The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-05
RAUM'S REPORT.
Points of the Report OF the Commissioner
of Internal acknowledgements
and Suggestions submittsd-Considera
Reduction Feasible

AAeuuttAoh Iedsibics
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The report of L. b.
RaGm, commissioner OF internal revenue,
has been submitted to the secretary of the
treasury. 1t begins with the topic of reduc-
ing taxation, as follows; Receipts of inter.
nal revenue taxation have increased from
$ll3O 600 in the fiscal year OF 1879 to $l23,-
100000 in 1850, Sl35, 100000 in 1881, and to
$li6 1000 in round figures. IN the fiscal
last ended. There will probably be some
diminution in reports Of the present
fiscal year, as compared with last year.
but it is not likely the collection
of internal revenue for the current yoar
will fall below Sll5,O000V0, should taxes
now imposed be retained. 1t is an old and
sound maxim that no more revenue should
be raised than is necessary for the economi-
cal administration of government and the
gradual reduction of the public debt,
although taxation may be so wisely
adjusted, as not to operate rs u
severe burden upon the people. When
the amount collected is beyond the actual
needs OF the government there is presented
constant temptation to extravaganza in ap'
preparations. Another consideration at
tending the exciting overlooking condition
of tho public treasury cannot have failed to
attract your notice. If the present rate OF
paying the principal of the public debt be
continued, all bonds subject to call will be
paid within three years, after which the
government be compelled, in order to dis
pose of its surplus revenue, to buy
Ill open market Al per cent.
bonds, which fall due in 1891,
or per cent bonds, winch fall due in 1901.
should the government thus become an
active purchaser of these bonds before ma
turity, it seems clear they would advance
in pay, which would be regarded as waste
OF the peoples money. 1t seems to me ju-
dicious that the principal OF the public
debt should be extingushed as originally
contemplated only rs necessary to meet
the requirements of the sinking
fund, viz: to the extent of
about S55,OOO,0O0 per annum. Therefore
it becomes obvious that a reduction from
$6OO1O,0OO to S10,0OO,OOO OF revenue of the
country coald be safely entered upon, amt
in my Judgment, such reduction is urgently
called for. The great bulk of internal
revenue taxation is derived from spirits
malt liquors, tobacco and cigars. These are
articles OF Injuries, taxes upon which are
really paid by consumers, and no one need
consume them. | am strongly of opinion
bllut 81 lbllB 10 wv pllhNlHIc w h'llNhlS
part of the revenue of the government from
internal taxation il retained, these articles
and dealers therein are proper subjects for
taxation. There is no demand on the part
| of consumers of these products for remis
| sion of taxes imposed upon them there is
! no public sentiment calling for their repeal.
The other objects of internal revenue taxa
ton, with amounts realized therefrom during
| the past fiscal year are Friction matches,
S3,2I2,2jS patent medicines, periumery,
etc, Sl,07S,305; bank checks, $2,3lS, l55;
bank deposits, 1900, OIL; savings bank de-
posits, $SS,iO0 bank capital, Sl,l3S,3iO
savings bank capital, $li,7I. Add to
these items the tax collected by the treasurer
of the United States from national banks,
and there is total derived from these
sources of S7S,7iS,22 Tito the lS,75O,0OO
reduction thus proposed, congress should
add reduction in charges of special
taxes TO dealers in articles taxed for
internal revenue, substantially as proposed
in the bill now pending in the senate, no
| further diminuton of taxation need be at
tanned, and supervision over dealers in tax
able articles, which experience has shown
to be necessary III order to fully and fairly
collect taxes from all alike, will be pre-
served. Reducing all these special taxes 10
per cent, romissionS under this head would
| wv 80 i'llpNo' WI NliN biNlo va lhAi NfNl ,
collections: $3,0O7 ,0O5; March LIST, 1879, re.
| ducod tax on tobacco from q cents per
| pound to IL cents per pound,
but did notreduce the tax on cigars and
cigarettes correspondence tie reduction on
cigars would he to 81 per 1000, This,
think, should be done, and would amount
to reduction OF taxes of SO, 10000; this
would make total reduction OF internal
revenue taxes, including taxes on national
banks, of SIS, 502, lbs. Tariff revision is also
considered by the commissioner He says:
! venture to suggest whether it is not
a trabc to consider the practicability OF
taking duty of sugar. About 1000 VO, OW
pounds of sugar are annually consumed in
the United States, 10 per cent. of which is
produced in this country. Upon tho 500.
OOO,OOO imported the government realizes
q revenue of Si5, 600, 600. Should this duty
be removed there would be not only GER
tain and large reduction of revenue but the
benefit of that reduction would immediately
inurc to the people. The best refined SUI.
gar, which now sells at 10 cents per pound
retail, could be sold nj cents if dutic.
were removed, and the total reduction
would amount to 30 cents per capita
per annum OF the entire population OF tn,
country. The objection to this measure
would be the abolition OF protection now
and other states. This difficulty wight b,
met by giving a bounty, say of y cents PEI
pound on all home productions. The pres
cnt law gives the sugar planters OF THU
country Indirectly about Si,0O0,000 or So,
+ 0OO,OO per annum. My proposition woulC
be to give them this amount directly ant
let the whole people have the benefit o
the reduction of taxation of, say SIS,
OD,OW, which would i'll th
way be effected The principle of paying
a bounty for the encouragement and de
velopment d American industry wa
adopted in the case of the fish cries as earl,
rs 1918 and continued Tor more than lift,
years. Millions had been paid out duriuJ
this period to American fishermen for tiSl
. caught and exported, and We are still givir,
this industry bonus-allowing then
, withdrawal OF salt free of duty and requir
ing from them no tonnage. These reduc
tons, If made, would amour
to $1S,502,l2 S. Rcceipts of interna
revenue taxation the fiscal year of lSs
were SlS5, 200l2; for 1852, Slis, 52S, 2iS in
crease, Sll,DO,S6l; receipts first fou
months OF the present fiscal year, compared
with the corresponding months OF the pas
r fiscal year, show an increase received from
special taxes and decrease in distilled spir
, its, increase In cigars and charoots, cigar
q cites, snuff and special tax ON dealers il
, manufactured tobacco and u decrease in TN
, amount received from all other taxes on 10
bacco and the tobacco trade, increase /,
amount received from special taxes OF
brewers aud dealers In beer, increase OF
bank deposits and bank circulation, an,
Z decrease on taxes of every other ChnraCip