The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-08-14
THE INTERNAL REVENUE TAX.

tax is certain to be made a vital issue at
the opening of the new Congress, it be-
comes an interesting study for the people
generally. The present outlook points
to an enforced declaration in favor of
the abolition of the entire internal tax
system from the Republican House eau
Gus as condition precedent to Repub-
lican unity, and as the Southern Re
publican Congressman who have taken a
stand for the repeal of internal taxes
hold the control of the House in their
hands, it is quite likely that the over
throw of the internal revenue system
may be accomplished within the present
fiscal year.
In view of the possibility of the repeal
of internal taxes, its effect upon the
general revenues of the government
becomes an interesting inquiry. Com
missioner Mason has just made an
official preliminary report of the opera
tionS of the department for the last
fiscal year. The total revenue from
internal taxes was $130,S95, ,432. OF
this amount, $74,313,206 came from
spirits; $31 1866, $50 from tobacco; $23,-
729, ,s35 f1on fermented liquors, and the
residue from oleomargarine, banks and
miscellaneous. The total revenues of
the government amount to about 1890,
900, 900, of which internal taxes make
up about one-tbird of the whole, and
during the last few years the expendi-
lures have been increasing with more
rapidity than the revenues 1t is doubt
full whether, with all our resources,
including internal taxes, the statement
of the treasury that will be presented
in the Presidents message to Congress,
will show as much as $40, 900, 600 of
surplus for the present fiscal year, and
the question will then present itself for
positive solution, whether there shall be
repeal of internal taxes when the
repeal must necessitate either very
large reduction in expenditures or Il
bankrupt treasury.
The last Congress was largely in favor
Of severe reduction of internal reve-
nue. taxes, but the question was never
reached in either body as a distinct
proposition. Both the House and the
Senate tariff bills largely reduced inter
nal taxes, and both claimed to reduce
the revenue about $4,000, 900, but the
effect of either measure upon the reve-
lue was purely conjcctural. Could
Congress have reached a direct vote on
the repeal of the tobacco tax it would
have succeeded by 4 large majority, and
it is certain that all other internal taxes
except those levied on whiskey and prob
ably beer, would have been repealed if
the direct question had reached vote.
1t is probable that a reduced tax of
about SO cents would have been retained
on whiskey by thelast Congress, but that
is the most that could have stood the
pruning knife of our lawmakers.
1t is understood. that the Southern
Republicans, who have taken stand on
the issue, will demand the entire repeal
Of the internal revenue system, and if
they shall stand to their guns, they can
force its entire overthrow. They are
likely to be heartily seconded by many
politicians, from the President down,
who have made profigate promises as
to pensions and other speculative
schemes, and want an excuse for not
fulfilling their pledges. With the repeal
of the internal taxes, increased pen
sions could not be entertained, and only
; the severest economy in every depart
nent of the government would enable
the revenues to meet the expenditures.
1t is an open secret that the leaders Of
the present administration are appalled,
at their campaign pledges about expen-
ditures which nov confront them with
the demand for fulfllment, and the
only way to retreat from policy of fataI
profigacy is to cut down the revenues
to point that must not only forbid any
and every increase of expenditure, but
that will enforce a large reduction in
nearly every department. The anti
internal tax "A a therefore;
in a favorable position to win their
battle, and it is not only possible but
quite probable that the next Congress
will strike off $13O,00O,0O0 of revenue
by the entire repeal of the internal tax
system. 1t would be a violent whirl
from profigacy to economy, but ii
would be a most wholesome departure
toward honest government.-Philaael-
phia Times.
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