The Portland daily press., 1883-12-03
The Press on Mr.. Blaine's Plan.


The Press on Mr.. Blaine's Plan
New York Postl
Whether the money which the federal gov
ernment is to furnish the States, is raised from
whiskey, or from fapioca or arrowroof, really
makes very little difference. The consequence
in either case would be that the local govern
ment would be relieved Of one Of its most uss-
ful aud serious responsibilities in the careful
assessment and proper and honest collection
of the taxes for local purposes. There 70
nothing more essential TO the safety and per-
petuity of free government in the United
States than the imposition on the inhabltants
OF the several states of the duty OF providing
the money which is to be spent on local objects
and looking after its careful and honest ex-
penditure. II this were taken away only
mere simulacrum OF local government would
remain, and II local government be not neces-
sary to the existence OF healthy and intelli-
gent interest in politics the part Of the peo-
pie and to the maintenance OF ordered free
dom, then the constitution itself s huge
mistake and nearly everything that has been
written BY the friends OF the republican gov
eminent as to the conditions necessary TO the
success of republican institutions, is q delu-
sion. No matter whether the States get their
expenses paid out of the whiskey. tax or out Of
a silk tax or sugar tax. as long as the tax was
levied by Congress, Washington would become
tue grea ana cehtrsl source of political interest
and political intrigue to which all mons
thoughts would be turned, and the State gov
ernments would be converted into mere al
moners of federal bounty. In fact, very few
years of living on the contributions made by
drunkards in other parts Of the country would
kill utterly the already too feeble interest
which the best part of the population in many
parts OF the country now takes in real politics,
that is, in measures Of legislation and admin
istrstion as distinguished from the nomination
and election of officers.
New York SUM-
Va daaiFa To call Rrothar RIaina,s affankion
to fact which he has apparently forgotten.
Maine is a State in which the traffic which
produces the revenue in question has been for
hidden by statute for thirty-two years. 1t is
only few months since the Maine Legislature
voted to submit to the people a constitutional
amendment ENGRAVING the prohi6itory system
upon the fundamental law of the Stale. Maine
does not recognize the liquor business as legal.
1t has steadily refused to levy any tax or to
derive any revenue from the business that It
holds to be criminal. We are continually told
by Mr.. Blaine's friends in Maine that the pro-
hibitory system has practically suppressed the
traffic in liquor in that State. Now, we do not
believe that Mr.. Blaine is prepared to assert in
the hearing of his Republican neighbors in
Augusta, any one of these propositions: First,
that the prOhibitory system in Maine is fall
ure and ought to be abolished: secondly, that
Maine should license and recognize the traffic
which it holds to be criminal, by making the
traffic source Of revenues thirdly, that the
people in other parts of the country ought TO
be made to pay the State taxes of the inhabi-
tants Of Maine. Yet Mr.. Blaine's plan, so far
as his own State is concerned, involves assent
to one or two OF these three propositions. Un-
less the prohibitory system is a failure, and un-
worthy to exist, Maine cannot contribute her
share of the revenue which it is proposed to
divide, pro rata, among the States. IL she
should take her 81 ,134, 900 and apply it to State
expenses, she would simply be subsisting upon
the fruits Of vice and crime in other communi-
ties. She would be recognizing and licensing
the liquor traffic, for Mr.. Blaine's plan simply
amounts to making the Federal government
the collector Of tax on spirits for the benefit
of Maine and the other States.
New York Tribune)
1t is not difficult to see that there are obiec-
tions to this plan, which 1t will be time
enopgh hereattey, 70 copsiSsS. But 1t elearls
avoids the eravest objections td Mias mas been
called the Pennsylvania plan, while having
much broader effect 1t will enable the peo-
pie TO bring all their direct taxes upon proper
ty within the immediate control OF the towns
or cities where they live. Thus 1t will con-
duce most powerfully to economy and purity
OF local government. Finally, it puts before
tax hoases and lands in preference to whiskey;
snail we abolish the tax on liquors, Of which
no man nesd pay one cent unless he chooses,
or shall we abolish all direct taxes for State
and county purposes? The Democrats evi-
IDENTIFY prefer the side Of the liquor dealer
The Republicans can well afford to take the
side of the farmer and householder 1t will
be found more popular as well as wiser TO tax
the barrooms than to tax the farms and the
homes.
