The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-30
National Commercial Convention.
BALTIMORE, September 90,

Thurston, of Pennsylvania, Chairman
presented the report Of the Committee O.
Finance and Taxation. The report aite
alluding briefly to the propriety Of the &C
ton of this Convention asa Representative
body Of people, recommending measure
to Congress, proposes that the Con
Vention declare;
1st That an early return TO specie pay
ment will promote the best interests OF tn
nation.
end. That while the public debt is o
the highest obligation, and any evasion
thereof would be dishonorable, yet
punCtual payment Of the interest upon thI
debt, or such portion Of the principal a
serves to show the good faith ofthe nation
is all that is necessary to maintain the pub
lie credit;therclore We favor such apaymen
of the public debt as will not interfere
with the productive energy of the nation
and enable us by prolongation Of tlna
liquidation, TO acquire greater pOpula
tiOn, which shall not burden its payments
to develope the resources Ol nature.
3rd. Equality requires that the taxation
should be equally and fairly levied and
collected; thar the civil service should be
administered with rigid economy and
care; that the government should derive
lis revenues chiefly from imports; that d.
rect taxes should only be resorted to in
extreme cases, and the present income tax
should be at once abolished.
The report of the Finance Committee
was that it Is not 10 the interest of the
nation to levy any prohibitory duties,
and that every facility should be given to
direct the importation of merchandise
into inland cities and towns, rs the pro.
ductiOn Of q lessened cost to the consu.
mer, and o saving Of time and charge at
the seaport; and that the duties and com.
missions on packages and all other
charges except on tho cost Of the com
modities, arc Of questionable utility; that
II any taxation in addition TO export duties
may be necessary from financial ne
Cessity OF the government to levy upon
the products of the country, 1t should bC
moderate in Its character; and that the
tax upon all kinds OF manufactured TO-
baccO should be uniform, and tho rcduc.
tion Of the present tax would bc advan-
tageous to both government and manu-
featuring interests, thereby increasing the
revenue from that source, rs reduction In
cost increases the consumpti on, and eX.
cessive taxation leads to fraud; that all
regulations respecting the tax on whisky
should be so arranged as to collect tho
tax without embarrassment to that indus.
try.
After an exciting debate upon portions
of tho report referring to the govern.
ment raising revenue from imports and
returningto specie payment, and the re
peal Of the income tax, the report as pre-.
sented by the committee was adopted,
Mr.. Kennerd, Of Louisiana, Chairman
Of the Committee on interior lines of
water communication, offered the follow.
ing resolution;
Resolved, That among the measures to
facilitate the commerce Of the whole
country and OF attaining commercial
among the nations, thecom.
pletiOn by the general government of the
Wisconsin and Fox river improvement on
which about two million dollars has been
expended, connecting the waters of the
Upper Mississippi with those Of Lake
on a scale commensurate with
its great importance to be used as a pub.
lie highway, lreo for the use Of all sub.
jeCts, only TO such tolls as may be necGs.
sary to keep 1t in repair, Is demanded by
the highest public interests and being of
national character, Is entitled to claim the
mid OF the general government in It's com.
pletiOn.
ReSOlred, Further that the tonnage of the
Eric canal In Its connection with the
commerce Of the great lakes, being strict.
" national in It's character, 1t Is emf.
nently, proper that the general govern
nent Is respectfully requested to take
such measures in connection with the
State oil New York for such enlargement
lnd:incrcasc in It's tonnage capacltyas shall
.end 10 cheaper the cost Of Transports.
lion between the Western and Eastern
States, thereby adding to the material
wealth Of tho country. .un#
The resolutions were adopted.
On the subject OF the Tennessee and
Atlantic Canal, the committee propose
mat speClhl committee W appolnIeu W
petition Congress to aid In the work In
case the survey already authorized by
Congress shall prove favorable.
On the Louisville Canal the committee
-ecommend that Congress be asked TO nc.
,ept the canal and make an appropria.
lion to pay the outstanding bonds, and
hereafter collect only such tolls as are
necessary to keep the canal in order.
On the Albemarle and Chesapeake Ca.
nal, the committee recommend that Con.
5ress make such appropriations as may
10 necessary LOT % lhe improvement ty1i,, OF tne
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% No[tl oa.oa .io. ieaGiIg Iign my M .nIs Cana as