St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-12
LET PLAYERS PAY.
A Novel Scheme for an Internal
Tax on PLAYING Cards.


In view of the near approach of the
time for important changes by congress
| in existing tariff laws. and as means
of maintaining the income of the gov
eminent in spite of a reduction of the
| tariff, an unique and novel idea has
been evolved by Edward Ekman, a
| resident Democrat of this city. Mr..
| Ekman is in full sympathy with the
views OF the Democratic party as to til e
j reduction Of the tariff, especially on all
| WOODEN goods and other articles that
| enter into the maintenance and support
of the workingman; but it is his idea
| that some means should be provided
| whereby the government could, in a
! measure at least, make up the financial
loss that will be entailed by reduction
| of the tariff. He states that while it is
| true that the loss will, to limited
| amount. be covered by the increased
| internal revenue tax that it is proposed
| to place on tobacco and whisky. he
| claims that one article Of general use
upon which heavy internal revenue
! tax could be levied, and which would
not result in hardship to anyone, has
been entirely overlooked-and that is
an internal revenue tax ON playing
cards.
While the little pasteboards that are
swept so nimbly across the green-cov-
cred tables in the gambling palaces of
the country are also used to large eX-
tent in sliding over the mahogany
topped tables IN the palaces of the rich,
in playing progressive euchre, and are
also used to a small extent by the peo-
pie of moderate means, the two former
classes use them so constantly, and are
so fully able to foot the bill, that mod
crate tax of, say % cents pack, would
result in bringing millions into the gov
eminent treasury without in the least
affecting the masses, who should GER
tainly receive the beneftssof any pro-
posed tariff legislation. Mr.. Ekman
has made some estimates and figures,
and his lowest computation places the
income to Uncle Sam of revenue from
such source at between seven and
eight million dollars per annum. This
would in large measure make up the
deficiency that would be created by
general reduction of the tariff, and in
very happy manner.
The system of taxing playing cards is
in vogue in all European countries,
notably France, Germany and Scan
dinavia, some of which place the tax as
high as so cents and more. Or course.
MI. Ekman says, in such case tariff
duty would have to be placed on for
eign-made cards, and he suggests max
ing it 81 a pack, so that no foreign
country could export them to us, and
he further asserts that we can make as
good CARDS as are made anywhere. In
framing such law similar precaution
against fraud might be adopted as is
the case in Europe-have the ace of
hearts, or all four aces, stamped with a
government stamp showing that the
tax has been paid. and imposing pen
atty for the use of any playing cards
not so stamped. 1t certainly cannot be
denied that all who use playing cards
to any extent are fully able to pay the
tax. and congress would thus have
solution OF the problem of how to re-
duce the tariff so that the workingman
will be benefited without forcing him
to pay corresponding tax somewhere
else to furnish the grease that makes
the wheels of the government go round.
1t is suggestion worthy of trial. and
some congressman could gain immortal
fame by including it in the coming
tariff schedule.