0O0 600 to $37 100000
Customs will undoubtedly give a surplus o
several millions over estimates, as will also land
and miscellaneous sources combined BY adding
TO these amounts in excess the sums saved by
cutting down useless expenses, we may have
from $40, 100000 to $50O00O00 more than w
expected, upon starting on the year. to apply Il
the extinction of the debt, or to any other wis
purpose preferred.