Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-24

which is called principle" and
"palriotism" when in competition
with Democrats, but forgets the flag and
goes for. the appropriation when 1t
comes to dividing the swag among
themselves.
But the point IN which the public is
interested is purely that of a eOnsOlida-
ton of these districts and the conse-
uuent reduction Of officials and taxes.
From political point of view we do
not need two collectors in these dis.
tricts, and from an economic
standpoint they are equally superfiuous.
1t will not be forgotten that at the
last session of Congress the first step
was taken by the House towards reduce
ing the number of these collectors by
reducing the internal taxes. There
were then and there are now l26 dis
triets and as many collectors. The
Democrats of the House proposed and
advocated reduction Of the number to
46, and after hard struggle the House
decided, by vote of % to 50, that there
should be only 81 collectors in the COM
ing fiscalyear. The Republican Senate
refused to concur in this provision, and
no reduction was made, but the will OF
the majority of the House was plainly
shown, and there can be no shadow of
doubt that when the next House assem-
bles this measure will be adopted by
an overwhelming majority. 1t is so
plainly endorsed by public sentiment
that it is now q race between the Presi-
dent and Congress rs to which shall
have the credit of making this reduc-
ton.
The internal revenue officers col
lected last year SIG, $40, 900, or 36 per
cent. OF the revenue of the Govern
ment. The bureau has more than 800
employees besides those who are i'll
Washington, and the cost of collection
last year was more than S5,OO0,OOO, or
about 3 per cent. of the receipts. Very
large sums are collected in some of the
districts and very small sums in others,
the amounts ranging from ST. ,o52 in
the Fourth district of Texas to Sl3, $751;
9SS in the Fifth district of Illinois. \
consolidation of districts aud a reduc-
ton of the number of collectors and
other employees seem to he the natural
result of the reduction Of internal taxes
effected by the legislation of last win
ter, for under the new law receipts will
be smaller and the work of collectors
less burdensOme.
The pressure that is being brought to
bear upon Mr.. ARTHUR to begin the
work Of consolidation and reduction, is
prompted by party motives, it is true,
10y politicians who recognize it as a
good stroke of policy to steal the DEM
Ocratic thunder, but some of the leading
Republican papers are urging it upon
the higher considerations of economy
and good government.
Members Of Congress, we are told,
are "besieging the White House and
appealing 10 the President to let the
collectors remain. They have friends
and political workers" in these offices,
and they are unwilling that their sup
pOrters shall be disturbed. Therefore
they protest, forgetting that there con-
StituentS desire economical government,
and remembering only the few persons
whom they have found useful in prima-
ries and conventions, whom they have
paid out of the National Treasury. A
member of Congress who opposes re-
trenchmen. of this kind which can be
safely made deserves u rebuke from
those who elected him. He is false to
his trust.