Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-22

We would say in reply to our friend OF
the Lynchburg Aduaacc that of the d.
rect tax there was collected in Virginia
s5l5. 56972. and there is now owing
S2l3. 501. 30-in both cases without IN
terest. The money was collected part OF
il during the vsr, bat much Of it-and
we have no doubt most Of it-after the
war. 1t vas collected generally if not
wholly from individual taxpayers, and
Of course would be returned TO them by
the State as provided in the bill.
And II does seem TO us clear
that the tax ought to be refunded to the
States which paid 1t or else collected in
the States which have not paid it. To
claim that the States which never Sc
oeded ought to pay it, and the States
which did secede ought to he excused
from paying It, is so illogical PROPOSE
ton as 70 amount to an absurdity. 1t
assumes that the Northern people are
angels. The collection Of tins tax has
been suspended for years, AMI the bill
which the Ehbustor5 aatagon;lcd pro-
posed TO remit to the States all moneys
still due under the dircct-,ax law. We
quote
Section .. That sll moneys still due TO
the United States on the quota Of direct
tax apportioned by section 5 OF the act OF
Congress approved August D 1861, are
hereby RENTED and reiinquished.
This section would have relieved Viz
ginia Of The payment Of the sum still
due-namcly, over two hundred thou
sand dollars snd the first section would
have restored to the pockets Of her tax
PAYERS over FIVE hundred thousand dol
lars.
We quote f:om the biz las it passed
the Senate, We boi.eyo) as follows:
Provided. that where the sums or
AM part thereof. credited u any state,
Terrific. or tie District of Columbia,
have been collected bv the United States
from the citizens or inhabitants thereof.
OF any other lcr,ou, either directly or
by sale oi property, such sums shall he
h,ll in trust ly such state, Territory,
O. the District oi Columbia for the bene-
IT If those persons or inhabitants from
whom they were collected. or their legal
r,p icstut.uy,s. and provided further,
tat 10 part OF tie money collected
from individuals an / 10 be held in trust
g. aforesaid snail be retained by the
United States IS q set-ou against any
Indebtedness alleged 10 exist against the
State. Territory, or the District OF Co
lumGlA IN hicl such tax was collected.
And provided further, that no part OF
lie money hereby appropriated shall DO
paid ont by the Governor OF any State
o. Territory, or any other person, TO any
attorney or agent under any contract for
services now existing or heretofore made
between the representative OF any State
or Territory and any attorney OF agent.
It will be seen that it provided for do
ing Just what the AdrQnce SAYS ought
TO be done, and also that no lobby "
should get any Of the money. To take
She bill as it passed the Senate is all that
the House of Representatives needed to
do in order TO the full performance Of
its duty in the premises.
The question of refundiDg the cotton
tax could have come up separately,
though it would have been waste OF
time to consider it The House would
not have passed it and in the Senate it
would have been almost hooted at To
attach such an amendment to the direct
tax bill would have been silly. The bill
would better have been rejected out Of
hand,