Evening star., 1869-12-06

revenue should be collected from incomes. "a
reasons for this seem apparent and fore r.
This tax reaches simply the protts Of traie al 4
business, and the increased wealth " Indyi nd
as from investments. N the tax were PAID .
q Sc profits and Accommodations accrue d j. a..
believed that IL would De- thought ohirctionafr.
hut, being required O. b. paid all N one TIM.
and often after the income has been reduced i.
the expenses 81 the tax payer. or re-iuyrStcd \
business, IL seems morr onCrouS, ani = more -,
riousl' complained against. The ohic,"tsan mot
frequently and earnestly made against thiS tgA
il, that IL leads O. n system OF espionage iu-a
private affairs that Is not only offensive b.
sometimes injurious 10 individuals.
The Commissioner docs not see WHY this oll ier-
ton may not, ith equal force. be urged again.
al taNes upon personal property. SucH taNrs
cannot be collected without aScertaining ~
amount OF taxable property possessed hy the taN-
payer. The law imposing tax upon incomes
docs nothing more than this. IL ~ inuch. It
SIMPLY requires a truthful and honest stateinrr.
oi the actual income of the TAXPAYER DARN. =
preceding year. Which can Dc complied ~ "a
easily, and With a. little exposure Of fr.sars
Affairs, as any other laW-nationsl. State, ,-
lnnniclral-Wtleh seeks 10 raise rcyen2e IL n
The personal estate OF taN PAYERS.
After all, Il Is but tax upon the increased
wealth OF the nation; ana when 70 ! undcrsto,i 4
that government securities arc eNemptnd n IN
taxation. and that the interest on thsSs S,rtfrf-
produces a large amount of the incomes of t..-
payers, the Commits oner submits IL it will =
wise 60 abolish the inc0me tax 50 hong A. 40
labor. Industry. and business of the country "a
directly or indirectly subjected O. any cnusi,i,r
able TAXATION. Ths~C observations arr integtiy
u apply 60 the questions " neither the income rs
shall hc rCtaiIef"r abolished. and not 20 he ra-s
OF the tax or the manner OF it, asscSsIa sIt a. 4
collection.
OF the total receipts of internal revenue for
the fiscal year ~" i : estimated that ~ isl-:
ninety per cent. az tie entire receipt, was CO.
tc,tcd rom 4 few ulinc:s aai sources al 81
which may hC cia>Scd aS luNurics. OF a til accu-
mulattd AMI associated wealth OF the ,attntry.
II is difficult TO see how the necessary revenue
from internal sources canb bc obtained with mu",i
greater respect for labor. and with more iu..i,s
10 the common industry. than is secured ny -,
present law. II may we'll be doubted if any con-
cradle portion uf The tax can be objected D
ON principle. or Tor iniuriOusly interfering v ~
the manufacturer. or being too high. az j. tiis
farest tax, the most equal and least bur,lcusOIns
of any laid ON the citizen, for IL j. revcn1s
paid in proportion To the tree consumption an 4
increasing profits Of the people.
The 'ommi>>ionef gives his pinion that -
present system ought. in n short time, ii fa:,t-
fully stlmini>taed, to Weld a revenue not b.
low TIE following estimate. from the folloWfr.
sourceS:-Spirts so ,9oo .ane tobacco. .SS.pll 1 ;
fermentcd liquors. - S,00o, 900; incomes. saarie>,
aud schedule 4. ia. .0n nfn. stamps. so .nkl0pI;
banks and bankers. =. .J,0 0e0. legacics ans->l--
cessions, S4o00,0o0; gas companies. - 2.5,o, ,pt'.
Total. SI13 go 900. ID these conjecturcs are VEL
founded. after brief period the excise tax cau
he limited TO stil fewer objects of taxation thaa
at present, and those such a. al admit to he az.
oues that should bear the burden. The realiZa-
ton of these anticipations will enable Congress
10 sweep away the special or license tax and 4. q
others that rest upon the labor, industry, auI
smaller business transas tions OF the country.
The Commissioner states that the reorgani7a-
ton of the clerical labor of the Internal Revennc
Bureau into three principal divisions has worked
efficiently and harmoniously, though the bu>s-
ness of some of the sections has Increased p
largely "a 10 render IL desirable 90 form them
into another division with additional clerical
l. a subject which il recommended to the care
fUl consideration of Congress.