The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-07
Refunding the Cotton Tax.


We have already referred to the bill recently
proposed in Congress 10 refund the cotton tax
by appropriating the money collected to the
extinguishment of the public debts of the
Southern States. The bill has met with much
opposition from newspapers over the country,
and has been: very sharply assailed in many
quarters. The chief objection seems to be that
the proposed plan would not return the money
to the pockets of the producers, and that there
by one class of citizens is made to pay the in
debtedness of all. Primarily, this objection is
we'll founded, and if any scheme has yet been
proposed which will return the money to the
producer, we are not aware of it. The main
difficulty, as we have already explained, is that
a combination of merchants and spectators
has sought to control the action Of the govern
ment on this important matter, and any scheme
proposed by them intends to exhaust the ap-
preparation with per centages of various kinds
so that in reality there will be very little le1t
for the producer. We are unquaiifiedly op'
posed to any such arrangement, and unless
Congress will devise plan to refund this
money directly to the producer, without the
Intervention OF third party, then We are pre-
pared to endorse the present scheme as the best
that is likely to be made. Certainly, the tax
payers will receive direct and positive benefit
from the extinguishment of the public debts
of the several States. The Washington cores
pondent of the Charleston Neaos and Courier
fully describes the situation in recent letter,
and we invite attention to the exposure made
of the "cotton ring" through whose influence
efforts are constantly making to secure control
of this large amount of money, derived from
the cotton tax:
I have been conversant with every move
made here for securing the refunding OF this
tax, and have advised and been advised by
Southern representatives-men who could not
be bought by the cotton tax lobby with proml.
ses, or a pocketful of certificates. The great
difficulties have been, first, to prepare bill
that would protect the interests OF the produc'
er, to whom this tax should rightfully be re:
funded second, to secure the agreement OF all
the Southern Congressman to such measure,
greater or less number being under the intiu'
ence of or bought by the cotton tax ring, which
has its headquarters in New York, and holds
to-day many million dollars worth of certifi'
Gates. Aside from these preliminary Difficult
ties, it is nv firm belief, based on knowledge
of all the facts and circumstances, that this
tax never will, never can, be directly refunded.
Hence. it seemed to NE that if some such bill
as Mr.. Whites could be adopted, ensuring the
tightening of the burden of debt under which
so many Of the cotton States are staggering, 1t
would be something gained where nothing
could we'll be expected. A former bill which
looked to the refunding of the cotton tax pro-
vided for the establishment of commission IN
this city to examine and pay claims. But
what would be the result of this? The holders
of small claims, and the great majority are
necessarily small, could not afford to travel
long distance to Washington and remain here
for weeks, probably months, to obtain settle
ment Consequently they would have to en-
trust their cases to claim agents, who after pay
ing expenses, would pocket all or nearly all OF
the remainder for their trouble. Fifty per
cent. for collection is moderate compensation
with the majority of Washington claim agents.
Then, around this commission would grow up
a ring like that which surrounds the cotton
bureau of the treasury, and no claims would
stand ghost of a chance Of being adjudlcated
until member of that ring had been "seen." J"
Mr.. Mcintyre, of Georgia, who labored earn
estly in the Forty second Congress in the inter
est of the cotton grower, endeavored to have
this bill so amended that the States should be
refunded the total amounts paid by them, and
that they should undertake to refund the tax
to those who had paid it. But this amendment
would have interfered with the plans OF the
cotton tax lobby, and it was rejected in eau
Gus of Southern representatives. Should any
bill yet proposed for the refunding of this tax
become law, few if any of the producers
would ever receive cent, and the great bulk
of the sixty eight millions would pass into the
hands of Northern men. Moreover, when
ever afterward the South asked Congress tor an
appropriation for any purpose this sixty. .e'ghI H
millions would be held up to her, and in the
end, by the refusal of appropriations, it would
be found the South had paid this tax twice and
got nothing in return.