Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15

The Senator from Rhode Island who had charge
OF the Senate bill In 1885. which was offered ~
substitute for what II known a. the Mills bih,''
ON the Sth day Of October OF that year In adyOcst-
ing that measure, advanced the argument that
had the rates OF duty IN force prior 10 the act Of
July, 1870, been applied 10 the iinportsions Of
1857. the amount or duties collected would have
exceeded the receipts Of that year from rtistofns
by Si3y.5,6 o35. Even assuming. Mr.. President,
that this estimate Of the distinguished Srpator 10
correct, what does 1t prove' sirnp'y TIA Re-
publican Congress has relieved capital lnxusics
aud whiskey Of taxation 10 the amount Of 5sos.-
Ic6.159 more than they have taken from The
shoulders Of agriculture and labor.
COMPARISON OF STATE AND FEDERAL TAXATION.
Mr. President, In considering 50 important and
far reaching measure As this. the practical
operations Of which affects indirectly every citizen
Of the country, It may not be Improbable to call
attention to the aggregate Of direct taxation inn
posed upon the people FOR State and county pur-
poses. with a view Of comparing the cost with
that OF the Federal administration.
We hud 10 some extent that even under the
system Of direct taxation Ia the States, an inc
quality exists in the imposition Of taxes upon the
wealthy and those IN medium cifeumstances-
Under the Federal system the poor pay much
a. the rich. as taxes are paid upon consumption,
aud not upon wealth in the States II j. paid
upon wealth by tar upon real and persOnsi
property, but even in this case. sir. there are
thousands Of wealthy men who. ~ the ownefsof
personal securities. nontaxsble bonds. etc, AVOID
that equality OF taxation which should exs, in
every ;, stem which provides revenue for public
purposes.
A comparison Of taxation for these purposes
will reveal vas, exusszgnce Of Federal expea-
ditures:
Estimate Of State tar paid per capita $50
Estimates Of county tax paid per capita fH
Aggregate for State and county purposes zsr
For family OF ave persons f1sS
Assuming the po2aisiion Of this country 10 be
s. oeo.coo. aud the annual expenditures Tor rss9
to reach the sum Of sf3oooooco II would be f7.l3
per capita, or 1875 yer family Of i've persons.
which j. within traction Of three times much
paid 10 the Frprral Government a. T. necessary 10
delray a the expenses oi state aud county adj
inini-traiou.
Assuming the population Of west virginia TO
be 71so O. the people OF that state w0uh under
that estimate, pay il Federal taxation annually
the sum of s ~ 7sc.
This estimate Of the cost per capita Of taxation
Tor the support Of the Federal Government DOES
not include that immense sum paid IN bounties
by the consumer 10 the manufacturer Of arucics
% highly projected by Federal legislation. ard
which under the e-tinste Of the Distinguished
stati>ticisn. Professor Arthur L Perry. afhoants
10 Inc -Din VI 500 Is1 81. ~no-t 3 capita Of
population. - addition 20 the - - rJ ctyns con-
triDutrd for The support VI the FetlriS Govern
inent.
CONDITION. AID PROFITS o. MANUFACTURES.
Mr. r: e-ident j. II surpsi.ing that ate. . years
OF legislation framed aad administers, Ia the in
tere~t Of single class in cur country. titst all
should concur with perfect pnznirsiiy in The adj
mission Of the fact that there wite>Dse cad de-
been made to bear thssr burden. t,r sYiergs