The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-12
REDUCING THE REVENUE.
COnami issIOmer Raumss ReuOrt and
His. Views On the subject.

WASHINGTON, December 4-The report of G.
b. Raum, Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
says: The receipts from internal revenue have
year by year increased from $113 100000 in 1879
10 $123, ,0O00 600 in 1880, $135, 100000 in 1881,
and STAG, 900 600 in the fiscal year last ended.
There will probably be some diminution in re-
celpts for the present fiscal year as compared
with last year, but il is not likely that the col
iections OF internal revenue for the current year
will be below $145 100000 1t the present rate
OF paying the principal OF the public debt be con-
tmued all bonds subject to call will be paid
within three years. 1t seems 10 be judcious
that the principal Of the public debt should
be extinguished at Q rate necessary to meet
the requirements of the sinking fund, namely,
to the extent Of about $50, 900 600 per annum.
Therefore il becomes obvious that a reduction
OF from sixty TO seventy millions in the an
nuai revenues Of the country could be safely
entered upon. and, in my judgment, such r, :
duction is urgently called for. | respectfully
oifer some suggestions for your consideration 10
this regard. Thegreat bulk of internal revenue
taxation is derived from distilled spirits, malt
liquors, tobacco and cigars. These are articles
OF luxury, taxes upon which are really paid by
the consumers, and no one need consume them.
am strongly of the opinion that so long as in
teFnal revenue taxation by the COVER is re-
tanned these articles and dealers therein are
proper subjects for taxation. There is no de-
mand on the part of the consumers of these
products for remission Of the taxes imposed on
them. On the contrary the general current of
public opinion seems to be strongly in favor of
their retention.
The other objects of internal revenue taxation,
with the amounts realized therefrom during the
past fiscal year. are as follows: Friction matches,
$3r272, ,25S; patent medicines, perfumery etc,
$197S 1896 bank checks, $2,3184 ASS; bank de-
pslte, ~ OO7, ,7Ol; savings bank deposits, $88 AGO.
bank capital, 81 ,738, $40; savings bank capital,
$14,7 ,729 Add to these items taxes collected by
the Treasurer ef the United States from National
Banks, as follows: National Banks (capitaD So
521 .92747 National Banks (deposits $437, TIA 30,
making total derived from these sources OF
SIS, 74o, ,223.T. Then if to the eighteen and
ihree-quarer millions of reductions thus pro.
posed Congress should add a reduction In the
charges for special taxes to dealers in articles
taxed Tor internal revenue substantially as pro-
posed In the bill now pending before the Senate,
II still further diminutiOn of laxes would be at
tanned and the supervision over dealers in taxa
bic articles, which experience has shown 10 be
necessary in order to fully and fairly collect
taxes from all alike, would still be preserved.
Reducing all these special taxes 40 per cent, re-
missions under this head would be on the basis
of last years collections $3,007, ,905 The Act
OF March LIST, 1879, reduced the tax on tobacco
from "a cents per pound to 16 cents per pound.
but did not reduce the tax on cigars and cigar
etfes. A corresponding reduction on cigars
would be-to q per thousand. This, think,
should he done, and would amount TO a Teduc-
lion of taxes of %, ,748, ,OO0 This would make
the total reduction of internal revenue taxes Tin
Guiding taxes on national banks) as follows /:
Matches, medicines, perfumery and banks, e1S,-
74S,223; special taxes, $3,007,905; cigars and
cigarettes, $6,746, ,000. Total $28 500 1928
The Commissioner then argues al length in
favor of the abolition OF the duty on sugar, and
proposes to mollify the sugar planters by paying
them a direct bounty.
After recommending law to fix the term of
Office for collectors Of Internal Revenue at four
years. and to provide that they shall not be SUBJ
ject to removal, except for such causes AS are
designated In said law, the Commissioner says
that the total amount of collections from tobacco
increase over the previous year Of a $50 900 co.