The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30

for instance, attempt to levy an ex-
cise-tax on whiskey. the distilleries
would be removed across the river to
Missouri. Each State. in turn, that attempts
TO collect an excise-tax would find itself
0afilcd and disabled. IL Is Dnly the Ma
tlonal Government that can do Il. and the
National Government can do II for the ben
cit OF all the States. Instead, therefore. Of
repeating the tax on spirits. the National
Government can assign II TO the States In
proportion to their population. The ma
chinery OF collection is to-day in complete
operation. A bill Of ten lines could direct
The Secretary OF the Treasury TO pay the
whole OF it-less the small expense OF col
lection-to the States and Territories in the
proportion OF their population, and TO con-
tlnuc II permanently rs part OF the regu-
lar annual revenue OF the States.
The amount yielded by the tax on spirit
uous and malt liquors last year was over
oighty-six millions OF dollars. On the
basis OF the census OF 1850 il would pay
about one dollar and scventy-five cents per
capita 10 all the people. The tendency
would be 10 increase rather than TO d.min-
ish this ratio rs time wore on. Illicit dis
! tilleries would disappear when every State
and every town should come TO realize that
il was being defrauded OF its own revenue
by permitting or winking ut the violation
OF law. On the basis OF one dollar and
seyenty-fye cents per head the relief TO tie
States would be very great. | append
table showing what each State would re-
ceive on the basis OF the present revenue.'
In considering the measure. rs | have
very carefully for some months, may pos
sibly have overlooked objections which
Others may suggest. But the more / have
reflected upon it the more 6yideut it has
become TO my mind that 1t Is wiser TO tax
whiSkey than to tax farms and homestead
and shops. and that il would be an act OF
incalculable folly TO remit the eighty-siX
millions Of dollars instead Of giving il to
the States for the relief OF oppressive local
taxation.
| trust | have made the difference be-
tween this proposition and the Pennsylva-
mia proposition sufficiently plain. The one
have suggested gives the revenue from
specified tax to the States. and does not
depend on a chance surplus or an acct
dental remainder in the national Treasury.
IL makes the tax on spirtuous and malt
liquors a permanent resource to all the
States, enabling them thereby TO definitely
readlust and reduce their own taxation.
Each State could wisely Use its own share
for the relief Of its own situation. In
Maine, for example. our share would
enable us TO repeal absolutely the State
tax proper, leaving only the county
and town taxes upon the people.
In your State of Pennsylvania. where
licenses support the State government, the
cities and towns could receive pro rata the
seven and a half millions that would fall
TO your share. Your own city OF Philadel-
phia would receive nearly million and n
half per annum. States that have been so
oppressed by debt rs to he tempted or
driven to reputation, would regain their
credit, and every community, from ocean
to ocean, would in one form or another
realize the burdens OF taxation were in
some degree amehorated. | believe the
measure would prove "great beneti-
cence" to the people in all parts OF the
republic. Very respectfully,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.
NOte-The following table will show the
amount which each state and Territory would re-
Ceive under the distribution outlined IN the pre-
ceding letter. The amount Is given in round thou