The National tribune., 1892-01-28

secretary OF The treasury rs 10 the SUMS
which were raised 10y the most direct and
onerOus taxation, and paid TO the bond
holders in gold-which was then worth from
30 to so per cent. more than greenbacks.
The year 1865 was a particularly hard one
on the Taxpayers Of the United States. The
total property Of the country was then only
about one-half what ii is now, and the South
paid almost nothing, so that substantially
the whole burden Of furnishing the Govern
ment's revenue fell upon the North. Out Of
the 25,000,000 people Of that section the
Government collected that year the enor-
mons sum OF 1898 7l4,G COS, Of which $780,
464,2l5 was by the exceedingly onerous and
laid its heavy hand on almost everything
that the people Of the North ate, wore or
used in their houses, business or pleasures.
il il impossible for those who have grown
mp since then 10 comprehend how burden
some the internal revenue taxes were.
Matches, soap, kerosene, ready-made cloth
ing, photographs, railroad tickets, dressed
meats, medicines boots aud shoes, carriages,
notes, due bills, drafts, deeds, and no on
through q list too numerous TO mention
were heavily taxed A man could not run
little shop 10 do shoe-cobbling, carpenter
ing or any other small jobs for his neighbors
without paying $40 year for the privilege.
That year the money-lenders eKacted in gold
from the people
For Interest s.4 u
For premiums on loans elo.............. l0sl3,84s
.......stSs,sii,Vol
The nextyea they took a still bigger bite.
The Government found a lot more things
the internal revenue could lay its hands
upon. The j. 100000 or more young veterans
were all at home now, and were fitting up
homes for themselves and their new-made
wives. They were going into business,
opening mp farms, factories, Offices etc, and
everything they needed paid the Govern
ment a high tax. In 1866 the Treasury col
lc5ted $685., OBJ G2O, Of which S3O9, 226,s13
came from the burdensome internal revenue
"a fun 100000 900 more than the previous
year The bondhoIders got Sl33, OG7,74l in
gold in 1866.
IN 1867 the Government collected $780,
634, Os3, Of which S2GGO27, 537 came through
the internal revenue. That year the bond
holders got in gold
Tor premiums, elc. .....,....... .....t iO,sl3S4s
Tor 8s37sl59l
Total Sl5i 591 go
Remember that this was over S2O,OG0.OO0
more than the highest estimate for pensions
1 this year, that it represented a much larger
sum paid in grceBbaclys, and that it was
paid by about half as many people as there
are in the United States to-day, with less
than bali as much wealth
In 1865 the Government collected Sl05,-
638,Os9, Of which Sl0l, Os7, $50 came through
the internal Revenue Bureau. That year
the bondholders received
For premiums, ...................-.. 700l.l5l
Tor Interest l80 42s.O i5
Total a. as 100
Nearly Tie whole Of THE was paid by the
,,.,,I. a. "a. ATcrtF, ~ ,..l..,, A. ..J.ts.
were the majority Of the wage-earners.
IN 1863 the Government collected $780,
9437l7, Of which Sl5s, 35G, 400 came through
the internal Revenue Bureau. OF this the
bondholders reoeived-always in gold
For premiums, etc.......................s lC7a $50
For intcrest....... l30G9l2l2
~, 36s 922
In 1870 the Government collected SAIL.
235 Az, Of which Sls4, sg9,75G was gathered
up by the Internal Revenue Bureau. Oh
this the bOndholders got
FOR premiums, etc.......,......-......s H. $780, 5S
For Interest,". I'D go 2f2
AsoD'oltsa
So we could 90 on through the years.
The veterans claim, with entire truth
that, after their services 10 the country il
the Geld they came home and bore much IN,
heaviest part Of the burden Of these immensr
payments TO The m0ncy-lcnders as thel
formed the greater part Of the wage-earner
and wealth-producers Of the country The,
cheeHully bore q weight Of taxation tina
? ihis rruaruIlnn l-nnRs nn1l,inr 20 irl ,ran