Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-28

taxation by the federal government in
1888, exclusive of all requirements for
interest on the public debt?
"a. s339,127 $50; or over SO per head,
or more than $50 for each average family.
so. What has been, during recent
years, the average taxation of all kinds
direct and indirect, Federal, State and
municipal-upon the people of this coun-
try?
"a. 1t has been estimated by the most
competent authorities, at from SIG to SIS
per head.
so. Has there been any reduction of
taxation in the country since 1880, or
since the last Presidential election.
ga. Although both political parties
have acknowledged the necessity and pro-
fessed a great desire to do so, they have
not reduced taxes; but on the other hand
the taxes have been increased.
80. How do you prove this?
ga. In 1S79-S0 the total receipts of
the federal government were 1888, 526, $40.
In 1SS3-s4 they were S34S,519 1859, or fif-
teen millions more; and this, too, not
withstanding the requirements for inter-
est on the public debt were more than
$40, 000, 900 less in 1884 than in 1SSO-i. e.
500, ISL 600 in 1880, S54,57S,0 900 in 1884.
so. How much have the net ordinary
expenses of the federal government been
increased during the same period?
ga. More than $40, 900, 900.
80. How much is it possible for the
people to save out of their annual pro-
duct exclusive of the increase in the
value of land and lay up as new capital
for future production or as provision for
old age, infirmity or for their children?
"a. Not more, under the most favor
able circumstances, and when taxes are
light. than from $40 to SIS per annum
out of every 500 of annual product.
When taxes, as at present, are heavy and
prices are thereby enhanced and the op-
p%ortunities for employment are restricted
or made irregular, it is almost impossible
for those whose earnings are small to
save anything.
20. How much money has the federal
government recently raised by taxation,
in excess of its requirements for all or
} binary expenditures, including pensions
and interest on the public debt?
"a. For the fiscal year 1851 the surplus
/, revenue was 800, 069, 404 for 1882, S145,-
: 1850; for 1888, S132.S79,444; for 1884.
= SlO4, 1893 ,625. 1t is obvious, therefore,
/, that more than one-fourth of the taxes
of the federal government could have
been abated during recent years without
' restricting any necessary expenditure.
1 THE BURDEN OF UNNECESSARY TAXES
9 so. If the hundred millions of take;
9 which the federal government collected
= in 1891, over and above all its require
ments for expenditures, including inter
est on the public debt, had been paid il
. commodities in place of money, wha
would the amount represent?
"A. One hundred and twenty-fv,
million bushels of wheat at so cents pc,
bushel or two hundred and fifty mil
e lion bushels of corn at 40 cents per bush
ell; or one hundred thousand houses, cost
ing $1,000 apiece; or five million tons o.
e pig iron (nearly the whole product of tn,
country at $50 per ton or a thousanC
/ million yards of cotton cloth, costing II
cents per yard.
80. If this sum of 500. 000, 900 il
taxes, collected unnecessarily in 1884
b had been RENTED back to the people, in
| stead of having been eXtorted from then
q what would it have enabled the people t.
: have bought?
"a. 1t would have given a pair o.
\ good boots to every man and a pair O.
q good shoes to every woman in the coun
e try with an occupation. 1t would have
given two barrels of flour, or two tons O.
coal to every family; or it would hav,
added a weeks wages to the gain of ev
cry manual laborer. 1t would have pai(
10 per cent on one thousand millions o.
capital.
20. How have the pro%tectionists pro
t posed to deal with this great burden o
taxation and unnecessary surplus reve
nue.?
e "A. They have proposed on the on,
hand to take off the taxes on whiskey ant
tobacco and maintain it on blankets, su
s gars. window glass and all the essential
S of common living; and on the other t.
f keep up the taxes ON everything and dis
tribute the surplus revenues for variou!
! purposes among the States. The prac
e teal effect of the latter proposition would
e be to take mouey out of one pocket o.
: the people and transfer it to another ant
pay a corps of officials for the purpose
of doing it,"
r MIR. Stewart continues: SIT is some
f times said that the duties levied 60 solely
for the benefit of the manufacturers
Mr.. Mills has frequently said so ant
f President Cleveland IN his last messag,