The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-28
How Taxes Can Be Most Equally Levied.

| How Taxes Can Be Most Equally Levied.
But assuming that four hundred ani
sixty millions of dollars (S460, 0OO, Oo0 mus
the United States to meet the expenditure.
of the federal government, there will prob
ably be q unanimity of public opinion thai
this amount should be obtained in the mos
economical and effective manner, and witt
the least burden and annoyance TO those
who are to be called upon 10 contribute
work in the form OF taxes. But to what
extent can such a result be comprised by
sure and simple methodist Let US see.
The revenue derived during the fiscal year
1889 from the existing taxes on distilled
spirits and wines was S74, 3l2, 200 internal,
81, LIB 062 customs: total, SSl, i35 ,26S.
From malt or fermented liquors, S23, 723.
S35 internal, S663, 3S7 customs; total, ga,
3S7, 172.
From tobacco, s31, sec, $50 internal; SILL
49,, 4S6 customs; total, Si3, o.. 346.
From sugar and molssses. $50, 995, 49,.
Here, then. from the above enumerated
four articles, or classes of articles, s204
SIS, 923. or fraction over Al per cent of
the S46O, O00, 900 required TO defray the au-
nual expenses of the federal government
can be certainly and easily collected. In
respect to three of these articles, or classes
of articles-liquors and tobacco from
which $l4S, $50, 7c6, or 32 per cent. of the
required revenue of four hundred and sixty
millions has been raised, it is entirely OPP
tional with the citizen whether he will as
sess himself and act as tax collector for the
government or not. And in respect to the
fourth article or class, namely, sugar, al
though the rate Of taxation is high-50 per
cent in 1SS9--it would be difficult to name
any commodity in general use which could
be taxed with a view to revenue with so
little of burden to consumers and so little
of detriment to industry. 1t is so largely
produced, dealt in and consumed, and enters
to 80 small an extent as crude material
into other industries, that it comes to
the consumer less burdened with other
than government taxes, merchants
profits and expenses of distribu-
ton than almost any commodity that can
be mentioned. OF all articles retailed,
sugar is the one whose cost Is least aug
mented by retailing, and, in fact, is said to
be often sold by grocers without any profit
as q means of attracting other trade And
yet, by q not inconsiderable portion of the
American people, it is believed to be good
public policy to throw a way all, or nearly
all, the advantages accruing from retaining
the above-enumerated sources of revenue
by totally abolishing the internal revenue
system, and not only repeating the present
customs revenue of $55,000,000 on sugar,
but making the occasion OF such repeal a
reason for augmenting the existing taxes
to the extent of, at least, seven millions of
dollars in the way of bounties on its domes-
tic production. Has there ever been in the
whole history of taxation anything moro
absurd or such q demonstration on
the part of all responsible persons Of an in
ability to exercise common sensel
IL it not self-evident, also, If four hun
dred and sixty millions must every year be
collected from the people to meet the ex-
penditures of the federal government, and
If the consumption of liquors, tobacco and
sugar il to b no longer regarded and util-
lied as q proper source for supplying some
some two hundred millions of this require
ment, that the immense sum thus diverted
and abandoned will have to be collected
just the same; and that too. by spreading