The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-19
INTERNAL. REVENUE.

III iNN's llNAN WHY UNIV hhl'NNhliN' hub
forty-thrcc officers connected with the as
scssing and collecting of the internal rev.
enuc The number has now been largely
decreased ny the abolition Of the offices Of
assessor and assistant assessor. Each state,
however, still has one, or more, collector,
while there is an assistant collector in near
~ every county and, in some counties,
more than one. Upon these officials ROW
dev0lyc the duties heretofore performed
by tho asscssor and his assistants. The rev.
cnuc paid into the treasury of the United
States, for the fiscal year ending June Both,
1873, from this source, was, in round num-
bers, one hundred and fourteen million dol
lars. This, be il understood, is the sum
which the United States actually received,
after paying the expenses Of assessment
and collection, with which to dcfray tho
current expenses of the government. How
much money was actually paid by the poo
pie it is impossible to ascertain, but it is
estimated that, even with the reduced num-
Der of officers. il costs, at least. twenty-five
cents to collect every dollar, This is con-
sidercd Il very low estimate. Taking this
into view, and considering the large num-
Der of officers employed since the adoption
of this excise system, it will he seen that in
twelve years an enormous sum has been
taken from the pockets Of the people to
pay these officers, without contributing, in
any way, to reduce the national debt. The
laborer is worthy of his hire and perhaps,
no greater sum has been paid to internal
revenue officers than they have actually
earned It is not expected that these men,
or any other men, will give their services
to the government without a reasonable
compensation. We do not expect men to
labor for us without pay. individuals,
companies and corporations pay their en-.
ployes, and we expect that the government
will do the same. There is no reason oil
common sense in asking men to serve thcil
country without remuneration, and no one
we presume, asks or expects it. If mcr
are employed they must be paid, and NJ
one objects thereto, always provided tina
it is reasonable in amount and for Necessary
services.
The government might, IN this respect
pattern after individuals and corporations
When the services of AN employe, or
number of employees, are no longer needed
they are, at once, discharged, and the
business conducted with only the humble
of men actually necessary. The only ex
ception to this general rule is when, iron
motives Of humanity and to prevent wan
and suffering they, by reducing the hour
of labor, retain all their men. The Gin
ployes or officers Of the government ar
not, however, in the first instance dcpenden
on their Office for means Of support The,
certainly should not be selected from
class who cannot support themselves b.
honest labor and industry unless II ma
be in the exceptional cases of those VIII
have incapaciated themselves from ordin
AIRY toll and business hy services to thei
country in the army or navy. Moreover
the nation is not organized az a charitabl
institution, and should not be dispense
of hounties and charities. II never ha
been such and we trust il never will b
such. Pensions to disabled soldiers ar
not bestowed in charity and given IA gra
tuily, but they are a sacred debt Of the ma
! ton and paid as such Why then should've
Offices he abolished, when possible? VIII
should not this extra thrty-cight million
OF dollars, taken from the people and pal
, to collectors, go into the treasury Thi
is not all that can be saved The inferno
, revenue department has one commissioner
three deputies eleven ''chicfs' of divisions
, and we know not how many 'assistar
( chiefs" clerks and other subordinateS
Mr. Sumner has introduced a bill or resor
, ton looking to the abolition of the depart
5 ment, and providing for the collection G
all internal revenue taxes by means q
5 stamps. If this is feasible, and, at the frs
r glance, ii looks SO, by one stroke the Who'll
Q additional amount which the secretary G
S the treasury desired to be raised by add
: tional taxation is more than provided fol
= The issue of stamps would be under col
S troll of the treasury department and bl
: few clerks with u superintendent would 1
needed for its management The taxes, 9
will be seen, could be collected without c>
Q pense, while their evasion is provided &c
by stringent proyisionsr requiring the seizur
of unstamped articles wherever they ma
, be found. If, upon examination, MI
. Summers proposition shall prove pract