The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-20
The Internal Taxes.

The Washington Post Of yesterday has
the following:
The Richmond Dispatch (unintention-
ally, no doubt) misrepresents the Post by
assuming that this paper classes tobacco,
the great agricultural product Of Virginia,
with whiskey, rum, wine, aud other IL
quors that should, under existing condi-
tons, continue TO be taxed.
The Post does not advocate and has not
advocated a continuance OF the tobacco
tax. While always insisting that 1t Is the
true policy TO tax luxuries rather than
necessities, we have never asserted OF
| thought that tobacco was luxury IN the
same sense as whiskey or any OF The in
toxicating liquors. In fact, we have Ut
tered no sentiment that would not harmo-
nize with the view thus expressed by our
Richmond contemporary:
"Whiskey may be classed among articles OF lux i,
ury, but not tobacco; or. II lnxnry ~ aI, u Is VIZ
! poor mans luxury. Indeed. ii Is the one luxury
which he NAV enjoy without feeling that he Is rob-
| ling his family OF needed comforts: nc cannon
indulge IN wine, nor brandy, nor whlshey. ,n '.s
are too costly 70. the poor mans purse 10 say no.
thing as TO their effects. But plug ot goOd Cayen-
| dish costs but little. and viii lasthim week or
two or Longer. lie can enjoy ~ all day long every
day instead Of las IN the case Of the consumer OF
| whIskcy) enjoying IL for only 4 Few minutes etcl
| day lie can chew while he Is NJ work ana Whiist
he Is going TO and from work. No party can nlake
! facturcd tobacco us a luxury"
n we have to class as luXurics all arti-
Giles not absolutely essential to toleraDly
comfortable existence. the poor wOman's
cup OF tea "that cheers but not incbriates -
would no more escape than the poor mans
pIpe or quid. But, as is well known,
there are-if we may be permitted to per-
petrate paradoX-a few luXuries that have
become necessities. Among those are tea
and tobacco.
We have no fault to find with the asser-
ton of the Dispatch that "therc is no JUS
tice in taxing the Virginia planters toDac-
co ard not taxing the colossal incomes OF
New England and New York." The tax
on tobacco falls on agriculture. 1t has
been great disturber OF industry, ana
when the proper time arrives for re0penlng
the question of revenues the Post hopes TO
see this burden removed.
We have repeatedly invited those Demo
Gratis who desire to get rid OF that great
political machine called the internal-reye-
nue. bureau to consider our proposition Tor
dispensing with an army OF officials ana
collecting the liquor taxes by sale OF stamps,
Just as the patent-medicine and match
taxes were collected.
We were glad to find the above in the
Post for we had somehow or other i'm
bbed the notion that that journal was OPP
posed to the repeal OF the tax upon to-
bacco. The Post states the case well when
it SAYS paradoXically that tobacco g. a
luxury which has become q necessity"
The tax on VirSinia's great agricultural
product is q real disturber OF industry.
The moment Congress assemblies, the pro-
position to abolish that tax is made, anu
then for months the trade in manufactured
tobacco, as well as the business OF manu-.
featuring il, is at once more or less para
lived. We trust that when it shall again
become proper to agitate for the repeal OF
the tax on tobacco the Post will lend lis
potent influence in behalf OF the utter abo-
ltlon of that tax.
We are OF course in favor OF the propo-
sition to get rid Of the internal-revenue
department, and 20 collect the liquor tax
by the use of stamps sold to the trade. III
such a scheme be feasible, Congress has
been criminaly negligent in failing for so
many wears to adODt il.