Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-17
S12,S93.623

Grand total. S3l, sci
The committee had endeavored to throw
safeguards around the administration Of the
custom houses. and have greatly simplifed
the laws pertaining to the internal revenue.
1t has consolidated into an equivalent tax of
G5 cents nearly all the several taxes upon
whiskey. 1t has removed many annoying
and restrictive provisions of the existing law
obstructing the business of tie di.tller, and
harrassing commerce in that article. 1t has
provided instead of lG cents for smoking to-
bacco and 80 cents for chewing tobacco,
uniform tax Of 20 cents per pound upon all
kinds of tobacco, and at the same time pro-
vided safe method for exp0Iting tobacco as
well as spirits directly from khe mandatory,
without cumbersome forms for unsatisfactory
draw backs OF the existing law; and it has
been its endeavor while reducing taxation, to
make more efficient and if possible less bur-
Gensone and annoying tie laws that shall en-
force the duties and taxes which remain. Il
is manifest to those who have had any ex-
perience ir the adjustment of tariff and the
imposition of taxes, that bill so framed that
every item shall be satisfactory to all the
members of the committee engaged in that
work is an impossibility. There were doubt
less different provisions in this bill to which
each member of the committee N ght have
objected.
| have permission OF the committee to state
to the House my own emphatic dissent from
some of the essential provisions of this bill,
and also their permission to move in the
House such amendments as will remove these
objections. Whatever provisions are the
reason for my dess nj from them will more
fully set forth whenever in extended debate
upon this bill l shall have opportunity. 1t
would have better met my view, if first and
g. - l,,l al
tons and restrictions, as well as the burden
now harrassing the business and pursuits c
the people, arising from internal taxes, ex-
cepting thei eupon sFirituous and fermented
liquors and tobacco, and next had presented
larger and broader free list of articles not du-
table, which enter to manufactures and in
dustries of the country, and are not such as
can be produced at homf, and had distributed
whatever balance of eduction the exigences
of the government would permit more gem
| orally over the whole remaining list of dutia-
BILE goods, thereby falling less heavy upon
some, and more generally, aud consequently
lighter upon all, In this way there would be
as little disturbance as possible of the eur
rents, and expectations and faith of trade and
capital and the reliance of labor and | would
have preferred in doing this that the aggre-
gate of reduction should have reached. AS
hoped it might, instead OF S3lS, 400 81, at
at least forty to forty-tiye millions, which |
believe the revenues of the future will justify.
Ii will be my endeavor by fair process OF
amendments to reach that; and | have no
doubt that by the cooperation of the House
the bill will be so far improved rs to COM
mand its support and approval of the people.
Mr.. Maynard obtained leave to introduce
the bill on which himself and Mr.. Kelley as
the minority of the committee agreed. 1t is
emitted bill for the Fr,her reduction of
taxes and the PROMOTION of commerce; it
puts internal taxes first !. it makes tea and
coffee free with other additions to the free
list; it adopts the ten PER cent. reduction pro-
vision OF the Senate bill as to many of the
articles embraced in it; it puts the rate OF
tobacco at sixteen cents per pound uniform
and permits the Secretary of the Treasury un-
der such regulations as he may prescribe to
maintain tobacco warehouses.
| Mr.. Dawes, from the same committee. re-
ported a bill to regulate the seizure and ex-
animation of invoices, books and papers ia
customs and revenue cases.
| After some further discnssion the bill went
over without action until omorrow.