The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-01
Tobacco and Whisky-Revtnue and Re-
~pudiatfOn.

pudiatiOn.
A great deal OF the S~entinel's space thi!
morning is taken up by a series of interest.
ing interviews with the leading tobacconists
and disiillers Of Terre Haute, Evansville
Louisville and Cincinnati, giving accurate
details in regard 10 the whisky and tobacco
trade, and furnishing at the same time the
views of the men most interested in tbs
operations Of the revenue laws in regard to
the currency, taxation and reputation.
The reason why the Sentinel sent a special
reporter abroad to investigate this matter is
a very simple one: It is well known that
he sources Of internal revenue consist
mainly of taxes levied upon distilled and
Iermented liquors and tobacco. The various
other means of making the people contribute
to the support of the government in the
pei Torrance of every act of their
daily lite, from the burning of a
match to the making of a will,
have been abandoned and now only a few
dangerous luxuries are taxed heavily for
revenue. Figures will tell the story more
plainly than words. For the year ending
June 80, 1874, the whole internal revenue
vi VIC OhlbC OtdLCo dLuOuDtOQ W ClUZ,O99,-
746 90. Of this sum the tax on distilled spir-
is produced s49.4 IA 900; tho tax on fer
mented liquors, s9,3O4,679 70; and the
tax on tobacco, s33,024, 2s7 81. From
all sources other than spirits and tobacco
aud iermented liquors only $40, 1853. l01 20
were received. No comment upon such a
showing is necessary. As a consequence of
the fact that the men engaged in the manu-
facture of spirits and the dealers in to-
bscco were so heavily and so exclu-
sively taxed, it became the fashion to de-
ounce the revenue laws as making unjust
sectional discrimination against Southern
and Western products. Reports were also
spread representing the distillers and tobac-
conists as the mortal enemies of the present
system OF taxation; and not only that, but
the peculiar enemies of what rendered
taxation necessary. namely, the national
debt. In fact it was said the ma
jority of men engaged in these branches
of business were either openly reputation
lists or that they secretly favored all such
measures as might lead to the rejection of
the national obligations, and the consequent
liberation of trade from government sur
VIGILANCE and harrassing revenue duties. 1t
was easy to believe that if any class in the
community favored reputation, that class
upon which the main burden of the public
debt seemed TO come, would do so.
To test the question the Sentinel dis
patched a reporter to ~neighboring cities,
largely interested in the tobacco and liquor
~trade-Terre Haute, Evansville, Louisville
and Cincinnati. 1t assumed that the manu-
facturers and dealers ofthose places might be
taken as fair representatives of those sim
ilarly engaged throughout the country. The
result has been gratifying in the extreme.
While the several gentlemen with whom
the Sentinel reporter held interviews diff
fered in their views on most of the topics
discussed, it is plain that they all al the
strongest grounds against anything in the
shape of a reputation of the national debt.
Even those who regard the tax as oppressive
and making necessary a great deal of capital
and an enormous risk stand fast for a fair pay
ment ofthe debt, which is the cause of the
tax. There is an equal unanimity in the
spirit of content with which they all look
upon the present condition of affairs as at
fecting their own interests. Mr.. Holman,
of Terre Haute, who thinks that it would. be
a great advantage to the trade to remove
the present tax; Mr.. Bingham, of Evans
vile, who is of the opposite opinion, on the
ground that there is moro money to be
in handling a ten dollar article
than a ten cant article; Mr.. Buchanan
of Louisville, who declared that his bus
mess went along just as smoothly as though
there was no tax upon it; Mr.. Shirley, who
the tax would be maintained in some
shape; and Mr.. Gaff, of Cincinnati, who de-
clared that free alcohol might be made cheap
enough for fuel-all agreed in their SEEM
ing satisfaction with the way things
are going. They certainly appear to have
no desire to shirk their share of the work of
government expenses. Their an
swers on this point suggest many topics for
which can not be touched upon
1t present.
AS to the incidental question of initiation
Ind the repeal of the gold law of March
1869, there was almost as much unanimity
If opinion, and some of the declarations
made were more terse and strong, than
,verworked editors are apt to hit upon.
Holman said:
In the event of initiation we might have some
Dose time again, and then we would have to go
through the light times again. We had better
% slow and make sure of 1t this time. History
lows hatinflation inhicts its own punishment
Said Mr.. Bingham with equal pith and
Reputation of government debts means q re-
of individual obligations. Again, as
o imitation, / think it would be bad policy
government can certainly pay It's interest
nd let future generations those who shed no
lood, shed the money to payi.the principal Of
he debt.
Again he said: |,
II the nat sere disposed TO dishonor
teelf by a reputation of its plighted faith,
know of no tribunal that could force
.ur government IN do otherwise, unless foreign
should compel 1t to come 10 time at the