New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-29

.,o rsvenue from customs because inc o'a'oS
oily OF the - +be constitution to levy tax on
are ioI M Elsa tax was left open to both inc
No.;onoI and State Governments Du' -, nu -,
va :. - onIv the National Government thas can
iac' 4" 49,, opd collect it. Should the state Oh
,,, tor Instance attempt to levy an excise taA
Ii,,ev the distilleries would be removed acio9s
ar river TO Missouri. Each state ID Turn ,n"
.ho,ld attempt to collect an excise tax "ouiu ~
;tsolf hatfield and disabled. 1t is only the Na'io
government that can do 1t, and the Na'ion@ go
eminent can do it for the beneht OF ali INC
Insteod therefore, Of repeating the tax on Splits,
Government can assign it to the States
in nroportion to their population. Inc ihacn,ny =,
&c dolIccton is to-day in complete operation. Oil
e t ,inas couId direct the Secretary OF the 1rea'
~ IN nav the whole of it, less the small expense VI
collection to the States and Territories III tne P
,o,in Of their population, and to continue IL per-
ranentlv ms part of their regular annual revenue
The omount Welded by the tax on spirltuouS anu
malt liouors last year was over $So'oVO'ooo' w
+bo basis of the census Of 1880 1t would pay aoou'
ri IL oey cqpita to all the people Inc lehuenVy
would be TO increase rather than dmmish TINS i"''o
~ time wore on. Illicit distlleres would ulS"Ppo1
H. evcrv State and every town should come u
1t +bot II was being defrauded of its own rev
enue bv permitting OF wnking at the violation % :
law On the basis of 81 70 per head the Iei'1i
IN the Srates would be very great. append ."oio
ho,yn, what each State would receive on tllo p"''
Of the nrescnt revenue. In considering the ques'
90 have very carefully for several months PAST !
have possibly overlooked objections wlhcn JUN -
NOV srscest But the more have reflected upon -
,be more evident il has become TO my mnu ta' II 10
;oer IN tax vhiskey than to tax farms ana HUME
s,eods and shops. and that 1t would be an ACT Vi III
ooIclable folly TO remit the $4,000, 1000 msteau VI
;r, Il In the States for the relief OF oppressive
local taxation - Al.
7 trost I have made the difference between tiiiS
r,nostion and the Pennsylvania proposiuol
sufficiently plain. The one which have sugeeS'e'
oives the revenue from specific tax whoiiy 10 'n'
State. and does not depend on chance surplus Oh
an accidental remainder in the National treasury
II makes the tax on sprituous ana matt lquoi' {
nermanent resource to all the States, enaDng 'lie
thereby to definitely readjust and reduce 'hcli Wv
toxo,ior Each state could most wisely use III
shoro according 10 its own necessities. In Maine
Co.. examnle onr share would enable MS to repea
absolutely the State tax proper, leaving only tnt
county and town taxes upon the people III you
stote of Pennsylvania, where licenses support tn'
ctote Covernment the cities and towns coulu ie
oo;,,o rro rata the seven and half millions Wnci
xyorld fall to vour share Your city OF Fhllaoephi'
wonId receive nearly million and ha1 per al
MN, States that have been so oppressed by ueD
90 20 ba tempted or driven to Reputation would d
o,ohlad IN regain their credit and every commun'.
sror, oceap IN ocean would in one form or anothe
aIze that burdens of taxation were in some degre
omeIiorated. I believe the measure would prove
great benefcence" TO the people In all parts VI III
Republic. Very respectfully,
JAMES @. BLAINE.