St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-22
TARIFF TALK.

81 am convinced that the best system
Of taxation is that one which derives
revenues from taxes on articles of con-
sumption. | would abolish all other
means of revenue if it rested with me, I"
said New York Republican in group
who were discussing in the corridor of
the Merchants the ever-present, dOmi-
Dant question of taxation. "Our Nc
Kinley bill is long step in that direc-
ton, but it should be supplemented in
the states by similar measures, and our
municipal governments should derive
their revenues largely from a similar
source. | admired the octroi tax as
saw it operate in the cities of Europe.
At every city gate sits the revenue Off
Ger, who examines all produce brought
in for sale, and decides the amount of
tax it shall pay, collects it and turns it
into the treasury. 1t has two adyan-
tages; it is easily collected, no friction,
no kicking; and every man pays in pro-
portion to what he consumes But
who is the real taXpayer"' why, the
consumer. of course"
Aside from the manifest injustice of
system which eXempts property from
bearing its share of the public burden
and. levying tribute on the neceSSaries
of life, compelS equal contribution from
the poor and rich, their consumption
being the same, it may be doubted if 1t
Is we'll for this country to further eX-
tend system to which may, IN large
part, be traced a social condition in
the countries using it which we unite in
regarding as bad. The disposition to
evade taxation is so general as to COM
pei its recognition as trait of human
ity. The tariff develops the profession
al smuggler, as well as the aristocratic
one, who fills trunks with wearing APP
parel while abroad. or is not above con-
yinclng the Inspector that his hurry to
get dutiable goods through the custom
house unsullIed by vulgar tax is the
exact equivalent of a $50 bill. No bust
ness man feels any qualms of conscience
when the assessor leaves with only a
small fraction of his possessions on the
tax list. The universal sentiment is
that, while taxation is right iii the alb
stract and when operative on the other
fellow, it is a duty which one owes to
himself and his family to get out of as
much of it as is possible.
But where the tax has already been
levied and paid, and you must repay it
Ill lHe Price OF the IOOu, Iuel or clothing
you must have, the usual means of
evasion are of no avail, and other means
must be adopted. The easiest is to di-
nIinish the consumption. Not only must
one use less himself, but he must be
careful of extending his obligations to
support other consumers. So, the vic
tim OF the octroi learns to put curb on
his propenSities. Instead of taking a
wife who will busy herself with the care
of his household, and thus be wholly a
consumer, he prefers to have his
grisette, who has some vocation by
which she earns her livelihood. Or if,
for family or other reasons. it is advisa-
bic to marry, it is evident that the pro-
duction of children, VIGOROUSLY only
consumers, is not to be encouraged as a
family industry. Hence, we have one
potent cause of that social condition in
France which is best shown by the alb
sence of the word ''hOme" in their lam
guage, in her tariff and octroi tax, both
framed in harmony with our Republic
ans idea. Turgot, the famous finance
minister of France in the last century,
defined the perfection of taxation to be
THAT system by which could be plucked
from the goose the greatest quantity of
feathers with the least amount of
SOuaWkinp.