The daily gazette., 1881-12-14
From the Baltimore Sun.
The Reduction of Federal Taxa
tiOn.

NhS VI
tiOn.
Probably no portion Of President
Arthur's message was more favorable
received than the passage III which the
President declares his hearty cuncnrr-
ence in the recommendations OF the Sec
retary OF the Treasury In favor OF a
reduction of the burdens of taxation.
The feasibility of such reduction is
easily apparent. The ordinary reven-
ues OF the government from all source.
for the last fiscal year were 500, 1872
292.57. The ordinary expenditures were
$Z60,7l2,SS7 59-ieayIng a surplus rev
enue OF Sl0O, ,060, ,404 9s, which was ap
piled to the redemption oi The publlc
debt. For the current fiscal year the
receipts are estimated a: 800 10000
and the expenditures, ,irclnding S70,0OO,-
600 for pensions, al S270,O0O,00O, leay-
Jog a surprise OF $l30,0J0,0Op. For the
next fiscal yeai, ending June 30, 1855,
the receipts are estimated at S4OO,OOU,-
900, and The expenditures, including
800, ,00o,' 90 for peus,ons, at S3I0,0OO,-
900 Gin round numbers,) lesving a sur
plus OF 500, ,000, 900, (abou,.) II the pre-
sent ratio of receipts and expenditures is
kept up, the public deb: now existing
will be paid oil IN the next ten years.
"In view OF the large sum thai has been
paid by the present generation upon
tnst debt" says the > cre,ary oi the
Treasury in his repoIt,"and OF the heavy
taxation that now hears upon the indus
tries and business OF Ibis couniry,it seems
just and proper that another generation
should meet portion Of he debt, and
that the burdens now laid upon the
country should be lightened."
With the exception of the large APP
Propria' ion which will be required TO
meet the arrearages Of pensions, with
which the country WAS saddled by the
unwise and demagogicll legislation of
the last Congress, for which both
political parties must be held equally
responsible, there Is nothing which
can be at present fOrescen likely to
cause a material increase in tbs ex-
pendI' ures Of the government. Judge
Folger, whc, considering the brief
time he has been at the head of the
treasury, seems to have "A, quifed an
equally rapid and thorough grasp of
the various subjects couneced with
lht 10 NOV AT l'lHN 10 SNOW
how a reduction Of taxes. u Congress
is so disposed, may be effected. The
receipts from internal Ict ure for the
last year were abouL 81 GOO, 900 in
in excess of ihos3 oi iuc preceding
year. amounting in he aggregate to
$l35 900, 900. The revenue from GUS
toms during tho same period was
l9S,ouO,OOO, being i, - al increase OF
over 81 ,000, 600 ovel .tr preceding
year. A reduction, say ; the SECRETARY
explicitly, may be made IN both
classes of taxes. lnasmuch as a Te-
ductipn of the venues from customs
can only b arrived at hy reyis Oh of
the tariff and 'edGc'ipH OF topcal of
duties which are eshtr excessive ut
unnecessary, ami SIMPLY operate AZ
subsidies or bonn.ics in favor Of "pro-
tsc'ed' interests, tho secretary makes
no specific tecommcudA iods, but
SIMPLY rs at'en lea - he fac that
there Is room Ion a rrdurtian. Rut
with respect 10 the revenue derived
from lint-rnAi tGyeHue, Judge Folper
does not hcst1'c 10 Hpsafy what
taxes, III hs "pIui,u, ought Ia he
v.
the Sl35, 900, goo of revenue deriy.d
from his srurco the greater pirt is
from taxes on spin 5, tobacco aud fer
mented Liquors.
As long as reVchuo In shc,i arre
amounts IS needed the Lax on these Ar.
tlcles, winch Is A tax on app irits and In
dulgtnces, legitimate subjects OF lava
ton need not b. ll.ttened. Tne inter
nal revenue laXrs are the tax ON hank
checks, winch is a AK on business trat.s.
actions, Irritating and hampefinc IN is
nature, aud tile lax on matches. An anti
Gle OF necessary, daily ard hanrly con
sumption. These should be tak.u
IN. 1t IL be o &C ed thatZthe re-.
moval ol the lax on ma ches would tor
reduce the price Of the article lie con
silmer, The Secretary replies That hat re-.
| mains 10 be seen, and thai IL il certain
| that where the Lax enters 50 larurl, Into
| The cnst OF the manufacture, HE ability
to purcl ase STAMPS in Large qianti,irs
| gives 10 capital an advantage aud opera
les 10 the prejudice oi he small mattI.
iactufcr- SO with respect to HE tax ON
pfoptie airy med cluss pe.inmeries. r..
which is stated TO have practically had
the effect Of driving Amrnc IN perftim
cries out uf the Mexican and Spanish.
American markets. Th, tax on bank
deposits and circulation is 50 suggest. d
as enc that may with prupIety be
iessebed or taken IT, as The eXice Icies
OF revenue may require. The simple
st ttement Of the Tact thai the sufulus
revenues OF the government amou. .ited
last year 10 one hundred millions, and
Will amount this year TO Que hundred
aud thirty M lions, carries rs own moral
with 1t. Such a surplus not only shows
that the country is bsing taxed beyond
what the actua! necessities of the gov.
ernment justify and require, but the
existence OF such surplus is a constant
temp all"n to ex'raVagahce, TO reckless
schemes OF expenditure and plunter, to
raids ippn tue treasury. The z csident
ahd The Secretary co cur IN insisting
that if there is TO be surplus the la "
should prescribe exactly how it is to Ne
applied, aad not leave il to the iudg
Beht or discretion of the head of TIC
Treasury Department. Secretary Folpe,
evidently, and o his great credit, has nc
desire to fiji the role, which Secretary
boutwell, seemed 10 think peculiarly
Il ted to his genius and official 10 ition.
1f tmelafy divinity OF Wall stree, con.
trolling tie surplus ia The treasury, now
tightening, now relaxing his hold upon
according to the varying exgencps OF
the "ndIket" and the "stIeetn