Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-17

tb,, all the beneficial effects then AM cipated
from, its operaiion have been fully realized. The
npllic revenue derived iromscustoms during the
wear ending on tbs lsl of December. 1917, eN-
ccc5s by more than S8.OOO.OOO the amount re-
ceiycd in the preceding year, under the opera
uop rC the act of l8I2, which was superseded
and rapeaIcd bv il. lis effects are visible in the
uraat and almost uneNampled prosperity which
prevails every bra ch of business.
While the repeal of the prohlbllory and re-
s,rirrive duties of the act Of 1912, and The sub
s,itution in their place Of reasonable revenue
rates, levied on articles imported according To
the actual value, has increased the revenue ana
aurnrnlcd our foreign trade, all the great inter-
csts of our country have been advanced and pro-
NOTED.
The great and important interests OF agrcul-
,pro which had been not only too much neglect
ed. but actually taxed, under the protective poI-
cv Cortbe bpnc6I Of Other interests, have been
relieved of the burdens which that policy Inpo-
sed on Them, and our farmers and planters. un-
der the more Just and liberal commercial policy.
are finding new and profitable markets abroad,
for their agricultural products
Our commerce is rapidly increasing. and IS eX-
tending more widely the circle OF International
exchanges: great as has been the increase ol or
imports during the past year, our exports ol do
nestle products, sold in foreign markets, have
been still greater.
Observation-Disclosures is cmincntly prosperous.
The numhrroc vessels built in the United States
has been greater than during any preceding peri
cd of equal length. Large profits have been de-
rived bv those who hayecunSructCd thomas well
as bv those who have navigoIcd them. Should
the ratio of increase in the number ol our mcr-
chant vessels be- progressive, aud be as great ior
the future as during the past year, the Time is not
distant when our tonnage and commercial ma
rinc will be larger than that OF any other nation
in the world.
Whilst the interests Of agriculture, Of COM
mcrcc and navigation have been enlarged and IN
vgorated, it is highly gratifying 10 observe that
our manufactures are also in prosperous condI-
lion. None of the ruinous effects upon tins IN
tercst. which were apprchondcd by some as the
result of the operations Of the revenue system,
established by the act Of 1916, have been eNpc-
ricnccd.
On the contrary, the number Of manufacturers,
and the amount of capital invested IN lhcm' Is
steadily and rapidly increasing alIordIng gfall,
ryinp proofs that American enterprise aud skill
employed in these forms Of domestic industry,
with no other advantages than nose I'"f'y ana
accruing from rlsI system ol rev.
enun duties. are abundandy able TO meet sue
cessCnllv all competition from abroad, and SuII
derive fair and rcmuncrating profits.
While capital invested in manufactures Is
Welding adequalc and fair profit under The new
system, the wages Of labor, whether emp Dyed
in manufacturers. agriculture, commerce OF nav
;oo,ion have bocn augmented. The toiling mill
lions. whose daily labor furnishes the supply of
food and raiment and all the ncccsSarleS ana
comforts of life. are receiving higher wages ana
more steady and permanent employment 'han IN
any other country or in any previous period oI
our history.
So successful have been all branccs OF ouI
industry, that foreign war; wnlch gehcfa''y
diminishcs the resources OF IF"lon, HAS III ho
essential degree retarded our onward progress
Oh checked our general prosperity
With such gratifying evidences OF prosperity
and Of the successful operation OF the Revenue
net Of 1916. every consideration of public policy
recommends that il should remain unchanged,
|, honcd thatthc system orimport duties, which
il established. NAV be regarded as the permanent
nolicv of the country, aud that the great inter
csts effected by tmay not again be subjected lc
be inmrousIv disturbed, as they have heretofore
been. by frequent and sometimes sudden chan
gcS.
For the purpose of increasing the Revenue
andwirhout changing or modifying the rates mn
posed bv the act of 1876, ON the d0uabIc articles
embraced by its provisions, again recommend
10 vour favorable consideration the eXPedlcncy
of levvmg Il revenue duty on tea and Coffee
The policy which exempted these articles from
duty, during peace, and when the Revenue to be
derived from them was not needed, ceases Wher
the country is engaged in war, and requires the
use ofaIl its available MEANS
Itis ajax which would be so generally diiiu
scd among the people that It would be felt OPP
prcssiycIv by none-and be complained Of oy
none. 1t is believed that there aro not in III,
list of imported articles any which are more
properly the subject Of war duucs than tea anl
coffee.
1t is estimated that S3,O000O0 annually may
be collected by moderate duty imposed on these
articles.
Should Congress avail itself Of this additional
source of revenue, not only would the amount o
the public loan, rendered necessary by the wa
with Mexico, be diminished to that extent, bu
the public credit, and the public confidence ii
the ability and determination Of the goycrnmcn
to meet all It's engagements promptly, would be
more firmly established and the reduced amoun
olthc loan which it may be necessary TO ncgot
ate, would probably be obtained at cheaper rates
Congress- is therefore called upon to deter
mine whether ii is wiser to impose the war du
ties recommended, or by emitting to do so, in
crease the public debt, annually 10 S3,OOO,OOO
so long as loans shall be required to prosecute
the war, and afterwards provide in some othc
form to pay the scmi-annua interest upon ii, ant
ultimately to extinguish the principal.
If in addition to these duties Congress shout
graduate and reduce the price of such of the Publ
Lands as experience has proved will not commons
the prices placed upon them by the Government, al