The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-03
TIE INCOME TAX AND THE TAX
ON TEA AND COFFEE.

THE House of Representatives is still en-
gagged in the discussion of the voluminous
bills for the reduction of taxation, and after
a vigorous debate on the income tax yester-
day, an understanding was established that
vote is to be taken on that subject to-day.
If the Republican congressman wish to be
renominated andre-elected they must speedily
bring these protracted labors to q satisfactory
conclusion. If they fail to reduce the bur-
dens of the people the country will hold them
to a rigid responsibility. They have no right
to impose or retain taxes which are unneces-
sary, and if they voluntarily play the part of
cruel and exacting taskmasters they will be
rghteously doomed to disgrace and defeat.
The propriety of a reduction of taxation
being universally recognized, the only practi-
cal question is what objects shall be selected
for this exemption and reduction. The pre-
vailing tendency appears to be to distribute
these reductions over hundreds of articles or
objects; but this policy is, we believe, under
present circumstances, radically erroneous.
The public want sweeping and palpable reduc-
tions which every man can feel and under
stand, and we know of no objects which can
be more appropriately selected for this pur-
pose than the income tax and the duty on tea
and coffee.
The revenue derived from these sources is
about equivalent to the amount that can now
be safely,,spared by the Government approx
mating fifty millions of dollars annually;
and we do not believe that any other three
important objects of taxation can be pointed
out which yield sum approaching so nearly
to the proposed diminution of Treasury
receipts. They are also regarded, in popular
apprehension, as proper subjects only for war
taxes, and powerful reason for their repeal
is furnished by this fact. If Congress abo-
fishes the income tax, it will please business
classes and the rich; and if the duty on
tea and coffee is taken off, relief will
be granted to every household, and every
poor man who maintains family can at once
demand sensible reduction in two indis-
pensable items of mis- grocer's bill. AS tea
and coffee are furnished exclusively by
foreign countries, no American industry can
be depr ressed by an abolition of the duty on
t ose articles, and while the whole people,
rich and poor, would be relieved, no man
would be injured. The attempt of Great
Britain to impose a tax on tea precipitated
the Revolution. During the Mexican war
duty was levied temporarily on tea
aLd coffee as war measure,
hut these duties were abrogated when
peace was restored; and custom as well
as plain common sense give pre-eminent
force to the claims of these articles for ex-
emption from taxation in times of peace.
The income tax, by its express terms, stands
on the same footing If Congressman wish
to do an act at once statesmanlike, simple,
and popular, let them cease muddling their
brains over tax and tariff bills hundred
pages long, which elicit interminable debates
exhaustive of the patience of the country.
Let them strike off at once the recognized
war taxes which we have pointed out, and
postpone details to a more convenient season.
Let them respect the wishes, interests, pre-
iudices, and customs of the people, and
grant relief in the way that justice and policy
So clearly dictate.