The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-22

whole boundless continents are ours
not TO speak OF several thousand
islands.
So large place In the business OF coll
lect!ng the governments income will
come to be filed by the internal revenue
system. so great the sums collected.
and so numerous and important the in
terests affected. that the business Will
demand skill and ability OF an eminent
sort. And the Importance OF this charge
VIII require that the man who is at the
head shall have free range for the per-
formance OF his duties. and n separate
establishment and liability. with no In
termedlary between him and the eXecu-
tive.
This Idea Is rot new one. for the
proposition to erect the offices which
collect the revenue into n department
separate from the treasury has been
heretofore considered from the point OF
View that the care OF and expenditure
OF these vast sums when collected, and
the general conduct OF the govern
ments finances and obligations require
the undivided attention and ability OF
the head OF the treasury department..
The position OF the chief OF depart
mcnt OF revenue might. or might not
be that OF cabinet officer. hut neces-
sarily the exercise OF his powers and re-
sponsibllities would bring him into the
councils OF the executive.
Internal Taxation.
The decline OF the internal taxation
removed this question. but 1t arises
again as the needs of the government
make 1t apparent that the Internal rev.
enues are TO be large and permanent
How large and how permanent they
are TO be cannot now be entirely fore
seen: but when branches are cstab-
lished In our new possessions, Porto
Rico. Hawaii and the Philippines, the
total sum Of our home revenues with
these additions will mark the enlarge
mcnt Of'our boundaries. and sufficient
task will be afforded the official who has
the control and management OF the
vast system extending from our CON-
tinent either way to the Caribbean and
10 the farther Pacific.
However this may be, II IS certain
that there is Il promising business fu-
turc OF 4 most satisfactory kind for the
great manufacturing interests which
the members Of this highly respectable
body represent, as well as for the rev.
cnurs.
The great industry which you gentle
men represent has borne a notable share
In furnishing the means 10 meet the dis
bursement which the country's growth
and advancing requirements have rem
dcrcd necessary in peace and which its
safety and honor demand In time Of
war.
Touching this matter OF the revenues
I find that during the last generation
the tobacco industry has contributed
more than Il billion dollars 10 the sup
port OF the United States government
to speak more precisely. sl,096. 100000.
4 recent examination Of the records
Of my office also show that during the
first half Of the present fiscal year these
receipts have amounted To 524.?sl. .0j0,
that is to say. an Increase OF nearly 20
per cent over the receipts from this
source OF revenue during the first half
OF the last preceding fiscal year. II
further appears. that II this percentage
OF Increase holds good and the present
rates Of taxation and Increase Of popu-
latiou are maintained. that during the
next generation the receipts from man
ufacturel tobacco will easily exceed
s.. 900. .O00. .OO0 These large sums mark
the widening extent Of the field from
which they are drawn; but lars= las
they may seem they are far from REACH
ing their limit. | am strong In the faith
that we are on the verge of an cN-
pansiOin OF trade as well as territory.
and that to the millions who drRw n
daily snlace and rcfrcshmen' from the
gentle herb which Il Is your business
to distribute will be added other mil
lions. swelling the bulk OF your prod
ucts to stlll larger proportions and
bringing Increase OF revenue to the pub
lie nurse