The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-20
FUNDS FOR CARRYING ON THE WAR
WITH MEXICO
MESSAGE

MESSAGE
Ofthe President of the United States, in ans,uer
to a resolution Of the Senate of June 8. 1916.
calling for Information reiatiue to the mode
Of raising funds for carrying on the war Nth
MEXICO.
To the Senate Of the United States:
In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the
Sd inst, communicate herewith estimates pre-
pared by the War and Navy Departments, of the
probable expenses of conducting the existing war
with Mexico, during the remainder of the present
and the whole of the next fiscal year. | com.
muncate, also, report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, based, upon these estimates, containing
recommendations of measures for raising the adj !.
dltlonal means required 1t is probable that the
actual expenses incurred during the period speci-
fled may fall considerably below the estimates
submitted, which are for larger number of
troops than have yet been called to the field. As
precautionary measure, however, against any
possible deficiency, the estimates have been made
at the largest amount which any state of the SER
vice may require.
1t will be perceived from the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury that considerable DOT
ton of the additional amount required NAV be
raised by modification of the rates of duty i'm
posed by the existing tariff laws. The high
duties at present levied on many articles totally
exclude them from importation, whilst the auanti-
ty and amount of others which are imported are
greatly diminished. BY reducing these duties to
a revenue standard. it is not doubted that large
amount OF the articles on which they are imposed
would be imported, and corresponding amount
OF revenue be received at the treasury from this
source. By imposing revenue duties on MANY
articles now permitted to be imported free of duty
and by regulating the rates within the revenue
standard upon others, large additional revenue
will be collected. independently of the high con-
IA xyh; ind
sage, to recommend modification and reduction
of the rates of duty imposed by the act of 1912 as
being not only proper in reference to state of
peace, but just to all the great interests of the
country, the necessity of such modification and
reduction as war measure must now be- mani
fest. The country requires additional revenue
for the prosecution of the war. II may be OBJ
tanned, to great extent, by reducing the prohibit
tory and highly protective duties imposed by the
existing laws to revenue rates by imposing reve-
nue. duties on the free list and by modifying the
rates of duty on other articles
The notifications recommended by the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury in his annual report in De-
cember last, were adapted to a state of peace and
the additional duties now suggested by him, are
with view strictly to raise revenue as a war mea
sure. AT the conclusion Of the war these duties
may and should be abolished, and reduced to
lower rates
IL 10 not appTehended that the existing war
with Mexico will materially affect our trade and
commerce with the rest Of the world On the
contrary, the reductions proposed would increase
that trade, and augment the revenue derived from
it.
Whom the country is in state of war no con-
tingency should DO permitted to occur in which
there would be a deficiency in the treasury, for
the vigorous prosecution Of the war and to guard
against such an event it is recommended that
contingent authority be given to issue treasury
notes, or TO contract a loan for limited amount,
reimbursabls at an early day. Should no occasion
arise to exercise the power, still it may be i'm =.
portan. that the authority should exist should
there be necessity for it,
1t is not deemed necessary to resort to direct
taxes or excises-the measures recommended be-
ing deemed preferable as means of increasing
the revenue. 1t is hoped that the war with
Mexico, if vigorously prosecuted, as is contem-
plated, may be Of short duration. | shall be- at
all times ready TO conclude ali honorable peace,
whenever The Mexican government shall manifest
like disposition The existing war has been
rendered necessary by the acts of Mexico and
whenever that power shall be ready TO do US JUS