Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-12-13
THE SURPLUS REVENUE.

CHESTER ~. ARTHUR.
Washington, d. c., December 3, 1888.
THE SURPLUS REVENUE.
Mr.. James G.. Blaine has recently written
a letter in which he gives his objections to
the proposed distribution ofthe surplusrev-
enue of the Federal Government among the
States, and proposing instead as asubstitute,
if the National Government has no longer
need of the tax on spirits, that the entire
amount which it yields should be paid to the
States. He objects to the proposition to dis
tribute the Federal surplus among the States
for the following reasons
First. The utter uncertainty of the size OF
the redundant revenue. 1t may be 81 ,0O0,-
600 or S100,000,00O and unless steady, no
State tax could be remitted on account Of
the receipt of this aid, while sporadic Fed
eral contributions to the States would be
wasted, as was the last distribution of the
Federal surplus.
Second. The division Of this surplus would
impose on Senators and Representatives a
divided duty. For the sake of their States
they would wish the surplus to be aslarge as
possible, which would present constant
temptation to withhold appropriations from
ODlCClS Ol a. really lldllOlidl
Third. The assumption of continuing re-
duncy of national revenue is opposed to all
sound views Of administration, because it
is sure to yield to extravaganza, corruption
and all manner Of schemes for getting rid OF
money.
The time is srapidly approaching however,
when the national revenue, yielding under
the present system of taxation a hundred
millions beyond the amount required for
Government expenses, must be reduced. a
strong movement is already on foot for the
repeal of the entire system of internal reve-
nue., which receives the support of Protec-
tionists like Judge Kelley and tree-traders
like Mr.. Cox, Of New York. This conjunc-
tion of opposing views insupport OF the abo-
litiOn of the same tax gives rare OppOrtu-
nifty to relieve taxation in the States. OF
all our taxes State taxation is most oppres-
sive. 1t is direct 1t falls on property with
crushing force. In few communities it is
less than per cent. and in most it is over 2
per cent. Why, therefore, should not the
States be permitted to have the tax on Spir-
it's for their own benefit, if the National
Government does not need it? Can 1t be
wise to continue the direct tax on property
and at the same time command hurttul
luxury like spirits to 60 free-a luxury
whose taxation Oppresses no one: Customs
revenues the National Government monop-
oliZes excise is open in theory to both
State and national use in taxation, but in
practice the national authority alone can
levy an excise tax on whisky. No State
can guard it's borders against whisky from
other States, or make an economical collec-
ton of such tax within its own revenue.
The Federal machinery for the collection OF
this revenue is in full operation, and bill
of ten lines could direct the secretary of the
treasury to pay the whole of it, less the
small expense of collection, to the Statesand
Territories in the proportion Of their popu-
lation, and to continue it permanently as
part of their regular annual revenue.
Such plan would give the revenue from
specific tax wholly to the States, and
would not depend upon chance surplus or
an accidental remainder in the national
treasury. 1t would make the tax on spirit
uous and malt liquors permanent resource
to all States, enabling them thereby to
definitely read just and reduce their own tax
alton. Each State could most wisely use
it's share according to its own necessities.
Ina table annexed to his letter, Mr.. Blaine
shows the share Of each State and territory
on the basis Of the present population.
According this statement, South Cardinals
share would be 81, $4,000.
THE DEATH BLOW TO THE Sons OF NAL
Tain connection with the death of Gen
eral Steedman, who instituted the order OF
the Sons of Malta in Lafayette, Indiana,
the following is interesting: George Hard
inc, inc an empIoyee of the Wholesale grocery
establishment of Reynolds, Earl & Hatcher,
a brave and braWny Scotchman, desired to
become member of the order, and the
order was too glad to "take him in" A
night was set apart for his initiation, and,
as he was Il particularly powerful man, the
gathering of the clans was unusually large.
The initiation proceeded amidst uproariOus
fun up to the elevated railway and the
plunge into the seething waters OF the lake.
a wet blanket was in the hands of dozen
strong men, in which the aspirant was toss
ed about until they became exhausted:
Harding was an intensely earnest man, and
took the initiation to, be a serious affair.
Being told by the grand conductor that from
the elevated railway he should be plunged
into a lake, he had contracted his muscles
and nerved himself for the battle with the
waves. When he struck the blanket the
shock was too much for his nerves. He
was taken to his home a paralytic. He
lived a year, suffering intensely, and died
in great agony. The order paid out over
- 900 in his behalf. All that medical skill
could do was done, but to no purpose. lie
was a noble man and bore his Sutferlngs
like hero or martyr. His sutferings
and death were the death knell to the Sons
of Malta, not only in Lafayette, but through
out America.
THE BRIGHT SUNSETS.-EVery one no.
ticed the unusual brightness of the sunsets
during part of last month. The phenom-
enon is due to what is known as a "dry
fog" In the United States this frequently
occurs in November or the latter part of Oc-
tober, commonly known as IndianSummer.
This appearance is characterized by a hazy
condition of the atmosphere, redness Of the
sky, absence Of rain, and mild tempera-
ture. This appears to result from a dry and
stagnant state of the atmosphere, during
which the air, particularly the upper por-
ton becomes filled with dust and smoke
arising from numerous fires, by which its
transparency is greatly impaired. A gen
eral rain cleans out these impurities