Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-08
TIE TWO DISTRIBUTION PLANS.

The Pennsylvania plan of distributing
the surplus revenue among the States re-
ceived its heaviest blow from the vigorous
pen of James G. Blaine. He made clear
that as the surplus would always be an
uncertain quantity, no remission Of State
taxes could be safely based upon it that
the division would impose on Senators and
Representatives divided duty-to so
legisIate as to make the surplus large in
behalf of their States, and to refuse, for
like cause, the appropriations that should
be made IN the national interest. That
the distribution would proceed, if at ALL
upon the assumption of a continuing re-
dundancy of national revenue, whereas
there is on movement a plan to lessen the
revenues materially, and one party Of po-
IticaI economists would abolish duties in
toto. Mr. Blaine's plan, on the contrary,
is to give the States the net proceeds Of the
tax on spirits. He looks upon liquor as a
hurtful luxury, and would not therefore
have it 90 tax.free under any circum-
stances. OF course this will be bitterly
opposed by the whisky manufacturers and
others who claim that the liquor tax is an
unequal and unjust burden, aud that no
sentimental reasons should enter into the
question of how the Government should
deal with any lawful industry, They pro-
pose to ask Congress to abate the liquor
revenue in whole, and they will throw
themselves upon the mercy OF the Demo
cratic party to that end, at the same time
warning that organization OF the dangers
OF denial Either this or a new bonded
lease the liquor interests are certain to de-
mand. They will then oppose Nh Bla.ne's
idea, because, as it appeals to the pockets
Of the States, it has force, and tends to
cripple the whisky mems campaign, L. is
a powerful argument to advance to show
that the distribution of $50, 900, 600 of
money among the States viii lower taxa
ton permanently, enable State debts to be
paid oil, and enhance the financial welfare
Of the people-and this contribution may
be relied on each year. Mr. Blaine thinks
it will increase, as every State will, by his
plan, be put on police duty in
It's own interest to suppress the
Illicit distilleries Now, there are
those who take totally different view OF
this whole matter. Those who hold that
the LIQUOR revenue brings an element into
politics that is corrupting, and that the ma
ton can better afford to let liquor 90 scot
free than to have II in the Hobbies OF Con-
Cress each session, meddling with all other
legislation to advance its own. Fer no
love, but Tor hatred Of whisky they wish
the tax on liquors abolished. Still another
class, and in that we enroll ourselves, be.
Geves it is better to have 10 surplus than
20 levy unequal taxation to accumulate it,
and then distribute it to the States for pol
iticians to wrangle over. The distribution
ct the surplus revenue will lessen the sense
Of self-dependence and invite to wasteful
expenditures of the money and the launch
ing out into grand schemes of internal i'm
provements that will have to be supple
-nensed by taxation to bring them TO CON-
pletion. We have grave doub as to the
constitutional powers Of Congr l-jer