The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-20
The TOBACCO Tax.

THE failure OF the efforts TO reduce tle
tax on oSacco is 4 siat!ersaf restet. Much
injury to the freshness Of the tobaesc.g
iag and manufacturing communities has.
been inflicted BY tho long period Of nncer-
tainty daring the consideration OF the cues
tion by Congress, and injury must stu flow
from the undecided condition in which the
subject has been left. Better Far that the pro-
position for reduction should have been de-
feated upon a direct vote, because That Woa.d
have settled the matter for 8 reasonable pc
Rod, so that business might have been re-
sumed upon the presumption that there
would be no more agitation for a good
while.
But the matter is lett in . condition I'M
favorable to business. The House OF Rep
reseutatives. by a decided majority, voted
to reduce the tax, while in the Senate, al
though the reduction was supposed to be
favored by majority, it failed under the
rules OF order and for the want OF time.
This stimulates the advocates OF reduction,
while those who opposed it with such en-
ergy and lavish expenditure fad in the re-
suit no real victory for their side.
Business is therefore left'in a staSe o! anX-
iety not favorable to successful progress.
Both parties to the great war must feel that
such state OF things is really beneficial to
nobody.
The tobacco tax is q bUrthen hurtfui to
tobacco-culture and trade. The commodity
being az article OF luxury the tax is paid
by the consumer; but all tobacco-men
know how the imposition shackles business
and cyipples enterprise and ambition. 1t
tends steadily to the pamperine OF monopo-
lies, and they are ever nnfavorab!e to the
development OF the energies Of youthful
capacity and ambition; unfavorablc to
the diffusion OF the fruits OF industry and
enterprise.
The contest about the tax has been con-
Quoted with uncommon activity and earn
estncss. The representatives OF Virginia
have generally displayed marked devotion
to the interests OF their constituents.
1t has been uncomfortable to an observer
who wanted 10 think we'll OF our Govern
ment to see what a show Of activity and
lobby agents OF noted monopolists. Ger
tainly there was too much OF that sort OF
thin" for the political health OF national
legislation.
One other thing that was conspicuous and
censurabie was the open aid given by Gov
ernmcut officials to the exertions Of the
party opposed to the reduction OF the to-
bacco tax. It was matter OF publicity that
the Anniversaries Of reduction consulted pub
lie officers as to the best means OF defeating
reduction. This was transcending the linz
its OF official duty and propriety. Upon q
question OF public policy OF such a charac-
ter as this tobacco tax it was obtruSiye in
termeddlinS. The people through their
representatives should exercise the right to
shape taxation TO suit them, and though it
is the right and duty OF the President to
communicate bis views upon questions OF
policy, it is entirely improper and obtrusive
for subaltern officers to become active par
ties to struggle in Congress over Z ques-
ton OF policy.
Although the question, as we say, has
been left in condition uniavorable to the
good order OF business, there is yet 4 period
OF rest from agitation, which will give much
time to arecuperation from the uneXampled
stagnation which attended the great strug-
gle. It has been especially unfortunate for
those who deserve always the fair conside-
ration Of Government-thoSe Of limited
means, whose chief reliance is their personal
energy and sagacity. Large and wealthy con-
Germs could stand UP under the expressions
incident TO the untoward state OF things,
while those OF CONSTRUCTED resources were
unable to maintain active operations.
It is bad policy to select any branch OF
domestic industry for excessive taxation.
The productive energies OF the people
should be impartially. regarded, and all are
equally entitled to the fostering care OF GOV
eminent. The productions CT the land
should bring all their worth in market. The
gains upon their cultivation go to the in
crease OF the wealth OF the nation, and
whenever they are diminished or impaired
by the perpicxities OF government lnterfer-
ence there follow en- amount OF discomfort
and legislative disturbance that can never
be compensated by revenue.
This tobacco tax is an mposition-partlsi
and uneaual-and is therefore hostile TO toe
genius OF our Government. and nourlshes
discord and discomfort.
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