The herald., 1897-04-24

Accordingly. these are the first things
the governments lay their hands on.
and the only question worth consider
ing. as to the first of these, is what
rate Of tax will yield the largest sum.
Our experience teaches that the ninety
cent rate is the highest which will not
lead to Illicit distillation on an appreci-
able scale. The present rate of 81. 10 has
been followed by a decline in the total
receipts from that source, and by a
very notable increase In the number of
Illicit stills discovered by the revenue
officers. Mr.. Wells accordingly favors
a reduction of the tax on distilled spir-
its to the former rate OF ninety cents
per gallon In the interest of the treas
ury. He thinks that s1o0. 900, 900 may be
obtained from this source.
The next largest source Of internal
revenue is beer, which yields nearly
s34, 100000 per annum, and is increasing
at the rate of 81, 500 900 per annum, the
rate of tax being 81 per barrel, which is
equivalent to only one-fifth Of cent
per glass of the ordinary size, or two
fifths of cent per pint. An increase of
this tax to 81 per barrel would be equiv
alent to two-fifths of a cent per glass,
and would not be felt by the consumer.
but would yield $50 100000 to the gov
ernment. This Mr.. Wells strongly ia
yors, but he recognizes the fact that
beer controls a great many votes, and
that political parties are not likely to
run counter to the brewing interests
Tobacco now yields $44. 900. 600, in
Guiding the duties collected on the i'm
ported article. 1t is generally allowed
by the protectionists that these duties
are paid by the consumer, although
they say that on most articles, such as
wool and woolens tin plate, etc., they
are paid by the foreigner. The taxes
on tobacco in this country are lower
than those of any other great nation.
The tobacco tax yields $50,0OO.000 in
Great Britain, and $65, 200 900 in France.
If our rate of tax were the same as that
Of England, we would obtain from 1t
$50, 900, 900, while the French rate would
produce $126, 100000 Here is an oppor-
tunity for an enormous gain. Mr.. Wells
answers the argument that the tobacco
tax falls disproportionately on the poor
er classes by showing that the same
is true of all indirect taxes, and that
the only question here is whether the
tax shall fall upon an article of luxury
or upon necessary articles of food and
clothing.
Stamps yielded s62, 900. 900 to the Brit
ish government In the fiscal year 1894
We never employed this form of taxa
ton, not even during the war, to the
same extent that England does now;
nevertheless we collected Sic, 200 ,00[
from this source In 1885, The same
stamp duties now would yield double
that sum, or half the rates would
yield the same sum. These are
taxes on the rich. They ought
to be made a permanent part OF
our revenue system, and If the Republi-
cans in congress were as much con-
cerned In securing revenue for the gov
ernment as they are In transferring the
earnings of the community from one
class to another, they would seize upon
this inviting and prolific source of in
come at once.
When we come to the tariff we find
tea and coffee on the free list. A duty
OF cents pound on each would yield
twenty millions. and would be equiva-
lent to 20 per cent on each.
III sugar" says Mr.. Wells, - COM
modify of more indispensable popular
use, Is regardgd - not 0verburdened BY