The Portland daily press., 1872-07-19

ed below. The period of comparison is from
March /, 1866, to Feb. %, 1S69-three years
under Johnson-and from March 1, 1869, to
Feb. 90 1S72-three wears under Grant
f 1866 to 1869. 1869 to 1872. Increase.
Spirits 1872, $50 o5i S15t, 1856 61s S59, 4s5, 564
Tobacco ........ $751; ,7S4 97,479076 39,0e0,292
Fermented liquors 1851 o52 81 s26s5 ss7l 6S3
Adhesive stamps. 46,652529 4s,O7,9sS 2,O24,s5o
Total $500 1921, sOs 369$329, s61 1926 SOS, O55, 1853
The taxes during these periods were unchang-
ed save on distilled spirits and tobacco, and the
latter were reduced as follows: For twenty
nine out of thirty-six months of the first period
the tax on distilled spirits was 50 per gallon;
and on the finer grades of manufactured tobac-
co. averaging more than three-fourths OF the
whole quantity manufactured 80 and 40 cents
per pound. During the remaining seven
months of the first period, and the whole of the
second, the tax on spirits was reduced to 90
cents per gallon, or, including certain addition
al taxes imposed by the statute making the re-
duction, to an equivalent of sixty-hve cents per
gallon, and on the finer grades of manufactur-
ed tobacco to thirty-two cents pei pound. These
changes were against the last-named period
under an equally honest and vigilant enforce
ment of the laws. But notwithstanding this
great change of rates, the increase of the rev.
enue from the sources enumerated was nearly
forty-nine per cent. This is comparison on a
thoroughly fair and just basis. Making all due
allowance for the natural growth of income, the
fact still remains that under a vigiant Admin
istration the revenues from those sources which
should yield most freely, and wherein greatest
competition had previously prevailed, has been
increased well-nigh One-half.
THE EFFECT OF HONEST GOVERNMENT
But there is another view of this still more
conclusive and hattering. Nearly every year
since 1866 Congress has passed statutes reduc-
ing internal taxation These several statutes
excluding that of the session just closed-ag-
gregate reductions equal to 1928 100000. Now
aE .,,fo,r
enue were for the fiscal year of 1866, when they
reached in round numbers, $311 ,000 900. If the
sources now taxable yielded only the same rev.
ne as in 1866, the present receipts would be
eighty-three million of dollars per annum. The
fact is, however, that the aggregate receipts for
the fiscal year just closed, reached $131 600 600,
thus showing an increase of revenue from all
sources still taxable, of faqty-eight millions of
dollars per dr,num! A percentage of this is, of
course, due to the natural increase of wealth
and business, but by far the larger portion of it
is due to the more rigorous enforcement of the
law. f--7
DECREASE IN COST OF COLLECTING CUSTOMS.
Closely connected with this branch of the
subject is that of the collection of the customs.
Were President Gronts administration the cor
rupt thing which Greeley traitors print it, it
would be apparent in this branch if anywhere.
1t did show in 1868 under Andrew johnson, to
the great profit of many of the corrupt crew
who are now denouncing Grant and shouting
for Greeley, simply because Gen. Grant has
cast them out neck and heels, or has turned a
deaf ear to their appeals. There is no depart
ment OF administration where expenditure can
increase so rapidly, or where it is so necessary
to check it with firm hand as in the collection
of the customs. In consequence of smuggling
alone hundreds of thousands of dollars may IL
ligitimately escape under a lax administration
of affairs, and the temptation to smuggling has
increased with the increased rates.o the tariff
since 1860 Yet the cost of collecting the Gus
toms revenue has been reduced more than one
half since that time when compared with the
amount collected. illustrate by taking four
periods as sufficient for the purpose. 'l9|
~ collected collection esfSa o Oct
1sss fiscal fiscal year g g
1870, fiscal year, 1914, ,374 a 6,237i37 IS 20
1871, fiscal year, 2O6,27O,4oS O5 6,5GO,672 81 II
Here is a showing of one clear year under
Buchanan, one under johnson and two under
Grant. Thsee must be placed to the credit of
the year 1872, the fact that by the act of July
IA, 1870, the revenue from customs was reduced
thirty millions, which took effect in the last six
months of that year. The comparison here is
for the purpose OF showing the cost of collec-
ton only. The increase of the tariff rates con-
sequent upon the necessities of the revenue, ex-
plain the increase in the collections themselves
up to 1868, but since that time the increase has
been wholly due to the growth of business and
to increased vigilance in enforcing the laws. /
= r ,o,,,, 80, -, al .,,oa.:-. Il
ovnoUdit,ro oo1r .o e''9 y. coihpaIaGive
thot eao,, 40 Soser1 ealuevor Is MADE 10
;ts exnanditra: ing az ;, Increasing
l lls eSpend,tures' instead OF diminishing them,
o ~ nrss SanniS uIG VI .ne nnahclal account
',o1iy ooed a,'d I'M mas oeen actu
ia, ',;t1 .nen Ihe remain
irbs.t Gun, ;+as % WIZ VI ehpianatlon
i;st Say th hoa ol rr l tne civil
rretar'dS w dn Ra Increased, no one
Pae. .t 70 asny. but tney are such as have
nv the necessities of fine country Ho,p comid
Congress fail to cost more in 1871, with every
member restored in salaries, mileage, debates.
printing, public documents, &C., &C., than in |
1866, with one-third 81 that body denied repre- I
sentation for dsioyalty? Take the cost of pub
lie buildings, as another illustration. Durino
the war, and for period after its close. the
state of the finances and the temper of the
people did not warrant large outlaws in this di.
rection. But with the reduction of expendi-
lures in other quarters the demand has como