The Portland daily press., 1870-06-18
T HE PR T SS
SATURDAY. Morning, June 10, 1870.
Comsnishioner Wells.

The Office OF Special Commissioner OF the
Revenue expires by limitation with the close
of the present month, and the question coine'
up whether the Office shall be renewed
time is to be lost in answering inc qu's'.on
The present session Of Congress Is oia"''s !"
close and the last moments oil sesS'o'' "'o ar
,rons ORC xJed at best, while there IS danger
that business postponed to the last will be neg
lscted entirely. The firm, independent and
imoartial course Of Mr.. Wells has made him
many enemies. These are sure TO be active
and unless his friends are equally SO his valu-
able services may be lost to the country.
The financial necessities of the nation make
the continuance of the office matter OF the
highest importance. For many years to come
we must raise large revenue and it will make
business enough for one man TO study the
method of raising It to the best advantage. 1t
requires not only comprehensive survey of
our national condition in all its aspects, but
a comparison of our condition and methods
of raising revenue with those in use by other
nations. Here is a field broad enough to make
the study of it speciality in itself. requires
an acquaintance with the theoretical princi-
PIES of economic science and what is much
more rare though equally important, capa-
city for ascertaining facts and combining them
into shape that shall make them instructive,
and for determining the correct application of
principles to facts. Besides there must be la
borieus study and investigation not to confirm
preconceived theories but to learn truth No
officer whose energies are largely engrossed
with administrative duties as is the case with
the heads of the executive department, can
ind time even if he possessed the qualifications
for CONDUCTING inquiries extending over SO
wide field and of so complicated nature
The work will not be done at all, or at best
will be but half done, unless we have an officer
who makes it his sole BUSINESS.
It would be difficult to find man better
qualified by nature and experience for the
duties of such position than David A.
Wells. To calm, judicial and penetrating
intellect he unites laberious and scientific
habits of investigation, and an experience
that has made him almost completely master
of practical finance. From the first he has
tened upon the disorder of our finances, and
who saw that his investigations were not con-
Quoted in their interests. But the good re-
suits following the adoption of one after an
other of his recommendations has INDICATED
the wisdom that suggested them and put the
assailants to fight. His recommendations to
reduce the tax on distilled spirits to fifty cents
gallon, to repeal the tax on raw cotton and
on crude petroleum, ard the cumulative and
onerous taxes upon all manufacturing indus
try, and many other reforms, all excited oppo-
sition at first. But trial showed their ex-
pedency, as it will probably show the exped-
ency of other changes which have been more
violently opposed. The country cannot
afford to lose the services of Mr.. Wells, at
least till our finances are thoroughly organ
lied and restored. We might as well think of
getting along without Congress as without
the Commissioner.