The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-03
war rake. TO ne ,.ermanent.

Dell Rapids Times. N. B. Scott, COM
missioner Of internal revenue recently
made three very significant and most
suggestive statements to the New York
Worlds correspondent at Washington, as
follows:
l. That the revenue FROM the war
taxes now apprOximateS $l,000,O0O q
day.
2. That the war taxes may ba modj-
fed as to certain articles after peace is
declared, but in the main the law will
stand.
3. That tariff revenues will be in
cldental hereafter and the great bulk of
our revenues Will be raised from intern
al taxes.
These statements coming as they do
from the head Of the internal revenue
department, who is no doubt in close
touch with the policy of tho administra-
tion. are entitled to more than passing
notice.
The first statement shows that the
war taxes will in less than a year pay
all the expenses Of the war. without the
proceeds from the $2OO,OOO,OOO Of boods
issued and sold or the coinage OF the
silver seigniorage. SO that there was no
necessity for an issue of bonds, or the
war tax is an unnecessary tax.
The second statement shows that it is
the intention OF the administration to
continue the war taxes, In the main at
least. As tfe expenses Of the war are
already amply covered by the proceeds
from the sale of bonds, the coinage Of
silver and the war revenue collected
thus far, it would appear that the ad-
ministratlon realizes that the Dingley
bill as a revenue producer is failure
and that the war taxes are to be con-
tinuea to make up the deficiency in the
revenue from the Dingley bill.
The third statement bears out this
Interpretation OF the second statement.
1t Is an admission that high protective
import duties will not provide sufficient
revenue, and that, while the protective
duties will be continued for the benefit
of the big American manufacturers, the
people will be further taxed, through
internal duties, 10 make up tho deficien-
cy in the revenue.
The failure of the pingley law has
made it clear even to Mr.. Dingley that
customs duties can no longer be relied
upon, that the high tariff system has
rQAchnh tho mint ~ nj oh
turns and will year by year demonstrate
more patiently that it has small excuse
as a system, for existence for revenue
purposes, and is chiefly useful to "com
bines' and trusts. The foreigner pays
tariff taxes" will never again be heard
to excite the ignorant to cheers and the
sensible to derlsion. 1t is proven beyond
further doubt that low tariff will pro-
duce more revenue than u high tariff,
because the latter decreases imports, and
for every dollar that goes into the treas
ury from import duties, the people pay
$40 III tariff taxes on home manufac-
lures, which goes into the pockets Of the
manufacturers trusts and combines.
The higher the tariff the greater the tax
upon the people, the smaller the revenue
and the larger the profits OF the tariff
combines. Why not fix the tariff duties
SO as to produce sufficient revenue, or
relieve the people Of the tariff tax and
raise it by international taxation, which
would be less expensive to the people
than the present system, which not only
makes them pay a tax to the govern
ment on what is imported, but tax to
the trusts and combines on what is
manufactured In this country?