Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-11
from the Milwaukee Sentinel
Revenue Reforms.

The country is deeply indebted TO Mr.
Cox (Sunset,) a shining light in the Dem
ocratic party, and one of the bacheants
Of the revenue reform revel at Delmoni
cos, for an explanation of revenue reform,
rs he understands il. What be proposes
is
That the existing internal revenue system
should be abolished, and the sum deemed
proper to be raised by internal taxation as
signed in just proportions TO the several states.
! to be collected by the authorities thereof and
paid into the National Treasury.
This is the most distinct and tangible
proposal hitherto laid before the public
by the reformers. and even this has been
construed to mean at least two entirely
different things. The World supposes
that Mr.. Cox means TO have whisky and
tobacco taxei as now, only by state au
lhorlty. Other papers suppose that he
means simply to appor!ion the internal
revenue TO be raised among the States and
leave them TO raise it as they please.
1t is of very little consequence which
Of these interpretations is the true one.
If the World is right. the taxes must be
levied under United States laws, because
Congress cannot compel the states TO tax
whisky and tobacco, nor in any manner
dictate to them how they shall raise the
amounts required of them. Hence, If
this Interpretation is correct. Mo. Cox
proposes to make the state authorities
mere agents TO execute United States laws
"a proceed;n g in the teeth of all pre-
cedebt aud all common sense, and one
which would effsctuaily put an end to all
uniformity and all efficiency ia the collec-
ton of the revenue, and lead to perpetual
Conflicts between the stats and the nation
| al authorities.
If Mr. Cox means las lie probably
dues) to have each of the states to collect
its portion Of the tax in its own way, his
scheme III not less Objectionable. II pro-
poses to leave the general government, so
far as its revenues, aud consequently its
credit, is concerned. at the mercy of the
several states, or else TO precipiate an
interminable series of conflicts between
the states and the government. Besides,
such system would involve either the
exemption of whisky, tobacco, etc. or
an entire change in the tax laws of nearly
all, if not all Of the states. The people
will never agree to exempt such articles
rs these, and lay the whole burden upon
the ordinary objects of state taxation.-
The only alternative must be the enact
ment of excise laws By the several states,
and IN that case the machinery of collec
ton would be far more cumbrOus and
costly than that which is required for the
collection of uniform nationai excise.
On one point Mr.. Cox is sufficiently
explicit. He would have the sum TO be
raised assigned Gin just proportions to
the several states-a thing which he
must know to he impossible without an
amendment to the constitution. That in
strument provides that direct taxes shall
be apportioued among the states accord
ing to their respective numbers; and
such an apportIonment, rs everybody
knows. would be anything but just. A
tax apportioned in this way, and left TO
be collected by the states, would, OF
course, be paid in by the older and
| WShituttT stHtcss but tue pUoief Statco VI
the West and South would feel it to be
intoIerably unjust and oppressive, and
would be likely to give the government
no little trouble. Under such n revenue
system, the public credit would decline
fast enoug b To suit Cox or any other Dem
ocrat.
What Mr.. Cox pretends to be aiming
at is economy by doing away with the
national and utilizing the state tax gath
erers. That would be very good thing
TO do if it were only practicable. Tn
happily it is not practicable, for reasons
already given, of which the principal are
that no just apportionment among the
states can be made without amending The
Constitution, and even then there would
be danger Of daily conflicts between state
and national authorities, and no Deepen
dence could be placed upon the revenues.
| If this is the best the revenue reformers
have TO Offer. no wonder the people spew
them out of their mouth.