The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-16

ISNSA kAS SAfAtAA 14SStASA w. NeJf ~
now the absorbing question Of the hour.
The bill repeating the appropriation L
Bethany College was ordered to its en-
grossment in the Senate o.day.
The Federal Court arrived to-day.
ToMAHAwK.
Letter from tho Secretary OF tht
Treasury to Mr.. Dawes.
WARRINGTON, Dec. 15-The Secretary
Of the Treasury has written the following
letter to Mr.. Dawes, Chairman Of th'
Committee on Ways and Means:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 12.
DEAR SrR-I have the honor to &C.
knowledge the receipt ol your letter Of
this date transmitting the resolution Of the
Committee on Ways and Means Of the
House Of Representatives, asking the Sec
retary Of the Treasury to give his reasons
in writing TOR an increase in taxation, and
why he has selected the articles named In
his communication as proper objects fol
increased tax, and that he informs the
committee specially as to the expendi-
lures and condition OF the revenue which
renders the proposed increase necessary
THE SECRETARY RxPLAINs.
In the report, which in accordance with
law ! had the honor recently to submit to
Congress, ! used the following language:
SHOULD there not be q revival of business
at an early date and an increase in the re-
ceipts over those OF the past two and q
hall months additional: means will be
required to meet the expenses. Should
such be the case, I recommend an addi-
tional taxation judiciously laid, SO as to
be the least burden upon the people and
business of the country, rather than resort
to borrowing money and increasing the
public debt.
DID NOT WANT TO 90 IN DEBT.
II Ia onithe grounds here generally
stated that suggested an increased taxa.
tion. The receipts from customs and in.
ternal tax have not materially increased
and It is apparent no considerable aug
mentation Of those receipts is soon to be
expended under the law now existing.
The public debt was increased by de-
mands which could not be avoided dur
ing the month Of Nov, to the extent OF
over 100000, and It is APPARENT that
Il will be still further increased during
the current month by many millions.
While coin receipts are but little more
than sufficient to pay the interest on the
public debt and other coin expenditures,
It will not be prudent 10 sell gold to in.
crease the supply Of currency.
$1s,000O00 RESERVE GONE.
The current expenses oi the Govern.
ment have already consumed about $1s,.
100000, which can be used before the ex.
treme limit OF the issue Of United States
notes authorized by law will be reached.
The public credit can only be maintained
by keeping the receipts Of the Treasury
fally up to the expenditures for ordinary
expenses, forjinterest on the public debt,
and in the purchase oil bonds, for q sink
ing fund to the extent provided by law.
THE PUBLIC CREDIT AT STAKE.
lis manifestly the true policy In view
Of maintaining that credit to levya tax
so as to make 1t certain that the required
amount will be raised, with probability
Of some surplus revenue, rather than to
incur sany risk OF q deficiency, which
would make 1t necessary to borrow, and
thereby increase the debt.
WHY coFFEE AND TEA WAS sELEcrED.
In selecting tea and coffee for taxa
ton, I am influenced by consideration
that taxes on those articles are easily
collected, and are not oppressive to con.
sumers.
SPIRITS, TOBACCO, GAS, ETC.
In selecting spirits, tobacco, gas, rail.
roads and steamboats, receipts, express,
insurance, and telegraph companies, as
subjects Of taxation amigoverned princi'
pally by reasons expressed by the Com
missioner Of Internal Revenue in his let
ter already forwarded to the Committee
in the following words: Selecting
sources for possible tax, ,lhave taken those
that would, give the revenue probably
needed, without any material increase,
10 prevent amendment TO present sys-
tenn, considering II wise to get public
revenue with as little interference as pos
able to the general buSineas Of the
country, and that taxes gathered should
mreet the public eye as rarely as praclica'
BILE. I have presented bills for increased
taxation TO the Committee thus early that
the subject may OF once be called 70 the
attention Of Congress for such action Q,
an early day aO may be deemed expedi'
emit. It should be taken into account thai
the effect Of any law which may be en-
acted toincreass taxation viii not appear
for several months after It's passage, and
that In the apparent disposition among
the people 10 reduce the expenditures, the
rates which may be fixed, will mol
produce the Same amount Of revenue a
would otherwise accrue under different
circumstances. "a
Ihaye the houor 10 be very respectful
", WM. A. RICHARDSON, Seey
PostofEice Robbed.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 1.-THE post;
Office at Marion, Ind, was entered AMI
robbed Of some postage stamps, curren
cy, and q package Of letters, SATURDAY
nfeht. The thieves attempted TO bnrI
the office, but the fire was discovered II