The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-08

Government. 1t will be remembered
| that urged upon the attention of Con-
| gress at its last session the importance
of relieving the industry and enterprise
of the country from the pressure from
unnecessary taxation. 1t is one of the
tritest maxims of political economy that
all taxes are burdensOme, however wise
ly and prudently imposed, and though
there have always been among our peO-
| pie wide differences of sentiment as to
the best methods of raising the national
revenues, and, indeed, as to the prin-
| ciples upon which taxation should be
ba ,ed There h rs b. Substan Jal accord
in the doctrine that only such taxes
| Oughtto be levied as are necessary for
| wise and economical administration of
the Government. OF late the public re-
venues have far exceeded that limit,
and unless checked hy appropriate legis-
crease from year to year. For the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1881, the surplus
revenue amounted to 500, OOO, 600. For
the fiscal year ended on the 30th Of June
last, the surplus was more than $145.
0,O00. The report of the Secretary
| shows what disposition has been made
of these moneys. They have not only
answered the requirements of the sink
| ing fund, but have afforded large bal
ance applicable to other reductions of
the public debt. But l renew the ex-
preston of my conviction that such
| rapid extinguiShment of the national
| indebtedness as is now taking place, is
| by no means cause for cOngratulatiOn.
| 1t is cause rather for serious appre-
hension. If it continues, it must speed
| lily be followed by one Of the evil results
| so clearly set forth in the report of the
| Secretary. Either the surplus must lie
idle in the Treasury, or the Govern
ment will be forced to buy, at market
rates, its bonds, not then redeemable,
| and which, under such circumstances,
cannot fail to command an enormous
premium, or the swollen revenues will
be devoted to extravaganza expenditure,
which, as experience has taught, is ever
the bane of an Overlooking treasury. 1t
was made apparent in the course OF, the
animated discussions which the ques-
ton aroused at the last session of Con-
gress that the policy of diminishing
the revenue by reducing taxation, COM
manded the general approval of the
| members of both Houses. Iregret that,
because of conflicting views as to the
best methods by which that policy
should be made operative, none of its
benefits have as yet been reaped. In
fulfillment of what deem my constitu-
tiOnal duty, but with little hope that
1 can make valuable contribution to
this vexed question, l shall proceed to
intimate briefly my own views in rela-
ton to it:
Upon the showing of our financial
contribution at the close of the last fis-
cal year felt justified in recommending
to Congress the abolition of internal
revenue taxes except those upon tobac-
co in its various forms and upon dis
titled spirits and fermented liquors, and
except, also. the special tax upon the
manufactures and dealers in such artic-
les. l venture now to suggest that I'M
less it shall be aSceTtained that the pro-
bable expenditures Of the Government
| for the coming year have been under
estimated, all internal taxes save those
which relate to distilled spirits, can be
prudently abrOgated. Such course,
if accompanied by a simplficatiOn OF
the machinery of collection, which
would then be easy of accomplish.
ment, might reasonably be expected to
result in diminishing the cost of such
collection by at least two millions and
a half, and in the retirement from Office
| of from fifteen hundred to two thousand
persons. The system of excise duties
has never commended itself to the favor
or the American people, ana mas never
been resorted to except for supplying
deficiencies in the Treasury, when, by
reason of special exigencieS, the duties
| on imports have proved inadequate for
the needs of the Government.
The sentiment of the country doubt
less commands that the present excise
tax shall be abolished as soon as such
tou.So Sam SAFELY uo puLsueu. ~ seems
W ne, however, ior various reasons, So
sweeping measure as Inc TOTAL aDOll-
ton OF internal taxes would, for the
present, be an unwise step. Two of
| these reasons are deserving of special
mention
H. ~ h., mn ,,oo,, .,oor .ho. o,,o,, 70 .ho
oy;st; w i,U ,e e d,,, Ie, . = - oe
.ln nn Mi' n Oan iat en0se au'iei
ihe ne % ~ ye tSe nHern It'ehIe tol S ~
Ine neeas OF une SsoUe d naI!, IL Is esti-
nuS;a s.ias ns;n, WI, , oe H 10,
puI hn uuts ,nS Se eH year, anu ~ may
mail mu IemonS for fiat obiaci has VET he a
ivnriS inet;T UPON s,s quts' tf
rotont;" aonS tS W. 10y t Susonc, Jug
ISv th jill au' tnT p,os1"., vi .,aas PHttiV
10 iao .to osotin y, co tha % WHICH 10
total abolition OF excise eI taxes would
aiinost lIleVi.apiey pIove SERIOUS l n3t
| an 9nsurlnonntaDle oDlection TO thorough
revision OF the tarliI, ana 10 any considera-
Die reduction IN import duties.
THE PRESENT TARIFF SYSTEM
| IA. in MANY respects. unjust. II makes un.
eGnal distributiOns bOtli of its burdens and
| its dement's. This fact was nracticaily rec
ognized Inv a majority Of each hOuse Of Con-
grass in the massage Of the act creating the
| Tariff Commission. THE renort of that
| Commission will he placed before Won nj
the haginning of this session and will
trnst sfford Won snch INCARNATION as tn the
Condition and prosnect Of the yari0us com.
ING and other interests of the country. and
contain snch suggestions for STATUTORY re-.
| Vision az will n1acticaiiv aid vonr action
unon this important subject
THE revenue from customs for the fiscal
| wear ending lime 30. 1879. Amounted tn
Si3T 90 600 II has in the three succeedinS
wears reached first SiS6. 600 600: then SOS.
| nm mn. and finally as has heen alrpadv
stated. $40. 600 600. The income from This
source for the fiscal wear which will end on
June 80, 1883, will doubtless be considera,
biv in excess of the snm last mentioned If
the tax on domestic spirits is to be retain
ea, II is pialh, tneteiore, InaI large rsauc-
lions from the customs revenue are entirely
t t;aspe, f W f NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. da;s;,s ~ 'l,S .oduc
tloh am Iar from aeVlsnig tne aDanoon-
NE hent 5; the poticy on so aisctiminatiag ~
md nrtstion Il, da@sstS ~ Iahor a"n ,t ZIG ZIG
prHai,na ~ r,bic brd Ie So aev,sen as
sand oonmnptionS omS hr;na n % lass
barm o with tSa nrasent neeaSs ~ ;nSTS.
r vy,h M o st ;nt, ;n, 20 ataii
which, under present circumstances, is
quite unnecessary, recommend an enlarge
ment OF the free list so as TO include within
" the numerous articles which yield inc0n-
complex and inconsistent schedule of du-
| ties upon certain manufacture, particularly