Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-21
TWO PLANS PROPOSED.

The Democrats Considering Couple Of
Ways of Raising Revenues Necessary
for Expenses of the Government-SOme
Irnportations Under Lower Tariff Ex-
pected to Be Largely Increased-Read-
justment of the Internal Revenue.
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT!
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20-The Democrats
base upon two measures their hope of in
creasing the revenues to an extent that
there will be no danger Mt any time that
the receipts will not comfortably ex-
ceed the expenditures of the Government.
One is that, with a reduction of the tariff on
certain lines, importations will so multiply
rs to increase the amount received from
duties to the extent ofsJO 600 600 or $50 Oo0 OO0
That is, by bringing certain huge bulk of
foreign goods into competition with do
mestic manufactured goods, and decreasing
the product of the latter by an equal
amount, the sum OF $4,000, 900 or s61. 900 600
may be added to the customs revenues.
That must happen or their scheme will not
work, for, If Mt the. reduced duty the native
manufacturer can successfully compete
with the foreigner, there would certainly
be no increase of importations.
Another view taken by those who are dig
ging into the question of probabilities is
that the falling off OF impoftations under
the Mckinley bill is so inconsiderable as to
show shat practically all of the foreign
goods that are wanted are now imported,
and that under reduced tariff it is probable
that importations would not greatly in
crease in bulk. Therefore, no matter which
way the contingency is viewed the reform
ers are left in doubt as whether they will
gain by their plans the increase of customs
revenue which will be soon imDerutively de-
fIad asf,fr r1,.
THE other hone is that the system of in
ternal revenue can be readj justed to add $685.
O00,0O0 or coo to the income from that
source. 1t is the opinion OF Commissioner
Mason, of the Bureau OF Internal Revenue,
as expressed to the correspondent of THE
DISPATCH, that the Democrats will find great
difficulty in accomplishing their purpose
in this direction. The reduction OF the tax
on the various grades of tobacco by the Nc
kinbey bill resulted in q decrease of revenue
from that source of only about 81 0O0,G00 ad-
mitting that the same amount would nave
been consumed had the tax remained as it
was.
Mr.. Mason thinks that it will not be found
advisable to disturb the tobacco tax for the
little that might be gained, with posi-
hility that nothing would be gained at all,
The reduction of the tax on whisky ten
cents a gallon would suggest a vast reduc-
tion in the revenue from that source, but
while the consumption of whisky rs q bev-
craze has not probably increased greatly on
that account, its extended use in science
and the arts has largely compensated for
tile loss by reduction of the tax, and the un-
parnlleled production of this year will actu-
ally increase the revenues over those OF last
yenr by several million dollars. The manu-
facture is always in excess of the demand.
This year the excess will be beyond any
thing known before. on account of the large
crops and cheap prices OF grain. The possi-
Dility of an increase of the tux will lead to
yet greater excess, just rs the possibility of
a lower duty on foreign products will lead
to q reduction of impOrtatiOnS for some time
TO come.
THE Peoria, ILL.,, revenue district
alone is now paying into the Treasury of the
United States the sum of 800. 600 Il day and
has been paying $50, 900 II day for some sime
II the tax be increased it will not only lead
to n decrease in the manufacture and con-
sumption, but for considerable time after
the imposition OF an additional tax the dis
tillerieS would run short on account of n
vast excess ready for the market, and it is
therefore not improbable that there would
be an actual decrease of the revenue under
an additional tax instead of an increase at
least Tor u time.
Another important statement made to the
correspondent of The DISPATCH by Commits
sioner Mason is that the higher the tax the
greater the inducement to commit fraud.
Not only does ''lnoonshining" thrive best
under high tax, but there are many other
ways of committing fraud that are not con-
sIdered beyond the morality of even So
called reputable dealers. Frauds OF all kinds
in gauging and weighing, by slightly increas-
ing the size OF the barrels. and by many other
methods invariably multiply just as the in
ducement increases in force, and the losses
from this source would add to the chance
that the hope OF the Democrats from the in
crease of the tax would prove barren to a
distressing degree.
'tBY the way," said Commissioner Mason,
in concluding brief conversation on this
subject, cit has been always o curious study
to me why there should be SUCH hue and
cry about taxation. Where do the taxes
come FRONT The bulk of the revenue from
customs is from imported silks, satins,
and women high h-prIced wines, liquors and
tobaccos, none of which is necessary Ior the
comfort or enjoyment OF persons of substan-
tial ides OF what is most healtAfuI and de-
Sirable in life.
"NearIy one-third of the entire income of
the Government is derived from internal
taxation on whisky, tobacco and oleOmar-
garine. Nobody eats oleomargarine if lie
knows ii. Nobody need use whisky or to-
baccO if he does not want to be taxed. The
person who does not use either whisky, to-
Dacco or oleomargarine pays not ne cent OF
the internal taxation, which amounts to
nearly one thiru of the whole amount neces-
sary to nay the expenses of the Government.
1t seems to Inc that one who voluntarily
pays part of the taxes levied by the Gov
Tor something which, when lie gets
IT. is of no earthly good To him, ought not to
howl about the imposition"