The National tribune., 1882-03-18
Let Well Enough AInne.


agitated in the public press at the present
moment. and it is amusing to note what
diversity OF views exists on the subject
The high tariff people want the taxes ro-
duced because they see that they can in that
way divert attention from the proposed
modification of the duties on imports. The
distillers, on the other hand are perfectly
willing to let the tariff remain as it is pro-
vided they can persuade Congress TO reducs
or remove entirely the tax on alcoholic
liquors. The match manufacturers. how
ever, do not want the tax on their products
taken of at all-possibly because the busi-
ness, being practically monopoly, the effect
of reduction wOuld be to throw it open TO
the competition of small manufacturers.
Among the most earnest advocates of
change in the internal revenue laws are
those who are engaged in the manufacture
of what are known as proprietary articles.
This class includes the makers of patent
medicines and nostrums of various sorts,
and the amount of revenue which the Gov
ernment derives from the stamp tax on
these articles is about two millions dollars
per year. The removal Of the tax at present
levied on proprietary articles would not, it
should be noted, benefit the consumer in any
particular, for the reason that the stamp tax
is regulated by the retail price of the article,
being one cent for every twenty-five cent
package, two cents for every ffty-cent
package, &c, and it is admitted by the
manufacturers themselves that no corre-
spending reduction would be made in the
retail price if the tax should be taken off.
1t is unnecessary, however, to enter into any
detailed consideration of the various in
terests that would he benefited by a change
in the internal revenue laws One can see
at glance that they are not those of the
people ct large. but OF comparatively small
class of manufacturers who are abundantly
able to pay the tribute exacted. 1t is not
pretended by anybody that any industry is
being crippled by the continuance of the in
ternal revenue taxes, or that the prosperity OF
the Nation is at all endangered thereby. On
the contrary. statistics show that there never
was period in our history when the country
was so well able 10 bear the comparatively
light taxation imposed upon it fer the sup
port of the Federal Government as at
present. Every branch of trade is flourish
! ing, the labor of the country is fully en-
| ployed, capital finds profitable investment,
and except in the great Valley of the Mis-
sissippi, where the recent floods have driven
some thousands Of helpless people from their
homes and laid waste their farms, distress
nowhere exists. Regarding it therefore as
question of national policy, it seems to us
that it would be extremely unwise at the
present moment to make any change what
ever in our system of taxation. 1t will be
| time enough to do so when hard times come
again.
Aside from this, however, there is another
strong reason why the laws should be al
| lowed to remain as they are. The Govern
ment has incurred certain Obligations which
ought to be paid of. 1t has made a large
reduction in the national debt by direct pay
ments and through the saving effected in the
refunding operations ot the Treasury, but
! its debt to the soldiers of the late war has
been but partially provided for. and among
| other objects to which the surplus revenue
at its command should be devoted is that of
! Pension Bureau so as TO insure the settle
ment of the quarter of "a million claims that
still remain to be acted upon. So long as
these are allowed to 90 unadiusted from
year 10 wear on the ground that the Govern
ment cannot afford to spend the money that
would be necessary to secure action upon
them, SO long the internal revenue taxes
ought to lie vigorously maintained. Fur
thermore, justice requires that Congress
should make the necessary appropriation to
carry into effect some one of the many
equalization of bOuntieS bills which are now
before it. The obligation OF the Government
to equalize bounties was long ago established,
and it would long ago have been discharged
hut for the objection which was temporarily
interposed that the revenues were not suffi-
cient for the purpose. Had there been IN
annual surplus of S150,OO0,000 in the Treas
ury when the first equalization Of bounties
bill was passed it would not have been vetoed.
Now, when the objection which then existed
no longer blocks the way, it is clearly the
duty of Congress to settle the debt to the SOL
diers.
1t has been said that the existence of this
large annual surplus is constant invitation
to the advocates of congressional jobs to
press their measures upon the National
Legislature, but the answer to this is OBJ
viously that Congress is just as much re-
sponsible for its acts when the Treasury Is
full as when it is empty, and that bad legls-
| lation is at all times inexcusable. To cut