The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-12-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our own correspondent
w Dec 1st 1877

From our own correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. LIST, 1877.
If this Congress succeeds in enact
ing what the Ways and Means COM
mittee has undertaked to devise
the provisions of anew and improved
Revenue systematic country will
have cause to be glad it was born.
just what the pfominent features of
the new system WI be nobody seems
at present able to guess. 1t is pos
sible, of course, for Congress to tin
ker away at it all winter, and end
just where it began, or worse; but
that it is also more than possible to
devise a system vastly improving
upon the present one, all are con-
vinced who have given the subject
consideration. Yet the question of
taxation or without leaks
municipalities, is by no means the
simplest thing in the world. 1t is as
difficult to devise a system which
will not be open to objection from
one source or anothe., as it was for
the Arab and his son to please every
body in the matter of riding their
jackass, or as it is for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle.
There is some talk of an effort to
restore the income tax, which, with
all the outcry against it, is the near
est possible approach TO q just and
correct tax. 1t is manifestly a
sound proposition that the men who
make the money are best able to bear
the burdens. The government pro-
tects them in their business. and
property, and they can afford to pay
the expenses. Not one man in TWEEN
ty but if guaranteed an income OF
ST., 500 per annum will agree to pay
a tax of two to three per cent. on al
over that, and it isn't a hardship
either. The objections on account
of the inquisitorial character of the
law, and the fact that it opens the
way to false swearing in making re-
turns, are not of sufficient weight.
Men who will commit perjury in re-
turning their incomes, will do it
wherever their interests are involved,
and we might as well waive all other
forms of affirmation where these de-
ficient moral organizations are con-
cerned. But your correspondent is
not a political economist, and has not
set out to write an essay on taxation.
A subcommittee charged with the
duty of preparing a bill meets daily,
and expects to complete the work by
the middle of January. Business
men from all parts of the country
are already writing for information
as to the probable scope of the mea-
sure, and as many as fifty letters per
day are received by the committee.
giving information and profering
advice on many parts ofthe customs
and internal revenue laws.
The pressure for appointments to
positions in every department of the
government, is as great now as at
any time heretofore. Every change
of administration brings in a new set
of ~aspirants, and there is for a few
months a furious charge Of the outs
against the sins.' This is always the
case. But at present times are SO
hard and other ~avocations are SC
generally unremuneratiye that an un-
usual number of all sorts of people
turn longing eyes toward the public
crib. Consulships are in great de-
mand, and hundreds of men influen-
tial and supposed to be well to do at
home, have been here the past two
months pressing their claims upon
the appointing power through theil
Congressional delegations. 1t is moi
unusual to find a dozen or more mel
working desperately for the same pc
sition. 1t is said there are about
nine thousand ofthese applicants fol
consulships, the whole number Of
consuls being five hundred, and va
cancies none-a pleasant prospect
for candidates of mature age. Drop
ping from this higher grade to the
smaller places, like clerkships in the
Departments, there is a countless
swarm of applicants, both male ant
female. Handsome young ladies have
generally succeeded where Others
could not, because members of Con
gress would work for them as though
; they "meant business;" bnt ever
these now meet with disheartenins
rebuffs. An accomplished and pre-
possessing young lady from Penn
sylvania, with numerous recommend
atoms, went to the Treasury Depart
ment accompanied by two Influential
members of Congress from that State
, but was met with the stereotypet
answer mo vacancies" They thel
:, applied for a place on the temporar,
roll, as is frequently done now, ow
ing to the great necessities of som
|. of the applicants, and were answer
, ed that the appropriations were in
sufficient, also that the State hat
! more than its quota of appointments
For a year past more attention ha
7 been paid to the regulation requir
ing places to be distributed pro ia
, ia among the states, and where tn
proportion of any state has been ex
, ceeded further appointments are dii
( fcult to obtain. The best advic
, that can he given to all, especial,
ladies, is to remain away from Wash
ingtoa. Go anywhere, do anything
=. honorable, rather than seek plac
r here. Many a sad story could be re
lated of bright and beautiful live
blighted in the bloom OF their sweet
est promise by leaving humble bu
happy homes for the life of a cler
in some of the departments. Th
dismissals of the past year hav
r worked great hardships in man
f cases, and no doubt numerous il
stances of great injustice could b
, related. But it all comes within tn
! arena of politics, and the ways of pc
t iticians will ALWAYS be dark and dt