Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-23
The Demand for a Reduction OF Tax
ofTou

alton.
For the fiscal year which ended on
June s0th last, the total revenue OF the
government was $500, 600, 600, of which
S190, 900, 900 came from customs,
SCI, zoo, 900 from miscellaneous sources
and $135, 600. 900 from internal revenue
This total of $S60,O00,0O0 was
500, 900, 900 greater than the necessi-
ties of the government called for, and
the public debt was accordingly reduced
by that amount. OF the 1885,, 900, 600
derived from internal revenue taxation.
SCI. 1856. 900, 500 came from liquors,
s3s. $40. 14O from tobacco, SIS, 1929, SOB
from beer. and $11, 100000 from bank
capital, matches, patent medicines,
perfumeries, etc. There being
popular demand for reduction
of taxation, on the ground
that 500, 900, 900 is too heavy an annual
draft upon the country's resources, the
protectionists have taken the field in an
attempt to dictate the articles upon
which the inevitable reduction Of taxa
ton shall occur. Fearing that customs
will at least share in the reduction, and
the amount of protection be thus dimin-
ished, they propose that the cut down
shall be confined to internal revenue
taxation, and they are even willing, in
their eagerness to stave off a decrease Of
customs, that the entire internal revenue
system shall be abolished. This, they
believe, would not only necessitate a re-
tention of the present customs, but
probably an increase of duties.
On this subject the New York Times
Rep.) says:
There is no possible Justification for con-
tinuing to collect so enormous revenue as is
now taken from the earnings Of the people. II
Is in every sense . burden, and though the a.
from being felt, It is none the less an unneceS-
sary, objectionable, and inexcusaole burden
This fact is generally recognized Demands
for she reduction or taxes are being every
where made. Even the extreme protection
lists, with view to defending the taxes so
profitable to themselves, are asking for an
abolition OF various internal revenue taxes.
Mr.. Senator Cameron is said 70 look for the re-
peal OF the tobacco tax; another Pennsylvania
publicist wishes the wiping out OF the tax on
liquors as we'll; the Protectionist Convention,
to meet in New York IN November, on the
eve of the opening of Congress, will urge
reduction OF internal revenue. On the
other hand those who recognize the untAirness
and impolitic character OF many OF the Gus
toms dues will urge reduction OF these dues
on machinery, on raw materials, and on the
cruder forms Of imports serving as raw mate
rails for extensive branches or manufactures.
AT the same time, the repeal OF the taxes on
bank capital and on deposits OF banks and
bankers, the stamp tax on checks and matches
and several other like exactions will be urged
with great earnestness. In one form or anoth-
er, Congress viii be compelled 20 take up this
question, and il is not likely to adjourn with
out some decisive actiOn upon il. Reduction
of taxes is the only rational and permanent So
luton of the problem OF the application OF the
surplus revenue"
This is brave talk-fsr drawer than
aught which appeared in Republican
papers during the Presidential campaign
of last year. They did not then advo-
cate any reduction Of taxation, as it
would have affrighted the protectionists,
and the Republican campaign was being
run upon the principle Of protection.
And most assuredly they did not then
urge any reduction Of custom dues; on
the contrary, they were upholding the
present tariff as perfection itself and as
absolutely necessary in order to prevent
''the disastrous competition Of Euro
pean pauper labor with our free Ameri-
can labor" They then denounced the
alleged Democratic intention of revising
the tariff as a deadly blow at American
manufactures, and sowed broadcast over
the land comparisons OF American and
European wages of labor, accompanied
by assertions that tariff revision meant a
reduction of American wages to the
European starvation point"