The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-03-22
THE WAR TAXES.

ury is composed IN large parJ OF
the proceeds of the internal rev
enue, or war taxes, imposed to
meet the special emergency of
the Spanish-American war. The
customs receipts also are increas-
ing greatly, and are helping to
swell the surplus. The dutiable
merchandise imported into the
country for the eight months end
ing with February, 1900, were,
81, ,971 1676, in exces of the dutia-
BILE imports for the correspond
ing period of last year. The Fed
eral revenues are likely to contin-
ue to exceed the current expen-
ditures at rapid pace, bringing
into the Treasury an enormous
sum which would otherwise re-
main in circulation TO restore
it to the active channels of trade
the Government is depOsiting
large sums in the banks. One of
our. contemporaries, referring to
this expedient, suggestively says
that it is an anomalous situation
when the government feels called
upon to deposit millions in the
banks to be loaned out "to some
of the same people from whom the
money was taken in the form of
unnecessary taxes.
The scientific and direct meth.
od of dealing with a surplus which
must be thus manipulated, and
which invites raids on the Treas
ury in the interest of extrava-
CANT, indefensible and fantastic
schemes of spoliation, is to reduce
the unnecessary taxes which are
producing the tempting spoil. 1t
is sought to hypnotic the coun-
try and the lawmakers with the
seductive cry that this is u coun
'ry of limitless resources, and
that it's eXpenditures0should be
commensurate with it's wealth
and revenue producing capacity.
Hence we are hearing much of
gigantic canal, cable and ship sub
sidy projects, while the demands
of the Governmental departments
the military and naval establish
ments, the appropriations for un-
necessary public buildings, are
soaring high above the require
ments Of government prudently,
but not parsimoniously, admins
tered, for the reason that eXces-
sive taxation is producing a fund
which the specious statesman can
draw upon for the "public bene-
fit" When it is necessary to
make such prodigal outlays to re-
duce the surplus, the country is
entering upon dangerous courses,
from which it should be recalled
by statesmanlil1e action. If a
tithe of the heavy expenditures
which are contemplated by the
various schemes of public plum
der now pending in various dis
guises in Congress materializes,
the country, so far from being re-
lieved from the burthensome and
annoying taxes which We're i'm
posed upon it for purely war
emergency purposes, will become
a permanent inhiction, with the
probability of increase.
Once assumed, theonerous sub
sidy projects now on foot will be
a continuing lien on our resourc-
es. They will bear with crush
ing effect upon the country in
times of financial or trade de-
preston, which is the common
lot of nations. A commercial
war, or a more serious collision
with a great Power, might Sc
riously reduce the Federal reve-
nue. below that of normally pros
porous years. If so, the revenue
absorbing schemes now incubat-
ing might loom largely as nation
al burdens.
The safe way to take care of the
threatening surplus is to reduce
it by abolishing at least a portion
of the war taxes. Many Of these
taxes are of the vexatious, gad fly
sort, which tend to obstruct or
dinary business. The stamp tax
es on kilograms, bank checks,
bills of lading, policies, leases,
o,,1 4 ntl,o,. t1,o n go otip,,e, eho,,I1 ho