The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME
In this Congress Outlined by Senator
Beck-The Internal Revenue
Question.
Washington Special. l

Washington Speciall
Senator Beck, touching the possible
action of the Democrats in this con-
greSS, says:
"We are going to give relief where
it is most needed, regardless of where
we make reductions. We propose to
reduce internal revenue and tariff
taxation somewhere to the extent of
about S75,000000, that being the
amount of reduction which Secretary
Folger in his report says the revenue
will stand after making the necessary
provisions for the sinking fund.
Exactly in what shape the reductions
will be made do not, of course, know.
1.-The tariff commission, in their re-
port, seem to have aimed at tariff on
Il revenue basis, but they do not ap-
pear to have been very successful in
applying this idea to the various items
of the tariff. Mr.. Meredith and Mr..
French. of New York, make some
very valuable suggestions, and expose
many abSurditieS and needless COM
plicatiOns in the present system, and
the tariff commissioners very prop
erly recommended change in these
particulars. The chances are that we
shall pass a bill containing reductions
to the extent have indicated, but not
neceSsitating any radical change in
either the tariff or internal revenue
duties.
"The S75,00OOO0 of reduction recon-
mended, so far as L have been able to
gather, will be about equally divided
between the tariff and the internal
revenue-probably little more will
be taken off the tariff than the inter
nal revenue. l think the internal rev.
enue tax on matches, proprietary med
icines, bank checks, capital and depOs-
its will be entirely abolished, and the
tax on tobacco reduced to about twelve
cents per pound. There is no DISPOSE
ton at present to reduce the tax on
whisky, but a tendency is evinced to
extend the time on the whisky now in
bond, so as to afford relief against
past over production.
1.-The committee seem anxious to pre-
sent bill at an early date, that the
country may not be kept long in sus-
penSe about the changes that will be
proposed, knowing us we all do that
while a feeling of uncertainty prevails
as to the probable action of congress
on such matters the business of the
country must suffer. The committee
meets daily, with a view of completing
its work as rapidly us possible. What
l have outlined seems to me to be
about as much as we can hope to ac-
compliSh at the present session of
congress. 1t is better to do something
in the right direction than to adjourn
without accomplishing anything.
Therefore, would consent to reduc-
tionS much lower than l think might
with safety be made. believing that
these reductions, if passed by congress,
will work beneficially, and prepare
the public mind for still further and
more important reductions at very
early date.
"Many of the reductions in the tariff
will, of course, increase the revenue
instead Of curtailing it; and the re-
duction in the internal revenue will
increase the consumption of those
articles that are in consequence cheap
ened in price, so that, while on the
basis of the present revenue we take
off S75,000000, the chances are that
after the first of the year the actual
decrease in the revenue will not eX-
coed S50,000,000, and should this prove
to be the case further reductions will,
of course, follow. The senate will, l
believe, pass the bill. The members
appear to be in accord with the prob
able action of the finance committee.
What the house will do / cannot pre-
tend to guess"
Mr.. Beck was asked whether he
considered the total abolition of the
internal revenue advisable, and re-
piled:
while / would be glad to get
rid of great army of obnoxious
and officious officials. many of whom
are at present superfluous and mere
political emissarieS of the Republican
party, believe that the total abolition
of the internal revenue would prevent
all notifications of the tariff, and
that simply means exclusion from
foreign markets, the gradual eXtinc-
ton of commerce, the surrender of the
worlds markets to foreign COMPETE
tors, and great increase in articles of
home made consumption. We cannot
afford to relinquish S146,O00OO0 of
revenue, which is the amount now
obtained from the internal revenue
tax"