New-York tribune., 1873-12-15
WASHINGTON.
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.

DTHON or THE TREAsURY-RFF0RTS or SECRE-
TARY RICHARDSON TO SHIFT THE RESPONSIBLE
uY OF THE PROPOSED INCREASE ON TO THE
WAYS AND MEANS CoMMrrTEE-HE is REQUIRED
TO STATE HIS REAsONs-THE PUBLIC DEBT IN
CREASED Sl0.OOO,OOO LAST MoNTH-THE REvE-
EUEs NOT INCREAsING-THE COMMITTEES ON
WAYS AND MEANS AND APPROPRIATIONS IN
PERFECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BIZ REDUCED
AND PUBLIC WORKS STOPPED.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-The announcement that
Secretary Richardson in sight of the bottom OF
his money chests, has caused almost every other
subject of discussion to be forgotten yesterday and
to-day and the Cuban difficulties and salary grab
have given place to expressions of CONSERVATION and
alarm at the discovery OF what HE TRIBUNE mas
oditorially warned the country for months would
surely occur
II appears that Secretary Richardson, when he
found that his foolish and reckless management Of
the Treasury had made large increase OF taxation
imperative tried TO shift the responsibility OF
making the increase upon the shoulders of the ways
and means Committee. He first broached the sub
ject in conversation with certain members OF the
Committee, when it understood that the Sec
retary should address letter to the Committee set
ting forth the urgency OF the situation ana
making Recommendations as to the taxes 10 De IN
creased accompanied by The for selecting the
taxes named. A Gay OF tWO dittl' bh0 SN'''NN
received in place of the expected letter envelope
containing two bills, prepared in the Internal
Revenue Oaice, and providing for the
proposed increase in internal taxes, and
the other drawn in the Customs Bureau,
containing prov isons for reenactng the tariff Oh tea
and coffee These bills were accompanied by a for
NAL letter OF transmission, signed, 1t is reported Dy
Assistant Secretary Sawyer. The members OF the
Committee were indignant at this attempt OF MI
Richardson to load them with the odium OF orlglna
ting the increase of taxation made necessary py
his own bungliug fnanciering. His failure
10 write the promised letter, they seemed
TO regard as an EFFORT 10 douee
behind the Committee, and to make no record tha'
could be cited against him. The Committee heiI
meeting on Friday, and passed resolution ASKING
the Secretary give his reasons III WIRING loI ue
string an increase Of taxation and for selecting the
articles named in bis communication as the proper
ones for the additional taxation and requesting that
he inform tle Committee specifically as to the con-
dition of the revenue which rendered the proposed
increase necessary.
Mr.. Richardson was driven INTO corner by TINS
reso,utioD. There was no escape. He had TO com
init hisef in black and white to the scheme OF IN
crease. which he hoped the Committee would be 30
obliciuQ as To father. The members OF the Commit
tee are cliagrinod that the whole matter was not
Kent a profound secret until they were prepared 10
call tine attention of the House to it, They say that
the publicity gwen to the Secretarys scheme VIII
result in overwhelming them with delegations from
the various business interests which the proposed
increase will affect, and that their tme viii be cccu
pied in bearing tn appeals aud arguments OF these
delegations.
The following are The points Of the Secretarys let
ter as far as they are known at the Treasury De-
A m that norton Of hts last
,enort which in,imates that additional taxation may
lee necessary. he saws that il on these general
Grounds that he has suggested the increase. The
,cceinto either from Customs or Internal Revenue,
have not increased under the present laws ana no
,pgmeptation can he soon expected. The public
rcbt WAS increased last month. by una
yo,dabe demands, nearly SlO'W0COo' ana
~ will be increased during the present month oy
many millions. so long as the receipts OF com are
little more than sufficient to meet the interest onthe
pnblic debt and the other necessary payments In
coin IL will NOT be prudent TO sell gold to augment
The supply of currency The current expenses nave
already Consumed SlsOOO0O0 of the legal tender re-
serve and only 100000 remain for use before the
maximum limit Of United States notes authorized
lv law win be reached. The credit OF
The Government only be maintained
NV keopine the receipts fully equal to the expendi-
debt. aud nurchase of bonds for the Sinking Fund.
IT isouitc evident that in view of the absolute
necessity of maintaining that credit true policy
requires that taxes should be so levied rs to render
IL certain that the amount required should De raised
with further provision for some sur
,lus revenue rather than risk deficiency
which would render a new loan necessary
'Tea and coffee were selected for taxation because
taxes upon them are easily collected and are not
burdensoIne 10 the consumer. In regard to the Sc
lection OF tobacco, spirits, railroad ana steamboat
receipts gas express, insurance and telegraph COM
panies for taxton the Secretary refers to the rea
rons already given to the Committee in the letter of
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, wherein it
was stated that such articles had been Sc
lected as would probably yield the
revenue reUred without any increase
of the present force OF any change in the present
systenl and because the taxes these articles can
be collected with the least possible interference with
the general business of the country while the tax
paherer attracts the public eye little possible.
The Secretary urges action at the earliest day prac-
tieable since any law which may be enacted TO in
crease the revenue win not have any appreciable
effect for several months after ITS enactment and
since the disposition OF the people to reduce expen-
ditures will prevent the same revenues from being
reaIized as would accrue under more favorable
circumstances.
After receiving the Secretarys letter, the Com
m;ttee gave the subject considerable consideration
but took no formal action. Mr.. Dawes has since
prepared the following resolution. which he will
submit to the Committee at its meeting tomorrow
morning and which viii probably, by its authority
be reported 70 the House during the day:
Whneas The falling OF Of the revenues consequent
upon the late financial depression forces Congress
the alternative Of increased taxation or reduction o
sxpendtures; therefore, be IL