New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-18
decreased Taxation.

The Secretary Of the Treasury has informed
Congress that the revenue of the Govern
ment i, not sufficient to meet its demands,
and that therefore, it becomes necessary to
meet the deficiency By increased taxation on
certain domestic products, and on tea and
coffee. Besides recommending the restora-
ton OF the duty on these articles, he sug-
gcsts an increased tax on distilled spirits of
ten cents n gallon. y tax on illuminating
gas; on the gross receipt of railroads; Of four
cents more pound on tobacco; gross
receipts Of steamboats, a tax on insurance
companies, and on telegraph receipts, which
he estimated will amount to ell CSC, 900
annually.
Tie Secre,ary's recommendS tions Of an
increased tax on whisky and tobacco, will
undoubtedly meet with general approval,
since it is settled that we must have more
revenue. Possibly, too, a tax on the gross
receipts Of railroads may meet the public APP
prevail And also tax on telegraph receipts
though the people in the ond will have to
pay it, and not the companies. But we
have some doubts Of the wisdom of this tax,
except a, a last. resort. And we have much
stronger doubts of this policy of taxing
steamboat receipts, insurance companies and
Illuminating gas, except from absolute ncces-
sity.
But our greatest and strongest objection
to Mr.. Richardson's plan for increasing the
| revenue Of the Government, or the feature
of il, which we most dislike, is his PROPOSE
ton t. restore the duty on ten and coffee.
There was not 4 measure OF the last Con-
gress which received SO warm an approval,
or which came so directly into the pockets
Of the whole people as the repeal of the
duty on these articles Of prime necessity.
Indeed ii was almost the only measure
which was Of the same benefit to the poor as
to the rich, and in which the great mass of
| the people felt to have been enacted in their
interest.
Even the recommendation in regard to
these articles, however, won't be sustained,
| if the people could be satisfied that there is
no better or fairer way to raise the amount.
But before Congress adopts measure that
will prove so unpopular, as we are sure this
will be, we hope tho tax on incomes and
and the duty on iron, salt, and the various
other articles from which it was removed at
the last session, will be restored.
1t seems Il little singular that the Secretary
should not have recuumcm led an increased
tax ON Il single arti, lc Of import which
comes into competition with similar domestic
productions. We don't produce tea and
coffee. But we do iron, salt, wool, and
WOODEN and cotton goods. silk and many
other commodities that are now imported in
large quantities. From these sources, and a
taX;on incomes which will fall upon those
best able to pay it, we would raise all the adj
| ditional revenues absolutely required, or at
any rate from this source, and the proposed
increase on distilled spirits, and railroad re-
ceipts, a sufficient amount TO meet any actual
deficiency there may be.
Yet the Secretary may be right and we
wrong, as to the wsest policy to be pursued,
having an increase OF revenue irrespective OF
any hearing it may have on our domestic
industry, only in view. We are sure he has
acted conscientously in his recommends
tons. But we think he might have suggested
a course that would as well have secured the
special objects he has in view, and promote
the domestic interests OF this country at the
SAM time.