Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-23

loss TO the Treasury could not be less
than $40,0OO,000. According to the ex-
p-ressions ofthose engaged in pushing
the reduction of internal revenue taxa
ton, not less than $780, 900, 200 will salts
fy them.
That a reduction in taxation is desira-
bic we have long held, but, as pointed
out by Secretary Folger, in his admira-
BILE report, il should be 8 reduction
which would, as far as possible, relieve
all allie. This would undoubtedly be
the case IS to the tax ON checks, on
matci es, and on banking capital, for
these ne taxes which, though directly
paid by q class, are transferred through
the em ire business ofthe country. But
in the matter oftaxes on hqnors and TO-
bacco, not only are these paid by a frac-
AtiOnal part Of the community, but they
are paid for luxuries, but W this class
would receive no benefit from the reduc-
ton. These commodities are sold to the
consumer in small quantities. Theprice
is conventional, and varies very slightly
whatever may be the cost to the manu-
facturer, iobber, or retailer. Ii Is in such
small sums that q variation proportion
ate 10 the reduction in the tax would De
hardly appreciate, and the commodl-
ties being luxuries, the diminutlon
| would oniy rarely be demanded by n
! consumer All the conditions for a re-
ductiOn of price following a reduction IN
| cost due to a lower tax are wanting. As
eompared with a very large number OF
/ the tariff taxes, u reduction Of the inter-
nal . rates on ~liauorsand tobacco
would, in this respect, be positively III
, significant.
Two interests onlyseem to be actively
engaged in the movement for the educ
ton of the internal revenue tax. One
is, of course, the manufacturing interest,
which would necessarily reap arlch mar
vest. Just in proportion as the aoate-
mept of taxation failed to be profitable
to the consumer, il would be profitable
to the distillers and tobacco manutae-
turers and, though in q less degree, to
the iobbers in these trades. The other
interest il that Of the industries highly
protected under the present tariff, n
7 K is largely under this influence that the
movement is pressed. They have read
ily aroused the hopes and secured the
eo-operation of the whisky and tobacco
men by the promise ofwhat would clear
ly be, in effect, a gift of some forty to
I fifty million dollars. They will lind
their own account in the obstacle which
a reduction in internal revenue taxes
would present to any serious changes in
the tariff. 1t is, indeed, not at all i'm
possible that if $50, 0OO, 900 should be
taken from the revenue by the reduction
of internal taxes, the pr~otectionists
might push for an addition to some OF
the tariff rates, and particularly might
press such measures as the NC
KINLEY bill, which with a
very innocent . avowed purpose is
meant to draw the meshes of the tariff
dragnet a little closer. But We can
hardly imegine that the present Con-
gress would venture upon such leglsla-
ton as this. There must still be some
sensibilty othe public sentiment, which
would be indignant at continuing or in
creasing the taxes on iron, on steel, on
sugar and salt, ON medicines and chem
icals, while making a clear gilt oil
$50, on, 900 to the distillers and tobacco
manufacturers. That sentiment is not
without force even among manufacture
ers, as was shown in the New York
Tariff Convention, and it must be pretty
thoroughly aroused before the policy oil
the coalition could be fully carried out,
The terms of the coalition are tempting
enough, on the face of them, to draw
into it such men as Mr.. Morrison and
Mr.. Carlisle, but these gentlemen can
hardly fail to see the mistake they are
making before the matter is brought to
a final and definite conclusion. The
charms of political advantage among
the limited class who would approve OF
such q policy and the influence of the
powerful whisky lobby would go q great
way, no doubt, but the force Oft sober,
reasonable, and decent public opinion
must i'm the long run make itself felt.