St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-26
THE TAXING POWER.
"A Lawyer Discusses the Uncon-
stitutiOnality of the Tariff Law.

To the Editor of the Globe.
}here Is, perhaps, no one of the powers
conferred on the federal government so
liable to abuse as the taxing power. The
most productive and convenient sources of
revenue were necessarily given to it. that It
might perform the important duties imposed
upon it; and the taxes which 1t lays upon
commerce being concealed from the real
payer in the price of the article. they did not
so readily attract the attention of the people
as smaller sums demanded from them d.
rectly by the taX-gatherer. But the tax
In posed on goods enhances by SO much the
price OF the commodity, to the con
suIner; and as many of these duties
eret imposed on articles of necessity
which are daily used by the great body
OF fhe people. the money raised by these i'm
posts is drawn from their pockets. Congress
Z has no right under the constitution TO take
money from the people unless it is required
TO execute some of the specific powers in
trusted TO the government; and it they raise
more than is necessary for such purposes it
is an abuse of the power of taxation, ane I'M
Just and oppressive. 1t may indeed happen
thai the revenue viii sometimes exceed the
amount anticipated when the taxes were
laid. When, however, this is ascertained. it
Is easy TO reduce them; and, in such case,
tits unQuestionably the duty of the govern
meht TO reduce them. for no circumstances
can justify 1t in assuming the power not
given to 1t by tho constitution. nor III taking
needed for the legitimate wants of the gov
eminent.
Plain as these principles appear TO be, you
will find that there is constant effort to in
{dncethe general government 20 go beyond the
limits offs taxing power ana to impose un-
necessary burdens upon the people. Many
powerful interests are continually at work to
pTod1ce HEAVY duties on commerce and to
swell the revenue beyond the real Mecessi-
ties of the public service. and the country has
already felt the Injurious effects of their com
bined influence. They succeeded in obtain
ing a tariff of duties bearing most oppressive
ly on the agricultural and laboring classes of
society and producing revenue that could
not be usetuily employed within the
range of the powers conferred upon
congress, and. in order to fasten upon
the people this unjust and uEequaled
system of taxation, eXtr2vagant schemes
OF internal improvement were got up in
various quarters 10 Squander the money and
10 purchase support. Thus one unconstitu-
tional measure was intended 20 be upheld by
another, and the abuse OF the power of taxa
ton was TO be maintained by usurping the
power OF expanding the money III inter nal
improvements
But rely upon it. the design to collect an
eXtTaVagant revenue, and to burden YOU
with taxes beyond the economical wants of
the government, is not yet abandoned. The
various interests which have combined TO-
getiieT to impose heavy tariff, and to pro-
duce all overlooking treasury, are too strong,
contest. The corporations and wealthy in
dividuals who are engaged in large manu-
featuring establishments desire a high tariff
to increase their gains. Designing politicians
will support to conciliate their favor, and
to obtain the means of profuse expenditure.
for the purpose OF purchasing influence i'll
other quarters: and since the people have
decided that the federal overnment cannot
be permitted TO employ its income III internal
improvements. efforts will be made to Seducc
and misleHd the citizens of the several states
by holding out to them the deceitful prospect
of benefits to be derived from the surplus
revenue collected by the general govern
ment, and annually divided among the
states
There is but one safe rule, and that is to
contine the general government rig dly with
in Il G sphere of its appropriate duties II
has llu power to raise revenue or impose
taxes. except for the purposes enumerated in
the constitutions; and # its income is found
to exceed these wants it should be forthwith
reduced and the burdens OF the people so far
lightened.