The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-01
nAo 1n,ornal.Revonne syetem.

THO Internal-Revenue System.
The annual report OF Mr.. RAux, Com
m,ss,oner Of the Internal-Royenue Depart
men,, shows very clearly that he as The
head Of the thousands OF officers who live
hv meats OF that Department, has no idea
that II viii now or ever be abolished. Ana
vet his own report suggests many reasons
why Il should be legislated OIL the lace OF
the earth.
wirst. II is en- outrage upon the tax
paycrs OF the country that siS5,0oo,OOo
should be collected from them In this way
merely to pay of the national debt IN a
hurry. Il clearly appears that the GOV.
eminent can get along very well without
any revenue whatever from internal taxes.
Daring the last fiscal year The Government
n9id oil more than a hundred millions OF
ihc nublic debt. II did this by making
Virginia nay six millions Of dollars OF
taxes, principally upon her tobacco, The
rsccipts OF he Government Tor the cur
rent fiscal year indicate that q surplus OF
asa. 000. 600, TO he devoted 20 the reduc-
lion Of the national debt, viii be collected
this year. Clearly, then, the entire Inter-
nal-Reyenuc Department may be abolished
and still leave more revenue than is neeGed
20 carry on the Government and Pay the
interest Oh the national debt.
The tax on tobacco is an odious one to
tleplantcrs and manufacturers OK Virginia.
Il discourages The starting Of new factories,
and encourages monopolies. Il enables
wealthy northern manufacturers to drive
out of the business here hundreds Of men
who would be glad to continue in it il 1t
were not for the tax. We know, Of course,
that the consumer pays the fax on tobacco;
bet that fact does not Offset the many oblcc-
fions 10 such tax. Mr RAUN would have
Tic internal faxes confined to tobacco and
LIQUORS OF various sorts. Tie persons who
manufacture these articles would, however,
be- leave 10 diGer with him in regard 20
that matter. They cannot see the wisdom
Of collecting more than hundred millions
oi dollars OF unnecessary revenue merely
because that revenue Is rawnfrom tobacco
and spirituous and malt liquors.
= few million, Of dollars may seem to
be q small surplus Tor the Government TO
have. now ,hlt we have been 30 long accus-
toned 20 4 surplus Of nearly hundred
millions But, inst, a proper revision Of
the iariH Will cause the cusioms-dUties to
Weld q larger revenue, the present tariff
being a patchwork put together by inter-
c,ted parties. And, secondly, a small sur
plus leads 10 economy, whilst q large one
tends 70 extravaganza. We have dealt in
millions until we cannot come down 10
thousand. But the sooner we learn TO do
so The better Tor the country.
The internal-rcynuc system is prolifco OF
prosecutions, prosecutions, and offences
against the law. II fosters disloyalty and
feeds sectionalism. Il annoys the intelli-
gent and prosperous, and eXaSperates the
Door and ignorant. Ii costs the Govern
ment million, OF dollars TO prosecute the
offenders against those intricate, searching,
and abominable laws. Think Of it: Sj9
Illicit Gistilleries seized and l,5l0 Illicit
distllers arrested in one year! Why, that's
worse than Ireland. New laws are de-
manded, too, for the protection OF the Off
GERS engaged in executing these laws.
What sort OF laws can they be? Away with
them.
Look again: Seventy banks owing an
average of over ten thousand dollars each
under these laws! How did it happen?
The laws are ambiguous. The banks did
not know they owed the money. The debt
i an old one.
Look, again, at the thousands of small
manufacturers whom these laws drive out
and keep out Of business for Themselves
mateh-makers, cigar-makers, &C., &c.
Finally, let us be rid OF spies on our
business, and of oflice-holders subscribing
money by the thousands to defeat the real
people of the South at the ballot-boX.