The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-01-10
Secretary Richardson ON Increased
Taxation.

WASHINGTON, December 15.-The fol-
lowing is copy of the letter sent by the
Secretary of the Treasury to the chairman
of the Committee on Ways and Means, on
the subject of the proposed increase in tax
alton:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Dec.
12, 1S73.-To Hon. L. Dawes, Chairman of Com
mittee on Ways and Means, House of Represent
atiyes: SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of this date transmitting
resolutions of the Committee on Ways and Means
of the House of Representatives asking the Sec
Tetary of the Treasury to give his reasons in
writing for an Increase in taxation, and why he
has selected the articles named in his cammuica-
tion as the proper objects for increased taxation,
and that he inform the committee specifically as
to expenditures and the condition of the revenue
which rendered this increase necessary.
In the report which. in accordance with law,
following language g Should there not be re-
viva of business at an early day, and increase
in receipts over those of the past two and a half
months, additional means will be required to
meet the expenses. Should such be the case, l
recommend additional taxation judicieusly laid,
so as to be the least burdensome upon the
people and business of the country, rath-
er than resort To borrowing money and
increasing the public debt :, 1t is on the
grounds here generally stated that suggested
an increased taxation. The receipts hom GUS
toms and internal taxes have not materially in
creased, and it is apparent that no considerable
augmentation of these receipts is soon TO be ex-
debt was increased by demands which could
not be avoided, during the month of November,
to the extent over $780, 0e Coo and it is apparent
that it win be still further increased during the
coming month by many millions. While the coin
receipts are but little than sufficient to pay
the interest the public debt and other coin ex-
pendtures, it will not be expedienE to sell gold
TO increase the supply of currency The currency
expenses of the Government have already con-
sumed SIS, ,000,tG of what has been called re-
serve, and there remains only about SIC, ,001,l 90
which can be used before the extreme limit of
the issue of the United States notes authorized by
law will be reached.
keeping the receipts of the treasury fully mp to
the expenditures Tor ordinary expenses, for inter-
est on public debt and for the purchase of bonds
for the sinking fund to the extent ; provided p q
the necessity of maintaining that credit so to levy
taxes as to make it certain that the required
amount will be raised, with the possibility OF
some surplus revenue, rather than to incur any
risk of deficiency which would make 1t necessary
10 borrow money, and thereby increase the debt.
In the selection of tea and coffee for taxation,
am influenced by the consideration that taxes
on these articles are easily collected, and not
oppressive to consumers,
lnthe selection of spirits, tobacco, gas, rail-
way and steamboat receipts, express, insurance
and telegraph companies as subjects of taxation,
am governed principally by the reason ex-
pressed by the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
in his letter forwarded TO the committee, in the
folIowingwords: Sin the seit eton of articles for
possible taxation have taken those which would
give u revenue probably needed without any ma
teral increase of present force, or amendments
to the present system, considering That it is
wise to get the public revenue with little inter-
ference us possible with the general busin IS OF
the country and that x-gafherers should greet
the public eye as rarely possible have pre-
sented bill for increased taxation to the COM
mittee thus early that the subject may at once be
called to the attention Of Congress for such ac-
tion. at an early day, as may be expedieDi II
should be taken into account that the effect ol
any law which may be nscted to increase taxa
ton will not fully appear for several months az
ter its passage and that it is the apparent dis
position among the people to reduce expenditures,
| The rates which may be fixed will not producd
| the same amount of revenue as would accrue I'M
| der different circumstances.
! IhaVe the honor to be, very respectfully,
VIM. A. RICHARDSON, 5eesy.