The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-06
The Internal Taxes.


-rae ;nt,rnal taxes have not all been
abolished, as some Of our contemporaries
Of the press seem to suppose. The state
OF the case Is as follows:
The tax upon matches has been abo''
jsbed. As the tax was one cent for each
mptch-that Is, practically such, the law
fixing the tax at one cent for each parcel
or package OF one hundred or less, and as
the seIling-price of matches by retail has
long been Just two cents per box, II would
seem but reasonable TO expect that very
soon the price ci matches win be only one
cent per box. This win be gam 10 INC
consumer OF fifty per cent.
The taxes upon bank-checks, drafts. or
ders. &C., for the payment "of any sum
whatsoever have been abolished.
The tax upon periumery is bolished.
The taxes upon patent medicines have
been abolished. We think the public will
no, profit by the abolition OF these taxes
first. because the people do not need such
medicines, aud. secondly, because nobody
but the proprietor knows the cost or can
fix the price OF proprietary medicines.
The taxes upon bank deposits and upon
bank capital are abolished. The tax upon
bank circulation remains.
The tax upon whiskey has not been
changed. The tax upon tobacco has been
reduced from sixteen TO eight cents pei
Mound. Next winter this latter tax will
be totally done away with, we hope. we
believe II surely will be il the national
revenues continue 10 exceed the necessary
expenditures for interest, redemption oil
the public debt, and the cost OF the Gov
ernment itself.
Does the new law allow rebatey Yes,
10 all wholesale dealers, or rather on all
packages the tax on which amounts to ten
dollars. This is reasonable exception
The loss of ten dollars cannot be consider
ed heavy; and there are so many OF these
nackages. and in so many different hands,
the tax upon which is lessthan ten dollars,
that IL would be an almost endless task for
the Government 10 undertake TO refund
the small sum lost in each such case. The
provision relating to rebate reads as iol-
lows:
"Proyided, That on all original and I'm.
broken factory packages OF smoking and
manufactured tobacco, cheroots, and cigar
cites held by manufacturers OF dealers al
The time such reduction shall go lnto e1ec!
upon which tax has been paid there shall
be allowed drawback or rebate OF the full
amount OF the reduction, but the same
shall not apply in any case where claim has
not been presented within sixty days fol-
towing the reduction, and such rebate to
manufacturers shall be paid in stamps al
the reduced rate; and no claim shall be
allowed or drawback paid for n less amount
than &c."
AS was stated in our last issue, the date
upon which the reduction OF the tax on
tobacco, snu0s, cigars, cigarettes, and the
reduction OF special license taxes shall 60
into effect, was changed from July l
TO May l, 1885. This is better for all
hands. In fiity-six days the tobacco trade
viii be set free for another year.
1t will be seen that no drawback is to bt
allowed upon broken packages.
The bill was signed by the President o.
the United States about O'Clock on Sun
day morning.
Whilst we should have greatly preferred
the abolition of all the internal taxes, we
feel that the people have reason to con-
graduate themselves upon the changes
which have been made. One more effort
win end the tax upon tobacco. The tax
upon liquors will be the last to surrender.
II 1t were not for the abuses connected
with the intcrnal-revenue bureau and the
immense number Of its employees, this last
tax would yet have q long life.