Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-07-25
OF TAxES AND THE

ON our supplement, this week, we pub
lish the remarks of our Representative to
Congress, ex-Goy Dingley, on the ques-
tion OF repeating the Internal Revenue tax
e.. and also on bill authorizing the issue
Of bonds at lower rate of interest.
On the FIRST question Mr.. Dingley fully
represents not only his constituents, but a
vast majority OF the people of Maine. He
contends that the taxes on liquors and to-
bacco should remain Is they are, and re-
auctions should be made in the import du-
ties on goods used by poorer people.
Those who use tobacco and liquors in
Maine should be, and we believe most OF
them are, willing to pay the government
tax on same. They are by no means nee
eSSary 20 the maintenance OF life, health
or happiness. on such articles the burden
oCtaNation should fall almost exclusively.
In Maine. we believe that liquor should be
driven out OF existence; and until we can
prohibit is sale throughout the country,
we propose 70 insist on making its use as
expensive l luxury Is is possible. II
should be taxed ont OF existence by the
general government, aS State banks were
taxed out OF existence during the war.
While an important industry OF the coun-
Try would be greatly affected, We are in
clined 70 think, on the whole, that the ma
tion would be = gamer if tobacco were TO
receive the same treatment.
In discussing the debt question, Mr..
Dingley shows the wonderful progress
which has been made by this government,
in reducing both debt and interest since
the war. He reviews the work done, rs
set forth by senator Frye, two years ago,
and brings the matter down to the present
time. In this speech he shows that re-
duction or abolition OF taxes on liquors
and tobacco would prevent continuance
OF this reduction, which is demanded by
the people. Again he incidentally men
tionS the fact that sugar and molasSes, US
cd in every family, are taxed too heavily.
He shows that taxes on these two articles
aggregate sum equal 10 per capita tax
OF 81 on every man, woman and child in
the country. The tax is 81 per cent on
these articles. Mr.. Dingley declares that
the tax on sugar and molaSSes used by the
poor should be reduced before the burdens
on Injuries like liquors and tobacco are
relieved. Here the people Of Maine follow
him. and applaud his sentiments. Poor
people all over our nation supplement the
praises of Maine people at this practical
piece OF craftsmanship. That is what the
plain people wish-it is 20 have their in
terests looked after more closely by Con-
greSs. and they are aware when a member
is doing that work for them.
The Portland Advertiser contains the
following in a recent issue, in which it
published Mr.. Dingley's speech;
Less than twenty years have passed
away since the close of the civil war, and
already the extinction OF the huge war
debt is foreseen as possibility in the near
future. Nothing like this achievement can
nc AOuul III nAShOA VI dbf ONANi LAWFUL
The result is due primarily to the solvent
instincts OF the American people, who have
always regarded a debt as something to be
paid, and next 10 the wise provision OF
Secretary Chase, who firmly insisted while
the war was still fragrant upon the option
OF the government 10 pay of all bonds
bearing the high rates OF interest then cur
rent. At the expiration OF a short term
This option which no finance minister be-
fore had ventured TO claim, enabled the
government to refund the debt and reduce
the interest charges as the credit OF the
nation improved. The credit OF the Unit
ed States is now superior TO that of any
other nation in the world. Mr.. Dinsleys
clear statement of the results thus accom-
plished will be found in another column,
and is well worth reading. His reasons
for maintaining the taxes npon tobacco
and liquors for the present, are unanswer-
able.