The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-08
Internal Taxes.

Treasury for the month of December
shows ali increase in the National
debt of 100000. This is accounted
for by reason of the depression in bust.
ness, necessarily followed by de.
crease in the production or Importation
of the articles subject to this tax
While the aggregate reduction of the debt
during the calender year has been from
$50 900, 900 to SIC, 1000, the result of the
December report gives food for reflection,
1t is popular thing with the masses to
clamor for the repeal of the internal reve.
nue. laws and the extinction of that mode
of collecting taxes. But as this method OF
raising revenue gives some 800, 900, 600
about the sum annually paid out for pen
sions-it would not be safe to jump at a
conclusion and strike down a system
without considering the effect. Malt and
spirituous liquors and tobacco are now the
main productions subject to this tax TIC
relieve them, would, in the present condi.
ton Of the revenues. as indicated by the
December Treasury report, mean that
the tax collected from them must be
placed on something else, through the
customs levies. Could a tax he placed on
anything else, to the amount of that col
lected off of these articles, which would
operate less GENEROUSLY upon the people =:
We do not hear of any painful complaints
of oppression because of this tax. In fact
nobody realizes that he is paying, it when
he INDUCES in drink. OF smoke or a
chew of tobacco. And were it removed
would it benefit the consumer-lessen the
cost of the whiskey he consumes OF the
tobacco he uses? Look at the facts The
tax on beer is one-ffth of one cent on
each glass. The tax Oh cigars is three
tenths of one cent on each cigar. The
tax on whiskey is less than a cent
and a half on each ordinary drink
Were this tax repealed would the retailer
sell cent mug of beer for 49, or 4
cents, instead of 5? Would he sell 5 Oh
10 cent cigar for the fraction less as indi-
Gated by the reduced tax? Would he sell
a drink Of whiskey for 81 or 8 cents, in
stead of 10 cents as now? We all know
he would n6t-that the consumer would
not be benefited a particle, while the gov
eminent would be deprived of about $780,
100000 of revenue derived from this
source, which would have to be raised
from some other source, unless the aver
age receipts by the Treasury increase over
the report for December. Then we must
remember that there are several pension
bills pending in Congress, one of which,
the Mexican, is likely to pass. We do
not know what the estimate is to meet
this, but it would have to come out of the
revenues in the Treasury, and when they
were not, according to the December ex-
hibit, sufficient to meet the demands on
the government, it would argue that this
is no time to diminish revenue resources.
There are inequalities in the tariff laws
which ought to be adjusted. and would
have been long before this but for the ob-
structive tactics Of the free-traders, which
might reduce the revenues from customs
levies, unless higher duties should be i'm
posed upon some imports in the interest
of American industries. This could and
ought to be done, as to foreign ores, es-
pecially.
We mention these facts to show that the
whole revenue system, internal and GUS
toms. should be carefully considered, and
not pitched into, like bull in q china
shop, regardless of consequences. If it
can be shown that the Treasury can dis
pense with the revenues derived from the
internal tax, and that we'll adjusted tariff
laws will produce enough revenue to meet
all the demands of government, then it
might be wise policy to repeal the internal
revenue tax, except on whiskey. This ar
ticle we want to see taxed as long as we
have pension list to meet. and if Con-
gress should repeal it, then we want to see
the State take it in hand and subject it to
a tax, if it can be done without exposing
us to conflicting laws in other States.