The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-20

revenue laws VIII cot1lE BeASES SSAoASee
nj the next session, but the problem IS
surrounded BY such political a. well as
economic risks that It is doubtful II any
action is taken. II theibusiness com.
munlty specially desire certain admin
Istrative changes It win be necessary
TO present them IN as simple form as
possible and concentrate effort upon q
few points. Tho treasury officials have,
not vet learned the scope Of the changes
in the administrative tariR proposed by
the business mems comihittee in New
York. II the administrative tarin can
be kept entirely separate from ques-
lions OF rates Of taxation It may be
possible to secure few hlipple amend
ments OF the law which win correct
existing abuses. Interh3 Revenue
Commissioner Wilson is not yet pre-
pared to admit that he win recommend
important notifications of the war rev
euue taxes, as reported in New York.
He desires TO consult with Secretary
Gage before discussing the subject, and
1t may be the policy OF tAeisecretary to
keep proposed changes within very mar
row limits. 1t is freely admitted that
changes ought to be R4e in several
particulars. The dlfaculty Is that II a
bill Is brought into elter house of
Congress. changing any single rate Of
taxation, It win become the target OF
every member whose constituents de-
sire the abolition or modification Of the
present taxes. This VIII happen even
IL such a bill is brought before one of
the leading committees. They will be
besIeged by members, asking that this
rate be reduced or that such a proviso
be modified, until the! committee win be
compelled to take up the entire revision
of the tarlff and internal revenue laws
or run the risk OF having their measure
voted down by the union of all the dis
satisfied members.
It is coming to be admitted that re-
auctions OF taxation will be possible in
the near future. Congress might with
reasonable safety wipe out the whole OF
the proprietary stamp taxes. The en-
tire collections from stamp taxes aver
aged less than 100000 per month after
July, 1888, and considerably more than
half was UNDOUBTEDLY due to the docu-
mentary stamps on checks and other
instruments. There seems to be little
coIrnlatnh AGAINST the documentary
stamp taxes, and most Of them, like the
tax on checks. are likely to continue
indefinitely. The proprietary stamps,
however. have caused trouble from the
beginning and required long line OF
decisions In order to explain and en-
force the purpose OF Congress. The
treasury will be In position by the
close Of the fiscal year on June 30 next
to abandon Sao,OOO.00O or more Of reve-
nue. a year without being pinched, un-
less there is radical change in present
business conditions. From some points
of View, 1t might be the best policy for
the manufacturers of proprietary arti-
Giles to bear the present taxes with as
good grace as possible, in the hope that
they will be ultimately abolished. Any
simpllacatton which made the taxes
more equitable and easier to enforce
would strengthen the argument for re-
talnlng them when general readjust-
ment Of taxation should occur. 1t is a
question, however, whether tariff re.
ductlons win not be preferred in the
future and some general internal taxes
kept permanently In force. 1t does not
now seem probable that the subject will
be faced with serious purpose during
the coming session Of Congress. The
fact that presidential election is at
hand will make the dominant party
cautious about Inviting the antagonism
of special interests by taking up the
subject Of tariff and Internal revenue
revision.
A strong reason for delay in making
important changes in the revenue laws
can be found, as previously pointed out
in these dispatches, in the, unsettled
status of the dependencies. So long "a
1t d uncertain what drafts are to be
made by Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines upon the federal treasury 1t
must be more uncertain than usual
what amount Of revenue Is 10 be re-
qulred in the future. II the present
Congress deals broadly with the civil
aud military organization OF the depen-
denotes and the status Of Cuba
whether as an Independent state, pro-
tected sovereignty. or a dependency Of
the old Uulon-it will then be possible
to arrive Mt some idea of the future
budget Of the United States.
UntIl these problems are s6lPed, the
best Of excuses Will exist for refusing
to take up the revenue problem. Moth
Ing but an extreme congestion Of money
In the treasury VIII compel Congress to
act upon the subject. such d conges-
ton viii hardly occur before the adj
5earnment of Congress In July There
Is reason to believe that the cash ball
ance % the treasury win Increase some
millions Of dollars within that time and
exceed S3cOOOO.OOO: but II this fact re-
suits In squeeze In the money market,
the pressure viii aot be felt in Its most
intense form until autumn, when Com
gres win have adjourned. The future
policy in regard to the dependencies ia
80 wrapped up with the revenue prob
lem that most of the measures relating
to the islands are likely to be referred
in the house to the ways and means