Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-01


treaties by which we have obtained possession
Of these lands. These wholly exclusive OF tile
charge Of Indian emigration, amount at presenl
to S392. 700 year, and will probably be much
increased before the final extingulshment u' the I
Indian title.
3d. Revolutionary Pensions. The original IT,
tie Of great part OF these lands arose from, the
grants and releases of the States to the Confede
racy foe the purpose of common defence and se-
neral welfare, during the war OF the Revolution.
and they have been again aud again solemn,
pledged for the debts Of the nation. The Pen.
slons now received by the surviving soldiers OF
the Revolution were at first granted under the
harsh und unjust name ut national bounty. But
the act Of 1928 and that OF 1882, have now plsc
ed them on the mnre sound as we'll as more con.
,titu'innal ground Of payne OF Revolutionary
debt, and an equitable. though not literal fulfil
n.nt of long neglected and violated contracts
The pensions for the next two years will pro-
badly be- liur as yet the exact amount cannot be
at .r,sinedl about two millions a year. But
this SUN depending upon the lives OF old men,
all above seventy years Of age, must rapidly
decrease and in a very few year, cease entirely.
Should these pensions b. considered for the pres
EN-, as charge upon the lands. 1t would be ten
p,tary ONLY Within four or five years the
greater part of the income, aud in f." years
NOR. he shoe. woull be liberated, ana al e'th'
erSpe: nd the surplus from this source n"S"' oc
aunlied a. the wisdnn Of C0Dgress May HlISSt
leaving the revenue from the ~
for ali Other heads of public expenditure.
Their" then renaIns to be raised by the imposts
on foreign mp, chandiL" 10 meet all other char
yes and con gencies than those just recapltu!a
ted. the sum of fpeire millions md ha!t.
The average value Of all the imports from
1897 to 1882 inclusive, is sc, 100000 dollars
year. Tie average # the SIX years Immediately
preceding was 80. 900. 600 dollars. showing an
average increase of 5.300,000 dollars IN six
years, or about six and half per cent. This
augmenta arose solely from the natural III
crease Of population aud OF domestic products
suited for expert. There can be therefore little
doubt that without any change in the existing
tariff the same rate Of increase would 60 on
not regularly. but holding good as TO any ave-
rage Of 4 succession Of peaceful wears.
On this principle OF calculation alone the
average of the next period of years would be
ninety-two millions But the operation Of the
revenue system now proposed, rs compared
with those of 1924 and 1928, would relieve the
consumers Of imported goods IRON a tax of
twelve millions heretofore paid by the American
people TO their Government, and BY that Govern.
ment principally to the public creditors abroad,
willremain in the power of the consumer, to be
applied according tohls wants. habits, and tastes,
IN procuring an equal value of the other nrces.
saries. comforts, or luxuries Of life, probably in
great degree in an increased consumption. or
in the use Of higher quality Of the goods he
had been accustomed to purchase Frum the
operation Of this and other obvious causes,
springing from more moderate tariff on foreign
manufac lures, the average importation Of The next
six wears NAV be safely computed at further
addition of at least eight, perhaps twelve mil
lions, making gross importation Of above ~
hundred millions in value, and not much yarylk
from the large importation Of 1881 and 1852
Judging from the experience of former years,
one sixth in value Of the amount imported will DO
re.exportsd in our foreign exchanges, and about
one fifth of the gross revenue received from du
ties will be absorbed in expenses Of collection,
or repaid IN drawback upon re expectation.
Twelve millions and half Of revenue is then
to be raised upon about eighty four millions Of
imports, used or consumed in the United States;
or deducting there,rom the imports ut specie.
and of many other articles. which public policy.
the security of the revenue, and various other
motives, have made free Of duty. upon between
sixty-fve and seventy millions Of dutla5le com
modies. according as the list of free good, Is
made more or less extensive.
The Committee. IN the bill herewith reported
BY them, have endeavored to arrange the duties
with reference 10 this principle AT rates u! from
ten to twenty per cent. varying from them chiefly
in those instances where national independence
in time of war seemed to demand some sacrifice
in peace, las ia regard to iron aud lead. ~ where
it was thought that higher or lower rate OF duty
would be- of advantage to the revenue, without
any individual injury. las IN thr case of spIris.)
or where some branch of industry might be ma.
teriaIly benefited by low imrosls on some Of Its
raw MATERIALS. On many articles. such as
wines. spirits. iron. SC experience has shown
that fraud can only be prevented by specific du-
ties on weight or measure; aud as the rates must
be graduated on the mean value OF commodities
ofsthe same class or name, they may sometimes
fall heavily or particular kinds or qualities Of
them.
In adjusting the several duties, they have con
formed, unless some strong reason for a differ
ent rate was perceived. to those Of the Tariff act
of 1916, with ITS short supplementary act Of
1918 The act of 1916 was franrd with great
care and drIiberation by some Of our abest states
men. looking at the same time to the revenue