Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-07-26
INTERNAL REVENUE
SYSTEM.

ITS ABOLITION NOT IMPRACTCABLE-
ANOTHER ABLE LETTER FROM CON
GRESHAM ROBBINS.
SrATEsv1LLE, N. c., July II, 1877.
To the Editors Of the Neaos:
SIR: L have read with much inter
est the letter of my colleague, Col
Waddell, in which he agrees with
me as to the desirability Of abolish
ing the Internal Revenue system
but points ont some of the obstacle:
in the way to this reform, handling
the subject with his usual ability
and accuracy of information. It is
perfectly tue that there are diff
culties to be overcome in the &C.
complishment of this object, and
much more is required than mere
blind resolve to repeal the law
regardless of consequences. The
public credit must be preserved, and
the necessary expenses of the gov
ernment are to met. Adequate
provision for both of these purposes
must of course be embraced in any
statcsmanlike proposition to abolish
the Internal Revenue system.
When Napoleon's engineers re-.
ported to him that to cross the Alps
would be an undertaking incredibly
toilseme and difficult, he replied, 81
did not send you to learn that---1
knew that before. But can it be
done 2" And when they answered
that it was Just possible it might be,
he said. "Then 60 at it, To
abolish the Internal Revenue syso
tenn may not be easy; it may re
quire profound wisdom in our law
makers and real administrative
ability in the executive; but in my
opinion it is not impossible and
should be undertaken.
Let us look at few figures. The
amount of money raised from In
ternal Revenue during the fiscal
year Just ended on june 3Oth ult.,
was fraction over S119,000,000.
The annual expenses of the system
itself are over $4,000, 700. To do
without it, then, we should have to
adopt some plan by which the
SIP, 100000, net, realized in this
way might be made up by either an
increase of income from other
sources or decrease i'll the current
disbursements of the government,
or by both of these processes.
The tariff produced last year
about $13O,0OO,OOo, so I see stated
unotficially, the official report not
having yet reached me. The esti
mates OF the Secretary were for
S127,OOO,O00. For the last five
years there has been continual
falling off in the receipts from this
source. The general depression in
business may partly account for
this, but it is mainly due to the
unsound principles upon which our
present tariff is framed. No one
who has studied the subject will
deny that in tic existing law high
duty is imposed on many important
articles not for the sole and only
legitimate purpose of producing
revenue to the Treasury but more
for the purpose of checking the i'm.
portation Of snch articles, SO as to
give the American manufacturer
exclusive control of the market
here. In these cases the Treasury
derives little benefit from the duty;
but we who consume the commodity
pay high price for it because there
is less competition and a smaller
supply. Put lower duty on sucl,
articles, import more of them, get
larger revenue from Your aggre
gate importation, and sell them
lower to to the consumer, because
the supply of them in the country
is larger. This is the true and the
equal principle. Does any one say
this will crush out our mauufac.
turers ! reply, surely they ought
by this time to be able to stand
alone against fair competition after
we have paid them bonuses for fifty
until the manufacturing States are
rolling in wealth drawn from the
others. Let our tariff, therefore,
be now remodeled so as to bring in
the most revenue possible without
favor to or oppression of any class.
| am confident if this were done, a
larger income would accrue to the
Treasury through this channel, and
the general burden upon the peo.
pie not be increased.
Leaving aside all speculative
theories, one fact staLds out. In
1872, only five years ago, the tariff
brought us an income of (S216,-
BIC, 0,286.77) over two hundred ard
sixteen million dollars. Why may
it not be made to do so again p
But suppose we shape it so it will
return us but 100000, 900 annual.
ly-or $7O,O00,OOO more than the
| last year. This would leave ms