The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-19

We commend the following very excel
lent article from the New York journal Of
Commerce:
We hope the friends OF revenue reform
will agree upon some deciueu oouisc vi
action and pursue 1t with spirit uhtii
tangible result has been secured. Al the
last session Of Congress their strenSlh was
frittered away because 1t was not apphed
in any given direction, but wasted upon
great variety Of impracticable objects. we
urged at the beginning that they all unite
upon the total abolition OF the system OF
internal revenue. We believe that IL they
had concentrated their efforts upon this
single issue il would have been carried in
Congress. and so favOrabIy received by the
peopIe that the President would have been
compelled to approve OF it. The argu-
ments in favor OF such repeal, 1t seems
TO us, are unanswerable.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM
is wholly war tax designed only for Pc
riod OF extraordinary expenditure. As the
writer OF this first suggested ii to Governor
Chase, then Secretary OF the Treasury, 1t
had none Of the most Objectionable features
afterward adopted. The Secretary had
sought an interview with us for advice as
TO the best means OF supplying the funds
for prosecuting the war. We recommend
ed ,lirect taxation, on the plan authorized
i'm the Constitution, TO the amount OF one
hundred and fifty millions, giving to the
States which promptly collected it one third
Of the receipts for their own treasury. And
we advised, in addition. a stamp-tax on
every form OF business throughout the
country.
THESE TWO MEASURES,
according TO the plan we uniOlded, would
not have called for a single additional Fed
eral officer. rs neither assessor, inspector,
nor collector would have been required for
their execution. The States needed large
sum OF money for the cost Of placing their
quota OF troops in the field. BY the ordi-
nary machinery OF State taxation, through
local assessments, and with the stimulus OF
33i per cent. for their prompt action, the
whole sum might have been raised at once
by the several State governments, one hun
dred millions paia over to the Federal
Treasury, leaving fifty millions for state
purposes, without single extra official,
local or national, engaged in the work.
THE STAMP TAX
would have cost nothing but the printing.
We proposed that. like postagc-Stlmps,
they should be handsomely engraved, dis
tributed by mail, and sold by TIE postmas-
tiers for small commission. Like the
check stamp, the tax would have enforced
itself, and needed 10 marShalS or inspcc-
tors to see that it was paid.
Governor Chase commended the plan,
but shrank from Its execution. Direct
Taxation he said with some bitterness,
"will kill any party that adopts it; and as
for excise, it, very name is OdiOuS, and !
never will recommend it," He took both
measures afterward. but when the finances
had already been diSarrangcd for the want
Of prompt action. And the excise was
adopted in
IT'S MOST ODIOUS FORM,
with The incomc-taX feature added, all cali
ing for host OF assessors, inspectors, spies,
iniormcrS, detectives, marshals, deputies.
supervisors. and armed police, most OF
whom are retained TO this day. The tax
can be rigidly levied only by force Of arms,
and many lives are lost every year in the
conflict. Familiarity with it, odous &c.
commandments has not rcconcicd the PeC-
Die to this form Of taxation. Ii is opposed
| to our system Of government and the very
!
THE WAR Is OVER;
| 4 large part Of the debt has been paid Oh;
the interest on the remainder has been
greatly reduced. Nearly ten thousand
men are taken from industrial pursuits to
| levy and collect this one hundred and forty
millions, which is the gross sum returned
under the system. 1t is constant, stand
ing irritation in every section OF the coun-
try. II is not like the customs collected at
the frontier. but it DOES the footsteps OF
every trader at populOus centres and in the
rural districts; searches all the streets,
I lanes, and alleys in the land, and hampers
| business at every turn, lest it should fail OF
the revenue to which it has 4 legal right.
Three lines on the statute book would
WIPE II oUT,
with it; vast machinery. its horde OF office
holder. meddling with every election. it,
waste, It's mcnaccs. It's impairment dOmi-
cllary and inquisitorial searches, it, annual
prOyoclli0n Of crimes and diSgraccs, at
once and forever.
The only argument wc have heard in
favor Of IFS retention j. the restraint il /,
supposed TO exercise on the use OF spirits,
malt liquors, and tobacco. There is no
foundation for this plea. even ii il were an
answer to the indictment we have pre-
sented. 1t never for a single moment re-
strained or checked the consumption of
any Of these articles or limited their pro-
duction in the country. The entire roye-
nue. from this tax can be spared, aud with
it, repeal sigh Of relief VIII 90 up from
every heart, and the people OF every party
will wonder that they bore with the im-
position so long.
- >" Wise men say nothing in dangerous