New York Times.l 9.
The most serious objection to Mr.. Blaines
plan is that it would be difficult to find any
justification for it in the constitution Of the
United States. Where in that venerable, and
doubtless venerated, instrument can we find
any grant of power to Congress to levy taxes
forO Ofata hot a alma
lated unintentionally, may be thus applied has
at least precedens to sustain it, but that
taxes can be deliberately levied to be turned
over to the State treasures, and to be ex-
pended entirely without the direction or su-
pervision of Congress or the federal govern
ment, according to the whim Of the respective
State legislatures, is doctrine which it would
require all the logic of Mr.. Blaine, and per-
haps more than even his authority as an ex-
pounder of the constitution, TO sustain.
philadelphia North Americana
II Mr.. Blaine's letter on the distribution OF
convince any portion of the public which
needs convincing, of the upsoundness OF the
proposed scheme for dividing the annual sur
Dlue in the national revenues among the States
it will serve a useful end. That plan is so rad
icslly unsoupd and lnjudicious that it has gen
orally been rejected by thinking men, but
there may still be some who are captivated BY
its glittering show Of profit, and who need to
be persuaded OF the political dangers 1t in
wolves. Mr. Blaine has summed up the obiec-
lions to it with admirable clearness and unan-
swerabla force; and If it was dead before it may
now be said to have been buried.
Hartford Courant)
The vital and fatal objection to IL il that il
is impossible to find any color or shadow OF
warrant for 1t in the Consultation. Congress
has no right to raise money for federal taxation
in order to benevolently hand it over to the
gavaral Stataa. and tharahv liOhtan fha hnrdap
of state taxation. Mr.. Blaine's attempt to
establish a distinction in principle between
his proposal TO distribute the revenue from
this specific tax and the foolish aud mis-
| tion of all surplus revenue from whatsoever
| source derived is more ingenious than succesk-
| fnl.
/ philadelphia Press)
| Mr.. Blaines proposition lays no additional
/ burden anywhere; but it takes an indirect
method OF raising revenue which is not op-
| pressive,y felt in any quarter, and turns It to
| the relief of the people from that direct tax
alton which weighs upon every property
holder. The aggregate state and local taxation
OF the whole country amounts to little over
three hundred millions year. This plan
| would provide nearly one-third OF 1t, and lift
| it of from the present taxpayers.
lewiston Journal)
Mr.. Blaine's suggestion Is that we abolish
State and county taxes and let the immensely
| profitable and immensely perncious traffic in
whiskey and beer pay tho bill. No doubt OBJ
| iections to the plan can be raised, but IL is
| likely ito project a debate which, We trust, in
| any event will not result in the reduction OF
| the taxes on luxuries-or on spirits-much
| less, as the whiskey ring now contemplate, the
| removal Of these taxes.
Boston Advertiser.)
1t is not certain that such a plan would
commend itself to sound inanciers and to
| majority Of Congress. The question, then,
| arises, whether the internal revenue or GUS
| tom house dues, or both, should be so reduced
as TO prevent the surplus in the National
| Treasury.
Washington Post)
Mr.. Blains's proposition, which covers about
| all the revenues that can consistently be dis
tributed among the states, and the particular
| class of revenue which it is least advisable to
remit, and the amount Of which il readily as
| esrtsin able, has the merit of cearness and
prscticability.
Baltimore American.
| The proposition OF Mr.. Blaine has much in
its favor. Let the people think over Il long
! aud well.
|
| A Newark pirl fastened the departure Of
| lingering gentleman caller the other evening
| by remarkine, as she looked ont ~ the wi dow: