The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-21
Increasing the Revenues.

Increasing the Revenues.
It is admitted, semi-oflioally, that in
| his annual message to congress Presi-
dent Cleveland Will make some recon-
mendation in favor of legislation to in
crease the revenues of the treasury.
For several years the revenues have not
equalled the expenses of the govern
ment and the deficiency has been
made up 10y selling bonds. Even Mr..
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle have
at last realized that this cannot go on
| indefinitely, that something must be
done to bring more money into the
| treasury Various plans have been
| suggested by cabinet officials. The
latest. and one that seems to
find favor in the eyes OF Secretary
Carlisle, is the proposition to add an
o,hsa dollar tax on beer porter and ale.
and 10 restore the stamp tax on bank
checks. Ii is estimated that $4,000, 900
| barrels of malt liquor are produced in
this country, consequently the IMPOSE
t,on of the additional tax would bring
| $50 900 into tGe treasury. and this
would be clear gain, rs 1t will cost no
more 70 collect the higher tax than il
does The lcNer. Secretary Carlisle says
he favoys this particular tax because it
will not be paid 10y the people, but by
the brewers, who can well afford this
additional expense out of their enor-
nous profits.
When Mr.. Carlisle made that state
ment he did not know what he was
talking about. If the proposed add!-
tional dollar is placed on beer the brew
ors VIII not pay it, and neither will the
retail dealers. The brewers will de-
mand per barrel more for their malt
liquors and the retail dealers Will have
- pay it. The latter will even up
glasses or m.gs they use in serving
their customers. The consumers-that
means the mass ses-wlll pay the tax IN
one way or another. Ii may be ad-
n..y.ed that there is a certain element
OF popularity in taxes imposed on
liquors, and that is probably the reason
the administration has decided to rec
ommend the additional dollar per barrel
on beer porter and ale.
The proposed tax on bank checks will
be less popular. The secretary says this
tax, also viii be paid by The class )
who are we'll able 10 pay it. To a cer-
t.fs 3, m u an
50. Il VIII fall upon every class of busi-
ness men and upCl malions % o'.ers
who cannot well AFFORD to pay an ex-
ira cents every time they draw a
check. our owl cplnion Is tina: the con-
gr5ss to wh.1h ul.s recommendation
viii be made VIII reject the proposed
tax on checks. 1t may consent to al
G.,icaal tax on beer as measure of
necessity Tne Republicans, not less
taan the Democrats, realize the neces-
sly for legislation that will Increase
the national revenues, but they may
have views on the subject wholly differ
tnt from those held by the admlnistra-
tion. Internal taxation has never been
popular system with the Republl-
cans. That parry believes in a tariff
system that VIII yield revenue at the
same time that it affords protection.
During all the years that system pre-
vailed there was no lack OF revenue. 1t
was only when the Democratic party
came in power and overturned the Re-
publican tariff system that the reven-
ues failed and the interest bearing pub
lie debt began to increase. That was
the direct result of a Democratic tariff
wplch neither gives protection nor
yields revenue.
Now Democratic president. under
whom the disaster has come, is COM
PEELED to appeal to a Republican con-
gress to come to the rescue. This con-
gregs may or may not agree with the
president as to the best way Of lncreas-
Ing the revenues of the treasury. Mr..
Cleveland may say to congress let us
tax beer more heavily and place a
stamp on bank checks. The Republi
can congress may reply to the presi-
dent, let us revise the tariff in such Il
way that it will produce more revenue
and give our home products protcc-
ticn. 1t is apparent that the Cleveland
administration Is not willing to give
up the wretched Wilson-Gorman tariff.
1t may be that the Republicans In the
new congress will insist that a tariff
for revenue and protection be suhsti-
tuted for the present wretched law nm
der whose operations the industries of
the country nave been prostrated and
the treasury bankrupted
1t Is no excuse to offer for Republican
lukewarmness that this Is an "oif year"
1t should be made on "off year" FOR
Democrats only.
Restore the Duty on Wool.