National Republican., 1873-12-16
INCREASED TAxATTo.E
SECRETARY R1onARpsoN's LETTER

SECRETARY RICHARDSON'S LETTER TO
MR., DAWES.
Tho following IL the letter OF Secretary Rich.
ardscn to Mr. Dawes in regard TO Increased taxa.
tionI rrFf. .n.-. r
Bqn. ~ l., DUCTS, Ckafrmdn of ne toma,ifss NJ
Gg' I'D M,.s ~ Meg', y Rsgrs.,,.ici,,c,,n
ceIpt Of your letter Of this date, transmitting n
resolution Of the Committee Of Ways and Means
rotary Of the Treasury 10 give his reasons In
writing for an increase In taxation, and why he
has selected the articles named IN his communi.
ton and % tsa ~ inioi S,S'h 'hs Os eo%m,,es u rpec
eally as to the expenditures and condition Of the
revenue which rendered tho proposed increase
In the report which, in accordance with tho law,
! had the honor to submit to Congress, fused the
should there not DO revival Of business at
an early day, aud an1ncreasc In the receipts over
those OF the past two and a half months, add
should such be the case, recommend additional
taxation, iudlciously laid, SO as to be the least
bur,lenso,nc upon the people. and business Of the
aud increasing the public debt"
IL Is on the grounds here generally stated ,hsi
rom ra have NO, mate
rally increased and II is apparent that no con.
siderable augmentation Of these receipts Is soon
The pubnc debt was Increased by demands
which could not be avoided during the month ol
November to the extent OF tnOoO,0oo. nnd " ishp
parent that II will he stiil further Increased dar.
hng the current month by many miillons. While
The coin receipts arc but little more than sum.
elent to pay the interest on the public debt and
other coin expenditures, II will not be prudent 10
The, current errcn.es Of III, ,Gosernmept have
consumed ns about G sSS,s rsmsns 81 s oa nv
about 50 COO 900 which can bo used before the eS
trcmc linlt Of Issue Of United states notes au'
thorxed by law will be reached.
keeping the receipts Of the Treasury fuily up 10
the expenditures tor ordinary expenses, t9r Inter,
bonds for the slnklnp fund 10 the extent provided
by law. u Is manifcstly the true policy, in view
o. me necessity Of nst ~ sre reaupeS
amount will he raised with the possibility Of some
surplus revenue rather than incur any risk o. a
deficiency, which would make II necessary 10 Dor.
row money, anil thereby Increase the debt.
In selecting tea and coffee for taxation am IN.
huenced IVY tho consideration that taxes on these
In selecting spirits, tobacco, gas, railway and
steamboat receipts, express, insurance anu 'eis,
the Comnls sonsr oi internal Revenue, in his let.
ter already forwarded to the committee, In the
ain selecting sources for possible taxation !
have taken those that would give tho revenue
the present force or any amendments TO the pres.
ent SYSTEM coneeding that Is wise to get the pub
lie revenue with as little interference as possible
with the general business Of the country and that
the tax.gatherer should greet the public eye as
rarely as possiblc.n
l lave presented the bills for increased tara
tion to the committee this carly that the subject
may at be called to the attention Of Congress
for such action at an early day as may be deemed
expedient. It should be taken Into account that
the effect Of any law which may be enacted 70 In.
crease taxation will not fully appear for several
months AFTER Its passage, and that In the apparent
disposition among the people TO reduce cxpcDdl-
turcs, the rates which may bo fixed will not pro-
ducc the same amount Of revenue rs would accrue
under different circumstances.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
wN. A. RICHARDSON, Secretary.