The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-30

What the United States Senate Has Dsss
for tho PeopIe-Nsw for che Hssss Of
Representatives.
The United States Senate has reduced the
duties on cotton, woollens, iron, earthenware,
glassware and similar articles ten per cent.
All these are articles of general use and con-
sumption, and the reduction In their cost will
benefit the great mass of the people all over
the United States. But the modification Of
the duty will strike a few dollars from the
enormous profits of manufacturers and mono
polists, and hence will be opposed By them
with all the power of the Washington lobby,
which is always at their service.
The United States Senate has resolved to
abolish all duties on tea and coffee, thus
admitting these necessary articles of general
consumption into our market free of tax aud
materially lowering their cost. Every family
In the United States whose means are limited
Will be directly benefited by this policy.
Every iaboring man, every mechanic, every
clerk, every citizen whose income is only
sufficient to barely support his wife and
children, will feel the advantage of the saving
and coffee he may purchase. : But the large
dealers and monopolists who control the trade
will labor to have the duties retained, as they
find in high tariffs and high prices q better
field for the use Of their capital, and more
available opportunity for practising the tricks
familiar to the trade, than would be afforded
them under free Importation and an open
market.
The United States Senate proposes to abolish
the income tax. This tax does not affect the
daily laboyer and ordinary mechanic, prob
ably, but it presses with a painful pressure
upon the toiing clerk and the small trades
man and all who have limited means and
large families to provide for. Men who are
compelled to live in a respectable manner and
who are earning only just sufficient to exist
from hand to mouth are frequently broken
down by the income tax, which, burdensoms
upon them out Of all proportion, is often the
feather that breaks the camel's back. 1t Is
tax odious in its character-prying, inquisi-
toral unequal and unjust-and is peculiarly
offensive 10 the American people. tits, more
over, tax impossible of strict enforcement,
and is VIGOROUSLY evaded by mon who are
disposed to be unscrupulous. For this very
reason, and because. its proceeds enable the
government to impose proAibitory duties in
favor Of special interests, its repeal will bs
opposed by the wealthy manufacturers, bankers
and other special interests at Washington.
The United States Senate proposes to
abolish all duties on gas, and to strike from
the internal revenue list the stamp tax on
matches, medicines and The thousand and one
articles Of daily consumption, leaving only
taxable distilled spirits fermented liquors,
snuff, tobacco and cigars. This is signally
legislation for the people. 1t will cheaper
living, will do away with fraud. and will rem
der needless the present expensive internal
revenue army of ofice-holders. For that
reason it will be opposed by politicians and
offioe-seekers, as well as by wealthy monop-
olists who desire to make the poorer classes
bear an undue proportion Of the burden Of
taxation in order to lessen the load upon their
special interests.
The House of Representatives, the popular
branch of Congress, has now to vote upon the
Senate tariff amendments. Will the members
of the Lower House venture to vote with mil
liounaires, monopolsts, special interests and
corrupt lobby against the relief Of the peo-
pie? The citizens Of the United States, IN
every Congressional district, will keep their
eyes upon their representatives, and will
mark their action on this important subject.
The country is rich and prosperous, and the
debt has been lessened at railroad high pres.
sure speed. But the masses Of the working,
toiling people have been pressed down by
taxation ever since the close of the war. It
is time that these war tariffs and duties
should be lessened In order that the bulk Of
the people should find some relief. No Con-
gresham who desires to retain his seat
should venture to vote against securing to the
toiling masses the boon now offered them by
tho