Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-16

Some of the Sweeping Reductions which
IL Would Effect.

%
IL Would Effect.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Bepresentative
Morrison's report on the Randall bill
says "The bill is proposed to remove all
internal taxes on tobacco,snuff and cigars,
amounting on the basis Of last years re-
ceceipts to S2S, 600, 600 on apple, peach and
grape brandy to 81 100000 on spirits for
use in the arts, varously estimated at
from 81 600, 600 to Sl5,0OO,OO0, and believed
to be at least 100000 making in the
aggregate of internal revenue taxes to be
removed $40, 100000. In the appendix of
estimates submitted with the bill as part
of it the reduction of revenue from Gus
toms on tariff taxes to be affected by it is
estimated at $S,51O,51G making the aggre-
gate of proposed reductions $4S,OO0OOO. If
the statement the revenues will not exceed
appropriations and the estimates with the
bill including loss of receipts from brandy
and from spirits for use in the arts may be
credited, the enactment Of the bill into
law Will leave the government 81, 600
short of the sum necessary to the admins
tration of the government and the require
ments of the public debt authorized by
law. In view Of its effect and purpose, so
far as 1t has purpose affecting the reve-
nue. of the government, the bill might well
be left to that neglect, which no doubt
it expected to receive. But in the hope
that even so unWise a measure may open
the way for the majority by the removal
and reduction of unnecessary and, there
fore, unjust taxes, your committee report
the bill back with the recommendation
that it do not pass The bill changes the
duty or rate of tax on articles yielding
less than onetenth (Sl1,OO0, 900 out OF Slsl.-
OO0,O 900 received from customs in 1850. II
increases those which yielded Sll,6OO,0 600
and decreases or removes those which
yield S5,OOO,OOO ON the basis of imports for
lSS5 1t does not reduce the revenue from
customs SS,5iO,51G not at all, but does in
crease 50, 100000 Besides the articles add
ed to the free list the duty or import tax
is reduced on castor beans, castor oil,
starch, IRON and steel rails beams, girders,
lead and other articles yielding So 1000, 900
of revenue, and the revenue Is estimated
on the bill to fall off in proportion to the
reduced rate of taxation recommended.
The tax on all clothing, whether of silk,
linen, cotton or woollen, and other woollen
goods, of tin plates, cotton ties and other
articles yielding. as already stated, Sill
,OOO is increased, ana the revenue is
estimated to fall off in still greater pro
portion than on articles upon which the
rate of tax Is reduced.
The report then proceeds to consider
the bill IN detail and says The introduce
ton Of this bill would be considered the
first avOWed attempt in our legislative
history to empty the treasury by the use
of the taxing power. If this measure may
be supposed to have any purpose relating
to a system Of finance. il points to direct
taxation, for when internal revenue taxes
are taken of and custom house take, are
laid on so high that the people get the
burden, the mouopolists the benit, and
the treasury nothing. new process of sup
ply will be inevitable The measure is