Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-12-17
.nore .Yniionnl Tnrriron.

more .tOftOnat IUrGttOhs
Tho general government, like many
hackers, feels itself sorcly pressed
"thesc prosperous times" although Il
has been in the moncy.making busi-
ness for over ten years. The rovcn-
ues are "short," and "the best gov
ernment tho world ever saw" is run
ming in debt, although in the hands Of
loyal statesmen. Daring tho month
of October the national debt was in
creased over three millions, nine mil
lions for November, and we are told
December will reach fifteen millions.
Internal Revenue Commissioners
Douglass, demands more taxation to
keep up tho credit of the government.
Tho secretary of the treasury, in
his annual report, while urging econ.
omy upon congress, said: Should there
not be revival of business at an early
day and an increase in the receipts
over those of the past two and hall
months additional means would be re-
qured to meet expenses. Should such
be tho case he would recommend ad.
ditional taxation, judicously laid on,
so as to unburden the people and bust
ness of the country, rather than re.
sort to borrowing money aud increas-
ing the public debt.
The Secretary said this morning
that the public debt this month would
he lnracly increased although H. was
now too early to approximate the
amount. llc has written letter to
the chairman Of ways and means, re.
commencing, and enclosing d bill for
that purpose, the restoration Of the
duty on tea and coffee, which will
yield about S20,000,O0 per annum.-
lie also cncloses a letter TO him from
Commissioner Douglass, making the
following recommendations
An increased tax of ten cents per
gallon on distilled spirits, which would
yield s7,00O,000 annually; four cents
additional per pound on tobacco, which
would yield 81, 100000 on illuminat-
ing gas, s2,OoO,0OO; on gross receipts
ofrailroads from passengers and freight
Sc, 600, 900; steamboat gross receipts,
passengers and freight, 100000; in
surance companies, 81 900, 900 tele-
graph receipts, $3.50, 900, making in
the aggregate s22, 100000. This,wilh
the tax on tea and coffee, would make
over s42, 100000.
The Commissioner says if more rev.
cnue is wanted it could be obtained to
the extent of slO,000,0O0, by restor-
ing the taxes as formerly in schedule
B., which includes stamps on all legal
instruments, deeds, mortgages, etc,
thus making additional receipts OF
over s32, 100000 from internal revenue
services.
Foolishly and wiekcdly, "ring'
engaged in the Tea aud Coffee trade,
year ago, prevailed upon tho admin
istration to repeal the tax on these
luxurious, which was twenty-five cents
per pound on the former and five conts
on the latter, and in this way robbed
the Treasury Of over $40, 900, 900, which
the ring pockcted, and wc have no
doubt was largely shared in by Con-
gressmen, whilo the consumer has not
I
been benefited in the least.
Ostensibly the lobby and its con
gressonal confcdcrates were laboring
in the interest of the poor tea and
who consume these luxurics how
much cheaper has your tea aud coffee
been this year than last?
Again, if the government must have
revenue, why not tax the luxuries
Place your tariff or stamps on whisky,
tobacco, cigars, tea, coffee and wines,
and let the necessaries go free. Now,
let tho government restore tho tariff
on tea and coffee, the Washington
lobby will make twenty million more.
This whiting about by the govern
ment, like cheap huxter, in just what
shoddy dealers want. But, how hu-
initiating for a young, vigorous Da-
tion like ours, to be caught playing
the commercial strumpet. This con.
slant tinkcring at our revenue policy
is nothing more.