Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-16

CA1SAhai SOuiui0TCc II q 'fBdbO0aDl6 rate OF
duty, this would not only encourage the
building OF American iron ships, but would
secure healthy competition In our inter-
nal and coasting trade, now absolutely pro-
t'cted by our navigation laws.
1t has been conceded the internal taxes
should first be repealed. The worst of
these taxes have been repealed, but there
still remain special taxes which make 1t
necessary to keep revenue officers
In Every County
OF the United States. These special taxes
are on wholesale and retail dealers In spirits,
tobacco and beer, on banks and bankers,
aud gas. Many of the stamp taxes are i'm
posed an the production of matches, medi-
cines, and the like; others are on the sale
OF property and on commercial paper, while
all involve the employment Of a multitude
OF agents for the sale of stamps. While
productive, they are annoying, expensive of
collection and easily evaded. IL special
taxes ON spirits, tobacco and beer, can be
consolidated with the tax now levied on
the manufacturer of these articles at the
dlsLilleFy, brewery and mandatory, and
the special tax on gas and bankers are re-
peaied, we can dispense with vast army
OF revenue officers, and concentrate the at
tention and surveillance of the internal
revenue officers to the places where whisky,
tobacco and beer are made.
The Income Tax
expires with the collection of the tax for
1871, which on personal incomes is assess
ed during this month Experience wilico
vince thu body Of our people that a system
of National taxation, which rests the whole
burden of taxation on consumption
and not a cent on property or income is In
trihsically unjust. While the expenses of
the National government are largely caused
by the protection of property, it is but right
to require the property to contribute to
their payment. II will not do to say that
each person consumes in proportion to bis
means. This is not true.
With stamp taxes the whole system of
internal taxes will disappear except the ex-
else taxes on whisky, tobacco and beer,
which by common consent of both produ-
GER and consumer are recognized as pecu-
liar objects of taxation.
The taxes on circulation and deposits of
National Banks
do not enter our Internal revenue system,
but are rather regarded as fund from
which to pay the expense of printing the
notes and maintaining the system. The
excess collected from this tax over these
expenses may properly be regarded as re-
turn payment for franchise. This tax Is
collected directly by the Treasurer of the
United States, and should be retained. If
it is deemed best to retain this tax as against
other banks and bankers 1t may be collect
in the same way and by the aid of bank
examiners.
II these changes in our internal revenue
avs are made it will reduces the internal
axes S}l,5OO,OO0, or from Sl26,000,000 to
Sg4, 100000.
The Grand Finale.
Free coal and free salt mean free iron and
free woolens. Whether we regard duty on
coal and salt as revenue duty or protective
duty they ought not TO be entirely repealed,
and therefore the House bills ought not to
pass.
As to the duties on tea and coffee their
repeal is simply question of revenue. The
repeal Of either of these duties, in the same
degree, will cheaper the daily meals Of
nearly every family. The House of Repre-
sentatives has shown its desire to make tea
and coffee free by twice passing bills for |
that purpose, but it is manifest that If this |
is done we must postpone for the present |
all other reductions of duty.
now come briefly to consider the mes-
sure proposed by the Committee on FL |
nance. Instead of repeating entirely the |
duties on coal, salt, tea and coffee, we pro- |
pose large reduction on them. We re- |
duce duties on lumber, rice, lead and other
articles. Tue raw products of industry on |
which present duties are excessive are large |
" additional to the free list, and propose a !
of 10 per cent Of duties on most !
textile aud metallic fabrics. The reduction |
is So, sos 53, but we may fairly |
anticip,ts lesser ing Of expenses and such |
increase of importation as will reduce the |
loss to revenue to SZ0,000,000.
Mr.. Sherman discussed the general prin- |
ciples Of protection and free trade, claim |
ing that the former should be maintained as
essential to the foundation of our national
and closed by stating that the /
Committee on Finance was of the opinion /
that now when go many taxes are repealed |
there ought to be a general reduction of
duties on textile and metallic fabrics, and
that this reduction should be at the rate of /
ten per cent.
We expect to encounter the opposition of
those who favor the maintenance of the
highest duties on foreign competing fabrics
and those who would abruptly disturb our
industry by a sudden and radical reduction
of duties to what they term a free trade
and perhaps both classes of oppo-
sitiOn will unite in repeating the purely rev.
enue duty on tea and coffee. If this is done
We can't repeal in other taxes with safety to
the public service, and he would then vote
for striking ont the rateable reduction on
textile and metallic fabrics, and then called
for tie ~ s end nays on his amendment to
place tea and coffee on the free list, when
Mr.. Ferry, of Michigan, by unanimous.
consent, called up House bill extending the
time for the completion of the Portage and
Lake Superior canal, which passed.
Mr.. COrbett asked to take up the bill au-
the Postmaster General to settle |
on equitable principles the claims of G. NJ.
Lockwood, Of Oregon, mail contract.
Several Senators objected, and Mr.. Trum-
bull hoped the Senate would never pass
another bill to allow the Postmaster Gen
eral to settle mail claims on equitable prln- /
ciples, for they had had enough of that in
the
ChOrpening Case.
Mr.. Logan called up bill to enable hor-
Orably discharged soldiers aud soldiers and |
their widows to acquire homesteads on the |
public lands of the United States, when the
Senate adjourned until Monday.
UAUSE