The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1870-06-12
Mr.. FITCH on THE REVENUE.

/ Mi. Fitch, is particularly sound on tn
Revenue question. Certainly in this h'
represents the wishes and convictions o
the great bulk of his constituents, ir
respective of party. On the I'd OF ih'
present month, Mr.. Fitch took occasion
in the brief time allotted to speaker:
upon the bill in question, to obtain The
foor and deliver himself of the follow
ing speech:
Mr.. FIrcH. Mr.. Speaker, during the
two months or more of the protracted
illness of our friend the late tariff Dill
daring the weary weeks it was under
consideration, l did not esteem 1t my
duty to participate in the discussion upon
the vexed question of revenue or protec-
;ion. As The Representative of Il con-
slituency who produce chiefly those pre-
cious metals which no tariff can protect,
and who do not, unfortunately, produce
much else, voted steadily for the low
est rates of duty proposed.
/ do not know whether the death or
the syncopetic state of the tariff bill
say syncopetic state, because We are
promised resurrection by the chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means
will be of advantage to the country in
the matter of reduction of taxes or not.
In any event l find consolation for its
fate in the reflection that We may now
fairly claim of The Ways and Means
Committee a much larger reduction of
iatsrnal revenue than has been hitherto
proposed.
1t is estimated that the surplus rev.
euue of the Government under the pres
ent tax laws will amount TO from one
hundred TO one hundred and twenty mil
lion dollars per aunum. When we con-
slider the rapid increase of population
and the growth of the country, when We
consider how the individual efforts of
men to get along in life have aggregated
the national wealth, we may safely con-
clude the larger figure of Sl20, 900, 900
is probably correct. Now, sir, the con-
dition of the public credit does no. re-
auire, aud the coalition of the public
resources will not warrant, the payment
of the public debt at the rate of $780,
OOO, 900 year. II is estimated by in
telligent fnanciers that a yearly pay
ment of twenty or thirty million dollars
upon the debt will be ample to protect
the public credit, and surely it is enough
of burden for this generation TO bear,
whoa we consider how much of taxation
they have endured, and how much OF
loss they have been subjected to.
think we may properly and safely reduce
taxation, not fifty or seventy-fve million
dollars, as suggested. yesterday, but we
may reduce tsxation $50, 900, 900 per
annum, or S51, 100000 more than is
by the chairman of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means in the bill
u1der consideration. And Isuggest We
can make no reduction 80 just, so fair,
and 80 agreeable TO the people as to dis
continue this income tax.
will not attempt in the limits of a
FIVE minutes speech TO repeat the argu-
ment that it is unequal that il is it,
PASTORAL that il is oppressive that
il is unusual; that it Is a war tax, and
he war is over troublesome tax, and
he people are restless ; an unnecessary
ak, and the people know it. ! simply
desire 20 put on record my conviction
hat it should be abolished altogether,
md if not abolished, that We should at
east have the largest exemption possible
So, 500, or even $4,000. Ii is a t.I
which rests with pecuisr- oppression
1pon the people of my district, who pay
,er ecpita five times the amount of in
ernal revenue tax that is paid by any
,thers. supposed this is because their
are lees elastic, or because
heir ability 70 figure out exemptions
las not been so highly cultivated.
Within the time allowed me | have
title opportunity to say anything further
han to express my hope that the House
will discontinue this tax altogether
will advert, however, to remark of the
gentleman from Ohio, the chairman OF
he Committee Of Ways and Means,
when he said that this was popular tax
With those who do not pay it, Isubmit
that that is not fair rea- |
on for retaining The tax, and would also |
uggest that there are great many peo- |
pie who do pay it and with whom it is
;ery unpopular. There is not a mocha
tic, a small trsdesman, a clerk, a law
7er. a clergyman. or physician in the
aud who does not feel that this tax is |
and Who does not know that
{ is unequal and unjust. The country |
demands lis abolition or reduction. The I
public press throughout the country !