The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-26
The Tobacco Tax vs. an income Tax AK
,r,a ,,,rf ber, and eastern Journals almost

The Tobacco TAX We. an Income Tax AK
the northern and eastern Journals almost 1
an fenonnce the proposed income tax as
nni,,st and unconstitutional and Intended
only 10 relieve the South aud the Wet OF q
TAX Mt The expense OF New England and the
North Middle States. Men are almost al
ways so blinded by selfish considerations as
TO be unable TO form correct opinions as TO
any measure which touches their pockets.
Although there are only few thousand
persons In even the largest cities who WIN
be affected by the income tax, the editors OF
Che New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia.
and Boston papers have persuaded them
selves that a large majority OF the voters are
Immensely hostile to a tax on incomes over
twothousand dollars, or, we might say, con-
sidering the exemptions. over three thou-
sand dollars. In Virginia only 1890 people
paid the last Federat income tax. Not more
than thousand viii have to pay the pro-
posed tax. In New York city not one man
i'm twenty will be affected by Ii. So it will
be everywhere.
Notwithstanding that so small number
OF persons will have to pay the proposed
jncome tax, and nobody who viii rot first
be allowed to. deduct sum sufficient for
his comfortable maintenance, the Yankee
paDers protest that it would be much better
to perpetuate the existing outrageous tax
upon tobacco than to impose an income tax.
The Philadelphia Bulletin naively remarks !:
..wbiie the Virginia eN-rebels in Con-
press are persuading that BODY 20 reduce
the tax OH tobacco the British Governments
is adding to its revenue by increasing IL.
'rhe Chancellor Of the EXcheqNer has Just
proposed an additional tax OF ten per cent.
upon the commodity. In 1876 the TOBACCO
tax in England produced net pront TO the
Government OF .G7,I3l,000. The Increased
tay is expected to WELD during the current
financial wear GS,623, 900, or over S40,0C0,-
600. The British Government has to meet
this wear the very heavy extra expenses
caused by the vast preparations for war,
and it has wisely determined TO place the
larger part OF the burden upon the con-
sumers Of luxury rather than upon those
who use only the neCcSSarieS OF lie"
The Bulletin thus classes incomes over
two thousand dollars among the " hece>sa.
ries of life" 1t repeats this singular blum
der:
ibis method OF obtaining revenue com
mendS itself to common sense, for man
need not chew or smoke tobacco unless he
chooses to do so, and If he deliberately pre-
fe;s TO indulge bis artificial appetite be can
not reasonably object TO having tax placed
upon the article he consumes rather than
upon those things that are necessary to life"
Virginia finds her chief business on the
downward road to ruin, and is merely try
Ing TO save herself. The unjust tax on to.
bacco is throwing the business OF manu-
featuring it into the hands OF Yankee ma
hobs and spectators. 1t is shameful that
the people of Virginia should be thus OPP
pressed in the interest OF the ml!ionnaires
of the North, who thus at one and the same
time ill their own pockets with money and
make their poor neighbors pay more than
double prices for tobacco.
A report prepared last year by RAN.
TUCKER contains a few figures that will
open the eyes OF people who suppose that
the income tax was removed for the public
benefit. In 1867, when the income tax was
in force, the New England States paid
S46,915,S29 of internal revenue, but in
1875, after the removal OF that tax, those
States paid only S4,003, 155-not one tenth
OF their former dues, whilst the South Mid
die States among them Virginia) paid in
1857 Sa2, 631 ,4O6, and in 1875 $26, 1S1, 412-a
large Increase. We quote Mr.. fuckers
figures:
Northea stern 1867. 1873.
States. .S46,9 5,e2S AZ 2.CO3.Is0 ~
Middle States... 95 ,0S2,021 50 24,l2O,642 20
Northwe stern
States. 45,144,3G4 II 43,fI6,O9f 10
South Middle
StateS........ %, 63l,4OG is 26,lS1,f1Z ff
The Pacific States paid less In 1875; ana
the Cotton States very little-ths latter
owing to the repeal OF the cotton tax.
The above figures snow clearly why the
South and the West desire to have the in
come tax restored.