Daily Republican., 1882-03-21
rax on epacco an d L,ano, F.,


Had the Republicans in Congress
submitted to the proposed reduction OF
the government tax on whiskey and TO-
bacco, the revenue wOuld have lost
some S6S, OOO, 600, a considerable amount
of money it must be admitted. The IT,
peal of the taxes on matches, proprle-
yary medicines, checks, deposits and
CAPITAL would he eminently wise and
proper, and this reduction was recon-
mended by the Secretary OF the Ireasu-
nv. This would remove veXatious tax
burdens, which yield to the Treasury
about Sl1, 500, 900 and which, in some
respects seriously retard the natural
and healthful development of legitimate
business. The proposed reduction OF
the tax on matches and medicines, will
no doubt meet with much violent and
foolish objection, but it is nevertheless
desirable and ought at once to be made.
The same cannot be said of the pro-
posed reduction of taxes on liquors and
tobacco. Whatever may be thought OF
these branches of business, they have
certainly not been hiudered in their
development by the taxes now imposed.
The production of spirits last year
reached the enormous and unpreceden-
ted aggregate of 1l7,72s,l 80 gallons
against IS, 103O53 gallons in 1873, so
that it will be seen the production has
nearly doubled in three years. The in
crease in the production of termented
liquors in the same time has been from
9.47O, 900 barrels in 1873 to Is, 237 200
barrels in 1881, an increase Of 40 per
cent, while the increase in population
has been less than ten per cent. The
increase in the production of tobacco,
has been from 119, 400, 900 pounds in
1878, to 16l, 631, 1OS pounds in 1881, or
nearly 40 per cent, but the increase in
the manufacture of cigars and cigar.
cites has been more than fifty per cent
Therefore no one can say that these
branches of production have been ser-
ously interfered with by excessive tex
es, Yet in the face of this it is proposed
to take off taxes amounting to So, $780,
GOO from these very articles which at
the best are only luxuries of life that
the people would not miss in the happi.
ness and prosperity of their lives ii they
were not manufactured.
If the government can spare so much
revenue, there are other industries
which are more beneficial to the public
that might come and claim at least a
share Of the bene fit. The whole reve.
nue. from sugar and molasses of all
kinds IS only $4S. 600, 600, not so much
as that on tobacco, but the industrious
and temperate workmen throughout the
land would be helped to the extent at
least of five dollars year fer each fami-
ly by the removal Of these duties, if so
much can really be spared. A very
large proportion of these families would
gain nothing by the abrogation of tax
on liquors and tobacco, because they
use neither of them to any great extent,
but there are hardly any who donot use
sugar and molasses. 1t is not wise
craftsmanship to reduce the tax on
luxu1ies which are really no benefit to
the people in general sense and not
to reduce it on articles of diet which are
used every day upon the table Of the
moor man as well on the table of the rich
man. Whoever pleases can avoid the
payment of taxes on liquor and tobac-
CO, or can SO regulate his indulgences
as to render these taxes as light as he
plea SEES, but no family can avoid the
burdens imposed by duties on sugar,
salt, spices or imported drugs,or many
other articles upon which duties might
be reduced without detri ment to indus
tries. Aside from all this, the Repub.
lican party cannot afford to take up the
Demo craric policy Of faVoring the liz.
Uor and tobacco interests hey ono every
o5her interest.