New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-24

The Senate IS not establishing reputation
for wisdom. 1t has already changed the Rev
enue bill so that nobody, not even the gentle
men who offered the amendments adopted,
can tell what amount of revenue viii be lett
Yet the work goes on, with no sign that an
end is near. Last Wednesday bare majority
voted to cat down the tax on tobacco to II
cents pound, involving a probable loss OF
So 600, 600; on Saturday motion was made,
aud is still pending, to reduce the tax to
cents. which would cut off about $G,OOO,O0o
more, provided the present system were IN
other RESPECTS unGistuIbed. But the Senate
also voted on Saturday 70 allow farmers and
producers to sell at retail at the place OF pro-
duction, ND to 500 a year. and 10 furnish
.heir employees with toba 90 without lymcnt
of tax Senators can hardly be unaware that
this change would produce serious c0nse-
ouences. No man living can judge to what
extent it would affect the revenue, because 1t
is utterly impossible to watch all producers, or
TO enforce existing laws if all producers are
allowed TO sell at rctIil, with no restraint as
to amount save such as their own sense OF
duty may impose. Probably it would be about
as well 10 abandon the attempr to collect any
tax upon tobacco, as TO open the door so
widely to frauds OF every description.
But amendments" OF almost every cOnceiy-
able sort will be offered, if the Senate permits.
There are several thousand articles reached by
the internal revenue and tariff Llws. Each OF
these affects the special and private interest of
some individuals. The sole idea with not a
few Senators seems to be that this or that con-
stituent can be pleased by offering and urging
an amendment, whether the change proposed
would be for the public interest or not. link
ering in this most unworthy spirit can be con-
tinued indefinitely The well-nigh inevitable
! result is that the pending measure will become
so mschieyOus and unjust that the very SEN
atoIs whose amendments have been adopted
will be compelled to defeat the measure as a
whole, because its passage would disgrace
them, PROSTATE industry and bankrupt the
Treasury. For there is literally 40 end to the
changes that may be made if Senators act and
vote with an eye single to the private interest
of individuals, and without regard to the gen
eral public welfare.
| Would it not be well for Republican Sena-
| tors to pause a little for sober cOnSldera-
ton &? The system of taxation now in
force was framed for a distinct and hon
orable purpose, namely, to secure large
revenue with the greatest possible Incl
dental benefits to the industry Of the
country as a whole. Men may and do
differ widely as to the sOundncss Of the rea-
sonings which governed i'll the framing OF
that system. Bat no man, whose partisauship
/ has not become utterly reckless Of the truth,
will deny that the controlling motive OF
those who have devised the present system
was to build up industry and increase public
prosperity. In this spirit the best men OF
the Republican party have labored foI
twenty-one years. Each year. in the light oi
experience, new notifications have been suc-
gested. The system has grown during al
this time more effective, less burdensOme t.
the people, better adapted to the needs OF the
country as a whole, and more conducive t.
the general prosperity. The revenue that il
has enabled the Government to raise is Won
derfully large, and raised at incredibly small
expense. The taxes fall so lightly upon the
people that their very existence is commonly
forgotten. The prosperity which has resulted
is the wonder and the admiration of the world
Is it quite wise, by hasty and ill-cousIdereo
votes, to poke holes i'll a system so long ma
tured and 50 carefully adjusted Especially
is it right, in acting upon such matter, tC
vote with reference TO the personal gIatlfca-
ton of certain classes of constituents, regard
less Of consequences to the system as a Who'll,
or to the general prosperity
Congress was unquestionaby right in dccid-
| ing that a revision Of the tariff could not b,
intellgently or safely made by piecemeal, o.
without careful investigation Of the incidental
effects of each change proposed. Had 1t adj
hered to that position, the present difficulties
would have been avoided. But, If 1t wa
| deemed best to open the tariff question at I'll