The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-22
THAT Nuisance. she Internal Revenue
Department.

II is possible enough that the De'nocl"'s
House Of Representatives will he cnsry OF
Ito work and wisely stop short OF tha.'!
,h,npcs that viii, bc asked by the more VIC
lant of the partv in and out OF cohste -.
Tn ,cfercpcc to one matter, however, tue
Uorsc il likely TO make roosand'o 'anch
wo,k The Internal Revenue DepH.tment
1910, f,iI IA come under the attef ition OF
tha Uouse. and once touched ny reform II
mist Weld I'M is bsncful existence. Ihat De
,,artment has been the hidinS'pi";c and very
most Of fraud and corruption. NO month mas
nasscd since It's woIk began Wien Iraha and
abuse Of one sort or another was not some
where in The country discovered. The great
whiSsry frauds. which are DOW the object OF
Mr. E-iston's Investigations, though larger
Than most that have occurred, are but one
Of an endless series, for it is agreed by those
inrormcd OF such matters that the Depart
mcnt has either actively or passively, either
hy its assistance, or It's connivance, or its
neglect. cheated the Government out OF as
much rs Il has paid into the Treasury.
Were this all the truth, il were only ne
ceSsarv to purify the service and to provide
better checks and a system more complete.
Rut this thing of fraud is not all that als the
DenRrtfpcnt. It's whole existence, nj lis
best estate, has been, is, and will DC, IN llh-
mixed evil It's methods are and must be
innni,ito,ial. veXatious, and liable to con-
stsrt abuse. 1t creates a legion OF spies and
informcrS. it irjurcs legitimate trade. 1t
makes necessary 10 business twice, and often
thrice. the capital needed for the 'manutac-
ture of and the trade in the articles 1t taxes.
Thus it tends 10 restrict industry, hamper
the citizen, and prevent the poor from
competing with the rich manufacturer ana
trader. 1t puts premiuD, and heavy pre-
MUM, on fraud, and thus tends to irJure
morals. 1t spies into private accounts, ana
thus ipyadcs the rights of the individual,
which should always be respected. 1t charges
the people with vast expenses Of collection.
It gives 10 the Executive an army OF ap-
poiniees and 3 great fund OF patronage.
Finally. it Is especially onerous in the South.
md now. because it gives the President
power 10 quarter on our people horde OF
officers, VINO are for the most part strangers
and enemies. and who owing nothing but to
themselves and their superiors neglect no op
portuniiv TO stretch their powers Of annoy.
anec and oppression. -,
The whole country and all parts of it viii
welcome the day when this Department Is
abolished: nor is it truly said by its apollo
gists that it is necessary because they say
revenue must come from that source, OF
heavy protective tariffs, prohinitory tariffs
must take its place. This Is not so. Oul
tariff system is now fatally "protccllve
without being profitable. 1t is absurdy
cumbrouS, Including thousands Of articles
whereas ii should embrace but few. 1t car
be, and We hope it Will be, simplified and
freed Of the protective" feature, sc
called, and yet made to produce ample reve.
nues TO meet the wants Of Government, and
the Internal Revenue Department can be and
will be swept away. never to be missed
but with joy. Norfolk Tugjnian.