The National tribune., 1882-04-08
Too Generous by Half.

NNA'N'
House having at last brought forward a bill
for the reduction Of internal revenue taxa
ton, we may anticipate a lively struggle
shortly over the question of its passage.
The principal objects Of taxation which it
affects are whisky, tobacco, patent medicines,
and matches, and it is estimated that if il
goes into operation it viii entail upon the
Treasury an annual decrease Of about thirty
six million dollars of revenue This is a
pretty large slice to be cut off at one blow,
but it is only the beginning-merely pre-
liminary in fact-tO the repeal of all internal
revenue taxes.
There might be some reason in pressing
this legislation at the present time if on the
one hand taxes were oppressive, or on the
other hand the revenues of the Government
were larger than it had need of, but as a
matter of fact the public do not clam0r for
reduction, and the Government has
abundant use for all the surplus revenue it
can command.
OF course the distillers want the tax re-
duced on alcoholic spirits, but surely no one
will pretend that they voice the opinion of
the general public, or even that portion of
the public which is in the habit of getting
drunk. We do not suppose the standard
ofo oOn1-foi1c III;
will be correspondingly lowered if the tax
is reduced.
Naturally the manufacturers of tobacco
are anxious to secure a reduction of tax,
but we have not heard that the consumers
are especially solicitous about the matter.
They have shrewd idea that they viii not
be permitted to share the profits; and after
all, at present prices the poorest labOrer is
able to crafty his appetite for nicotine
Unless it is intended to reduce the price of
the weed to merely nominal figure and
Introduce it as an article of food, we do not
see that q modification of the tax on tobacco
.a4 e classed among the crying necessities
ib } houry Q"
As or the proprietors of patent medicines
iaot ~ should be compelled to pay any
---.-e the Government for the privilege of
selling their infallible remedies to the pub
lie. To be sure they would not make any
reduction in the price of their nostrums to
the consumer If the tax was repealed, but
there is something so noble about the man
ufacture of pills and bitters and capsules
and liver pads that it seems almost dis
respectful to tax that industry And yet,
when we reflect how profitable business it
has proved despite this tax, we cannot help
feeling that the proprietOrs will be able to
bear up under the load little while longer.
With regard to the tax on matches the
case is a little different. If we may Judge
from the eanestness with which the leading
manufacturers of matches protest against
It's repeal the tax is rather benefit than an
injury to the industry. Indeed we suspect
that it props up big monopoly and we are
willing to make an exception of matches
BY all means let the tax on matches be re-
peaIed! xsss.
We had almost forgotten the stamp tax on
bank checks We understand that this i'm
post bears very hardly on Jay Gould, Will
liam II. Vanderbilt and Cyrus W. Field, and
they have our profound sympathy. At the +.
same time, we are quite confident that they
are able to struggle on a while longer under
the tax. 1t will be time enough to change
our system of internal revenue taxation for
their benefit when they have abandoned /
their philanthropic attempt to peg up" !
stocks.
Upon the whole we do not see that
there is any necessity whatever of making I
4 change in the revenue laws, and if .
the income of the Government is to be cut .
down at all, why should not the advocates
1f the job come out boldly and admit that
it is to put a few millions more into the |
pockets of our milliOnaires!
The Civil Service Ghost