Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1882 — LOOKING BACK AT THEIR WORK. [ARTICLE]

LOOKING BACK AT THEIR WORK.

Tbe Rcpnblicit.il* Staggered by Their Prodigality-Dreading tbe Result— The Impossibility of Reducing Taxation Now. [Washington Telegram to the New York Sun.] In view of the near future when they will meet their constituents, the Republican leaders manifest concern for the answer they must give when they are questioned about the legislation of the session now drawing to a close. What can they say when their constituents require a reason for continuing the merciless taxation, while the overflowing treasury is divided among favorites and on objects which are either without merit or have no claim on the national resources ? That such a question would ever be put appears to have been hardly theught of. Confronted in the last days of the session with this peril, the Republican leaders have turned their attention to the reduction of the taxes, more, however, to have it appear that they are not unmindful of the taxpayer than with a resolute determination to lift his burdens. Instead of being tha first, as it should have been, it is the very last subject to receive their attention. Even this pretence wonld not have been resorted to but for the alarm created from mingling with their constituents by members of Congress who have been home to look after a renomination. The word they have returned with is far from cheering. Some have said plainly to their fellows here that to adjourn without doing something, or pretending to do something in the nature of a reduction of the taxes will be to court political overthrow.

Needless expenditures by millions, wrung from the people by inexorable taxation, is not a winning watchword for the party possessing the power and charged with the responsibility of Government. The sight of tens of millions going out at the command of schemes not relating to the public good, is not a satisfying one to taxpayers. It is simply a state of things which the country will not stand. The Republican leaders —some of them at least —are beginning at this late day to perceive this. If they had possessed any real patriotism, the subject would have been attended to in the beginning of the session. A regard for themselves has prompted a spasmodic attempt to clip the taxes here and there, but with no idea of thoroughness or positive relief. The proposition to free perfumeries and some other articles of luxury which are best able to pay a tax, at once brought out the counter proposition to relieve the poor man’s tobacco—to him almost as essential as his bread. “ That will never do,” said Mahone. “ The reverse is the true proposition. Tax the perfumery bottle and free the tobaccobox. Do as you propose, and on every stump the rich man’s untaxed perfumery bottle and the poor man’s taxed to-bacco-box will put you to shame and make you keep silence.” Older statesmen, and some experienced yet less capable leaders, felt the force of the statement, and an attempt is made for free tobacco. It is likely to fail, while perfumery will go free. The whisky tax might better be removed wholly. Whatever may be the comment, it is nevertheless true that more people would wish for nn taxed whisky—if the price were to. be affected —than free coffee or shoes or cloth. The whisky tax, while it puts millions into the treasury, puts more millions into the pockets of the manufacturers, who-are so comparatively few in number as to be readily oombined as a ring. To them, as things are managed, the tax is a special benefit. A tax of 90 cents is a pre„text for charging from 83 to $5 a gallon for whisky that can be manufactured for 50 cents or less. The list of the millions appropriated at the present session, which will surely confront Representatives seeking the indorsement of their constituents, will be startling. Feeling this, the leaders are now straining their wits to make it appear that the people have been relieved of a considerable part of the taxes heretofore paid. But, when they come to consider the matter closely, it seems that the bloated river and harbor appropriations, and, especially, the Mississippi river improvement appropriations, contemplate other large sums for years to come; so that if President Arthur does not come to our relief with the veto, the country is committed to a state of things which will make a comprehensive reduction of the tax an impossibility unless the works initiated by present legislation be abandoned and the appropriation to a great extent lost. The first thing that is felt now when the subject of reducing taxation is concerned, is that the door has to a considerable extent been closed by the recklessness and extravagance of the appropriations which will make the present Congress infamous; and this will, it is to be hoped, cause at least the worst of the leaders to fail of another election. It is the fear that such will be the result that is troubling not a few of tha Robesonites.