The new North-west., 1883-12-07
BLAIEE'S LETTER.
The Prses His Proposition Conserving
Whisky Tax.

New YoRE, Nov. 29.--The Tribune, re.
viewing Blaine's document on the whisky
tar, published to-day, says: Concerning
Biainss proposition TO retain the whisky tax
rs a fixed part Of our revenue system, and
turn over the proceeds to the several States
according to population, there are some
things that may be said. 1t avoids the main
objections to the Pennsylvania plan for the
general distribution of surplus revenue. II
suggests practical way of reducing the rev.
enue without upsetting everything again by
fresh tinkering at the tariff. 1t keeps the
tax on a product which surely ought to bear
the burdens of taxation as long as anything
does. II Is wiser TO TAX whisky than to tax
farms and homesteads and shops. II raises
q revenue in the way the statesmanship of
all countries has favored, indirectly rather
than directly. Nobody would feel it but the
mau who used whisky, and he could afford
TO. II would reduce the tax levy Of New
York nearly nine millions. The objection
to it would lie in the alleged danger from
the so-Called mixing of National affairs with
State interests and necessities and tha alleged
injustice of letting communities which pay
little or none of the tax share its distribu-
ton. The letter is like everything that Mr..
Blaine does, adroit, able and persuasive. 4
majority Oi HIS CJunbEN IlSu Will EIObablS
think il also stateSmanlike.
The Times editorially says: In letter to
the Phi!adelphia Press, Blaine has announced
himself on the question Of taxation. II will
surprise no one to sec tina. they are novel,
not to say ''spiritcd," word which Is quite
as applicable TO other demonstrations of the
Maine statesman, as it was 20 his foreign
policy before his retirement 10 more or less
permanent private life. Blaine does not con-
fine himself to the demolition of the distri-
button scheme. He has substitute 10 pro
pose for it, which is ingenious as was 10 have
been expected, though not absolutely beyond
criticism, as also was to have been expected.
However clumsy, uneven aud oppressive may
be the present systems Of State taxation, it
must be remembered that they are much less
so in several States than they formerly were,
and they may still be greatly improved. 1t
would be- difficult, for instance, 10 persuade
the people Of Illinois that the enormous
taxes on spirits collected in their State can
with fairness and proprie,y be turned into
the treasures or Pennsylvania or Massa-
chusct's. There is only one suggestion
which Blaine did not find IL necessary 10
make to the Pennsylvania paper, that every
dollar turned from the Federal treasury for
tiiies a high rartI.
Tho Vprdid says: r. is difficult TO see why
Baine's proposition, Involving as it does the
maintenance of The machinery of the system,
is not worse than the Pennsylvania dIstribu.
tion scheme. III. letter makes curious read
ing. BY the wAv, Is Blaine bidding for the
Presidency .
CHICAGO, Nov. 3O.--ln commenting on
Blaine's nsw scheme for dividing the whisky
tax, the Times says: In reality it is only at
other device OF proLectionism striving to pre-.
vent any reaGCJiua or modification of the
damnabe tariff cXactious. Nothing let's 60
the grip OH tso throat of its victim so UnWilt-
ingly as licensed robbery.
A Washington correspondent; telegraphs ::
"Judge LOwrey, Of Fort Wayne, who has
been taking an active part in the Carlisle call
vSss, said Blajue'5 proposition was intOlera
ble. IL was the very qulrteSscUce Of fctCr
alism and Capitalization. There would soon
cease TO be local self government If the
States were TO abolish their own taxation
aud look 10 the general Povernmont for their
revenues. IF the revenues were too large,
the only thing 70 do vas to reduce taxation" !"
4 prominent treasury official said of the
plan: at is the last resource of the high
tariff men to avoid the necessity Of reducing
taxes. fit is immoral 10 abolish the Tax on
whisky, then let the government reduce taxes
on some other things"
Judge Murphy was also opposed to the
plan, partly because of its centralizing tend.
ency and also because Of the excuse Il offered
for keeping up the tariff. Blaine's PROPOSE
tion is the original Pennsylvania PROPOSE
tion, in a little different form. Other Dem.
ocrats spoken to expressed opposition to this
new device in favor of protection and cen
traliZaliOn.
Judge Buckner, of Missouri, thinks it is
not worth while 10 Undertake to devise some
way TO dispose Of the surplus revenue. So
long as there is a public debt, il should DE
applied to the payment of that debt. He re-
CARDS the plan suggested by Mr.. Blaine as
only little more Objectionable than that
proposed by Wharton Barker. Il would c0u-
tinue in existence the army of gaugers and
other internal revenue officers of whom the
Southern States complain because of their
in elections. Judge Buckner
thinks It would be better 10 take the tax off
the manufacture Of whisky and put It on the
consumption Of that article by increasing
licenses. This would require comparatively
few officers for the collection of the revenue.