The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-28

Coming next 10 Tue revenue law re-
vision he urges tine necessity of secur-
ing, as far as possible, equality in dis
trihution of the burdens of taxation,
and avoiding, as far as possible taxa.
ton of one citizen for the benefit oil
another To this end he enters upon
long argument in favor Of ad valorem
duties and against specific duties.
He says the imposition of specific OIL
compound rates of duty are so incon-
sistent with the true principles of just
taxation that nothing but the plainest
necessity can justify it in any case,
unless it be in few exceptional in
stances where all articles taxed at the
same rate are so nearly equal in value
that the danger of unjust discrimina-
ton is not great Taxation according
to value, he says, Goes no injustice to
anyone, unless the rates are too high
or unequally adjusted upon articles of
the same general character and utility.
He says the difficulties of the admin.
istration have always been greatly ex-
aggerated, and so far as they really
existed in former times have now been
much diminished by increased facili-
ties for ascertaining the market value
In other countries and by improved or
ganiZation of our customs service. The
markets of the world have been
brought so near each other by the use
of steam and electricity that, as to all
staple articles especially, it is not low
much more difficult to find their cost or
value abroad than at home, and
if under these circumstances it shall be
demonstrated that official intelligence
and integrity cannot be safely relied
upon for honest collection of revenues
under the existing system of indirect
taxation it, will become necessary to
consider whether some other method
cannot be devised to raise money for
the support OF the government
So far as inducements to commit
frauds and perjuries constitute objec-
tions, the slightest examination of the
subject, the secretary says, will show
that they are much greater under the
system of compound rates, which
are of the most prominent
features our existing legislation than
they could possibly be under purely
ad valorem arrangement of duties.
Raw and partially raw materials, the
secretary says, constitute the basis OF
all our manufacturing and mechanical
industries, and unless our industrial
establishments can procure them upon
Substantially the same terms as COM
petition elsewhere they must continue
to be seriously impeded in their efforts
to supply the home market with their
finished product and wholly unable
to extend their trade to 9th
er countries except as to
certain commodities in manufacture
of which they have peculiar aptitude
or other superior machinery.
Taxes on materials used in our shops
and factories are especially objection
able on account of the fact that they
multiply themselves many times be-
fore the finished article reaches the
hands of the consumer and thus i'm
pose burden altogether iispropor-
| tionate to the benefits supposed to be
conferred upon the producer by the
so.caled protective system Upon
this foundation the secretary argues
strongly for free raw materials and
lower duties on the necessities of life.
The secretary comes next to revenue
as affected by the Wilson bill 1t is
estimated that revenues for the fiscal
year 1895 will amount, upon basis of
existing laws, to $454 427478, and that
| expenditures, IuCluuluS Juo SlDhlLS
fund.- will amount to $448, 90S, 789.
Estimated revenues from customs
$l90,000,000, and total estimated re
ceipts from all sources will exceed esti-
mate of expenditures So, $780, 953.
Assuming these amounts to be COR
rect, it will be necessary in any
changes that may be made in our rev.
enue laws to provide for raising about
1854, 100000 from customs alone, or
partly from customs and partly from
such other subjects of taxation as
congress may see proper to include in
an internal revenue system. If the
amount and value of importations of
the same character of dutiable mer-
chandise shall not during the fiscal
year 1895 exceed the amount and value
of such importations during the fiscal
year 1893, receipts under the measure
now pending will be about 1922 900, 900;
but there are strong reasons for the
opinion that the proposed reduction
in rates in duty will encourage impor-
tations to a considerable extent,
and that consequently rev.
enue will not be diminished
in the same proportion as rates.
or reduced. Moreover experience has
shown that under all our tariff legisla-
tion there is almost constant tendency
toward annual increase in amounts
and values of dutlable imports, even
through rates of duty remained the
same. To what extent importation
will be increased solely on account of
reduction of rates of duty it is of
course impossible to foresee, but it is
reasonable to conclude that this cause,
together with the natural increase of
our purchases from other countries,
will result 10 much larger reve-
nues from customs in 1895
than indicated by mere
comparison of the supposed reduced
rates with these under which collec-
tions were made in 1893.
am of the opinion that with poper
economy in public expenditures, which
it is hoped will result in considerable
reduction from estimates, an increase
of $50, 900, 600 to the revenue for the
fiscal year 1895 by the imposition of
additional tax under the internal tax
under the internal revenue system will
supply sufficient means for the sup
port eff the government and this sum
can be realized wishout seriously dis
bursting the business of the
country doing injustice to
| Il.