Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-09

The New York Commercial BaIYefia a paper
devoted exclusively TO business interests.
congratulates the business community on
the adjournment OF Congress. on the ground
that one OF the most formidable embarrass-
ments to spring trade will be got rid Of The
Bulletin says that it Is not pleasant to be COM
PEELED TO characterize the National Legfsla-
ture as formidable embarrassment to the
advancement of the commercial or indus
trial interests of the country; but the entire
unanimity with which almost almost all
classes of business men were expressing the
conviction that " as soon as Congress Is ont
oil the way" general revival of trade NAV
De looked for, we are constrained to say dis
closes popular conviction in that respect
which cannot well be mistaken. This of
course does not arise so much from the de-
layed adjustment of political questions as
from the uncertainty prevailing in business
circles as To what Congress may do reyari-
ing taxation, which affects in some way
nearly every local industry and every branch
of foreign trade. Either through Ignorance
or haste in the various steps of legislation
great injury is wrought upon business inter-
ests. The late session furnishes several
striking examples. When the Committee of
Ways and Means first took up the Question
of providing additional revenue, il seemed to
be conceded in almost every quarter that the
recommendations of the President and Sec
rotary Bristow for the restorat iOn of the duty
on tea and coffee would be complied with.
The fact that this duty was honesty and
simply collected; that il fell upon the rich
and poor alike, (and that the increase was a
source of profit to the foreign exporter rather
than the domestic consumer led the deal
ers In tea and coffee to buy up large stocks.
In an unexpected moment the increase of
duty was abandoned and one increasing the
OLD duty on sugar twenty-five per cent. was
substituted; but here an awkward blunder
was made by the committee In excluding
from the proposed increase .melada and
tank sirups."- Ii the bill had become a law
with this exception, the revenue would have
been diminished instead OF increased. for the
importers would have imported their sugars
IN that low grade at a less duty OF twenty
hve per cent, and had them refined i'm this
country The refining interest alone would
nave pronted, while the government would
have failed TO get any more revenue from
the duty on the higher grade of sugars. OF
course this mistake was rectified. but not
until IL had caused some serious losses to
large importers The proposed tax on bond
ed spirits, which was afterwards abandoned.
caused millions of dollars TO change hands
in getting whisky out OF bond, when presto,
IL proved to be wholly unnecessary. Other
instances might be cited OF recent occur
renee. such as the sudden vote of the House
restoring the income tax. the tax on sales,
etc, and which were as suddenly abandoned,
but they would all tend to show that bust
ness interests are materially affected by the
caprice OF so-caIled legislation. IL il is pos
sible, timely notice should be given of radi-
cal changes. The Bulletin says that il can
only be hoped that the time is coming when
The reProaeh will not apply; but that will
only be when the men who make our laws
will have broader views, a keener moral
sense, ard more accurate Knowledge of
their duties, not TO this class nor that sec
ton only, but TO the whole country, than
those who are now upon the stage.