The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-13
Mr.. Rlaina,s Letter

The Philadelphia Press of Thursday contained
letter from Hon. James G. Blaine to Mr.. Chas.
Emory Smith, editor of the Press, stating Mr.
Blaine's objections to the distribution Of the
surplus revenue of the federal government
among the states and PROPOSING instead as a
substitute. If the national government has no
longer need of the tax on spirits, that the entire
amount which it yields should be paid to States
Three fatal objections, in Mr.. Blaine's opinion
make the Pennsylvania proposition to distri-
butte the federal surplus unwise First the utter
uncertainty of the size of the redundant reve-
nue.. 1t may be one million or one hundred
millions, and unless steady, no state tax could
be RENTED ON account of the receipt of this aid
while sporadic federal contributions to the
states would be wasted, as was the last distri-
button of the federal surplus. Second, the di-
vision of this surplus would impose on senators
sake OF their states they would wish the sur
plus to be as large possible, which would pre-
sent constant temptation to withhold appro-
priations from objects of really national char
acter. Third the assumption of a continuing
redundancy OF national revenue is opposed to
sure to lead to extravaganza, corruption and
all manner of schemes for getting rid of money.
The time is rapidly approaching, however,
when the national revenue yielding under the
present system of taxation hundred millions
beyond the amount required Iof government s1
ment is on foot for the repeal of the entire sys-
tenn of internal revenue, which received the
support of protectionists like Judge Kelley, and
freetraders like Mr.. Cox, of New York This
conjunction of opposing views in support OF the
abolition of the same tax gives rare opportu-
nifty to relieve taxation in the states. OF all
our taxes. state taxation is the most oppressive.
It is direct, 1t falls on property with crushing
force. In few communities 1t is less than per
cent, and in most it is over 2 per cent. Why
therefore, should not the states be permitted to
have the tax on spirits for their own benefit If
the national government does not need it?
Can it be wise to continue the direct tax on
property and at the same time command q hurt-
ful luxury like spirits to go free, luxury whose
taxation Expresses no one? Customs revenues
the nation monopolizes; excise is open III
theory to both state and national use in taxa
ton; but in practice the national authority
alone can levy an excise tax on whisky. No
state can guard it's borders against whisky from
other states or make an economical collection
of such tax within its own revenue. The fed
eral machinery for the collection of this revenue
is in full operation and o bill of ten lines could
direct the secretary of the treasury to pay the
whole OF it-less the small expense of collection
of their population, and to continue. it perma-
nently as part of their regular annual revenue.
Snch plan would give the revenue from a
specific tax wholly to the states, and would not
depend upon chance surplus or an accidental
remainder in the national treasury. 1t would
make the tax on spirituous and malt liquors
permanent resource to all the states, enabling
them thereby to definitely readjust and reduce
their own taxation. Each state could most
wisely use It's share according to its own neces-
Sites.
In table annexed to his letter, Mr.. Blaine
on the basis of population would be as follows:
Alabama, 2,2OS OO0 Arkansas, 81 405, O0O Caifor-
MA 557 0eO Colorado $S4OOG0 Connectc coa
Georgia, 1885, OOO Illinois, $52s5O0O: Indiana,
So Iowa. So S42O 900; Kansas, 81 900; Ken
g lsi6OS; Maryland. 81, 1854 Ooo; Massachusetts,
$s 100 0oO Michigan, 1866, 900; Minnesota, 81 s6
600; Mississippi, $l,9S00O0; Missouri, $3,79iOO
Nebraska, $79l00O; Nevada. $l00, 900; New Hamp-
shire, 1905 900; New Jersey, 81 $50 900; New York,
Is 1888 600 North Carolna s2459oO; ohio Ss 5 a
Rhode Island, $4s3,0OO South Carolina ST. 900;
Tennessee ~, $685. 900; Texas, ~ 5000; Vermont,
oSl,0OO; Wisconsin, $2,S 900. Territories--Ari-
zona $4,000 Dakota, 1896 Oo0 Idaho, S51 o9o;
go; Washington, SILL 600; Wyoming, $4,000; DISC
trict of Columbia, 100000.