The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-26
WHISKY AND roRACco rAxgs.

An effort will he made in the next
congress, backed by the power of the
protectionists, to remove the taxes
on whisky and tobacco. A similar
effort was made in the last congress,
the object being to reduce internal
revenue so Us to make high protect
i've tariff necessity. The leading
whisky distilleries are in favor Of
maintaining the internal tax on their
product, for the obvious reason that
its repeal would throw the door open
to dangerous competition that is now
restrained by the oppressive contriv-
ances and complications of the inter
nal revenue system. One of their
most influential representatives in
congress, Senator John A. Logan, IA
vors the maintenance of the whisky
tax and the distribution of its reAenue
among the several states for purposes
of education. Most of the New
England members are protectionists,
but they would prefer to raise the
whisky tax even to 81 gallon, a for
mer rate, than to have any reduction.
These congressman will have the aid
of most of the members from Kansas,
Iowa, Michigan, and some other por-
lions of the West. They are opposed
to Il less tax on whisky, because they
believe cheaper drink would increase
drunkenness. Besides. Il good many
people who do not drink whisky, or
chew or smoke tobacco, think, prop
erly enough, that those who consume
the two products should contribute
their share to sustaining the gov
eminent. 1t is said that in
the last congress nearly all the repre-
sentatives from Pennsylvania would
have voted with Judge Kelley and
Mr.. Randall for total repeal of the in.
ternaI revenue system had the oppor-
tunity been given them. But since
the PRONUNCIATION Of the "Pennsylva-
MIA idea" that taxation is a blessing
and should be maintained for the sake
of distributing large surplus reve-
nue. among the states, there will be
few votes from that state for repeal
of the internal revenue system. There
is still another most potent element
that will oppose the repeal of the taxes
on whisky and tobacco. Already re-
duction of internal taxation has put
out of Office a large revenue force and
the retained collectors and their eu-
! ployes will convert themselves into a
fol ce for defensive warfare, and will
urge the retention, probably an in
crease of the taxes. Not merely the
immediate official benefciaries of the
internal revenue system, but the en-
tire official class will be arrayed in
opposition to its total repeal. By its
repeal and the mastering out of its
hundreds of officials, long used to de-
pendence upon government, the COM
petition for place would be intensified
in all other departments of the public
service. Hence the advocates of re
peal will find no sympathy or support
from the powerful official class of the
country. Upon all these conflicting
grounds there is not the slightest
probability that the internal revenue
system will be disturbed in the next
congress or any of its near successors.
1t is doubtful whether naked propo-
sition for total repeal would command
a score of votes in theI next house,
outside of the support from North
Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia,
where the expressions and iniquities
of the system are most keenly felt.
But whisky and tobacco taxes should
be collected. They are the most just
of all taxes, imposed on products that
are of no benefit to society. The only
direction in which relief from need
less taxation may be obtained is in
reducing the excessive duties on i'm
ports.