The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-05-04
Mr.. Wells then ontered nnop


practical illustrations of the enormou,
taxes paid by the consumer on hats, cut
lery, ETC., varying from % to rs per cent,
scarcely one fraction of which ever found
its way into the public treasury Private
individuals and corporations were bene
flied at the expense of the public, and
not for the collection of tariff to pay the
country's indebtedness It was uhwise
and mlschevlous to tax a nations tools
and machinery, and this was being done
at the present time and the country was
suffering the consequence. Direct taxa
ton was contended for as far as possible,
ard its collection made economical and
simple instead of cumbrous and extrava-
gantly expensive, offering opportunities
for fraud on all hands.
But, says Mr. Greeley and others of the
high protectionist school, what is it that
you revenue reformers want? You are
everlastingly finding fault Why dont
yon propose something? Well for onenf
these revenue reformers, think [ have
a pretty clear conviction of what want,
and | think see very clearly an end
that can without difficulty be attained to
should like to put the country in rex
lively the same position, financially and
industrial!y, that it occuied in 1859 60,
when every department of industry was
fully aAi lfsitabiY employed; when our
commerce covered every sea /; when
wealth was accommodating. rapidly and
distributing itself equita0lv, and when
government was discharging it's highest
functions, of removing distractions to
progress, and interfering, to the least
possible degree, with the private pur-
suits and lawful interests of the people
We'll, / suppose all would say we desire this
AS much as you; but how can it be effected;
Are not our debt and consequent. taxa
ton in themselves, n,uperable obstacles?
But let US examine the subject. Our pre-
sent annual obligations for interest on the
national debt is about one hundred and
twelve millions. But, making allowance
for such conversions Of SIX per cent,
bonds into five per cents as have been
or are likely to be effected, and for the
existing Treasury surplus, it is certain
that tins interest charge, before any reform
legislation can possibly be consummat, d,
will not be in excess Of $105,000,000
But the revenue at present derived from
the existing taxes upon disFI!'a Ell spirits,
tobacco, stamps beer gas and banks and
bankers approximate $120,000,00o, leav
ing the income tax entirely out of account;
or, in other words, these internal revenue
taxes which do not in airy degree fall
| necessarily upon labor, or increase the
cost of production, practically compen-
safe for all the effects of the war so far as
debt and taxation for interest are con
cerned, or practically put the country
in these respects where it was in 1859 so,
and gives in addition $15,000,0O0, availa-
bic for other purposes
And what are these other purposes ?'
Simply the defraying Of current expenses
Off government and a gradual liquida-
ton of the principle of the debt. And
how much will be sufficient for these pur
poses In 1850 the government expenses
exclusive Of pensions and Indians, were
500, 100000 per annum, and since then We
have increased our population about
twenty five per cent. If our nationa! Rex
pensesincrease in only the same proportion
with an allowance of twelve per cent.
for currency depreciation, about seventy
live mllolns per annum would now be
sufficient. Bnt suppose, in order to place
every element Of the calculation beyond
a doubt, we allow for the current exprn-
ditures of the government double the
amount required in 1860, or $4,000 600
and add thereto the amount REQUIRED
during the current year for pensions and
Indlans-thirty mlllions-we have an ag
gregate of expenditures, for which reve-
nue. will be required Of about $4,000,
600. To meet this requirement. we have
the tariff to depend on as we had in 1859
so, and will tell you what can be done
with it. Of course this is not the zine
or place to present to you long array
OF facts and figures, but it is capable oil
demonstration that, allowing the duties
4 upon tea, sugar and coffee to remain as
they are, with the other duties ranging
from 35 per cent. on luxuries to Is per
cent. on c mforts and necessaries, with all
the essential raw materials and every ar.
ticle producing less than $4,000 annual
revenue on the free list, this tariff can be
made to yield annually from $140,0 O0C
to $150,00O,000, leaving the excess of in
ternal revenue. the receipts from public
lands, miscellaneous resources and the
natural elasticity OF the revenue, aggre
eating probably not less than thirty mil
lions, to be applied either to the contln
, ued reduction of the principal of the
debt, or to further abatement of taxation
This, then, is what it is practicable to
do with the tariff; and in practice, ana
with an exercise of reasonable economy
| il is probable that an even better result
can be attained to. But on this work il
reform | would be both progressive and
conservative. I recognize fully that the
government, by a maintenance during the
last ten years of high protective policy
: has afforded a bounty and an encourage
ment for certain special investments Of
Il canital: and any nledoe that minnt fh,,s