The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-05

Republic, Furthermore, do not desire payment
If obliged TO receive them must Immediately
exchange them for the above-named commo-
dities, which are absolutely essential to their
existence as civilized people. Now, the
United States stands TO the Argentine Repuollc
in the relation of almost their best customer,
and as the two nations are further assimilated
through continental position and q common
form OF government, and as the former is capa-
BILE and deslrous OF supplying those oommod-
ties which the latter especially needs, IL might
naturally be SO opposed that the trade between
trsry, however, is the case. The United States.
year by year increases Its purchases from the
Argentine Republic. while the amount of do
nestle products which the latter. in turn, pur-
chases from the former increases very slowly
or remains altogether stationary"
The Commissioner shows the influence of
state and local taxation on the cost of produo
tion, etc. and comes TO the general conclusion:
Having thus presented, in part. the evidence
which demonstrates the rapid DEVELOPMENT OF
lhe country, and having also endeagored to
determine and analyze the causes which at the
same time tend TO check or interfere with Bunn
development, we are now prepared to take no
and 1nteljgently consider the lesson to be
deuuced from these Investigations relative to
the inquiry proposed In the outset viz waat
policy OF legislation is likely to prove hereafter
most advantageous to the revenue, aud most
certain to establish the credit and Industry of
the whole country on sound and substantial
basis.
ut seems clear that whatever nscal policy
may be proposed for adoption, IL must not only
be recognized and be based on the existing
condition OF affairs, but must be also In the
nature OF an amend,nent which shall TO the
smallest extent possible Dartake of the char
acter OF an experiment; Violent change, un-
certainty, end Instability are, of all things,
what the business interests OF the country nave
most reason to apprehend, while, on the other
hand, the determination and recognition of q
clear, wel-detined, and practical Issue, 10 be
attained TO by certain progressive, even
thOugh SLOW movement, Is sure to bring with
it stability, hope, and confidence in the future
the elements which constitute in no small
degree the basis OF both private and national
prosperity Can such policy be determined
Can such an issue be contaminated?
The ends TO be attained are, mainly. three
First, full restoration of the national credit and
resumption OF specie payments; second, re:
funding the national debt at q lower rate OF
interest,"; third, reduction of the cost of ma
tional production, with O view of enabling the
products of American industry to compete on
terms OF greater equality with the products of
foreign nations than Is now possible, tn ereby
establishing a system OF national protection
ana insuring STABILITY. increased product, and
aredevelopment OF American commerce and
LET us now inquire wha' elements are ready
at hand Tor the ac :omplishment OF these re
suits The nation at present is excessively in
debt, and is further embarrassed with the vo-
lume OF It's matured and suspended paper. To
Tree Itself from embarrassment and to redeem
Its suspended paper, there would seem to be
but one method, which Is alone available to
individuals under similar circum sta ces. viz
TO manage in some way to receive more than is
expended, and to apply the surplus OF receipts
to- the restoration of - eredlsH meh' oi oeo'S "no
The determination OF the probability of OBJ.
tanning such surplus. and also ITS possible ex.
finances, present and prospective. and to this
the Commissioners asks attention. And, in q
"In the application of a moiety OF the antici-
pated surplus to the reduction OF taxation, the
should be the Tedactien of the cost Of National
production, with a view OF removing those Inn.
pediments which now so greatly restrict and, In
many instances, prevent the free exchange OF
the products OF American industry with the
needed products of other nations; and thus
bring TO The country a more favorable balance
OF trade than now exists In using the express
sion balance of trade, the Commissioners does
not wish to be understood as recognizing in
any way the old exploded ideas ia respect TO
this subject, viz: that nation gains in pro-
portion to what it sends abroad, and loses In
proportion TO what 1t receives beck, but he
does mean to clearly express the opinion that
condition OF affairs like that now existing in
certificates of national Indebtedness continu-
ally tend TO flow out OF the country In payment
products of domestic Industry, is both un-
natural and Injurious, and is a condition OF
affairs exactly the reverse of what prevails In
Great Britain, France, and other prOsp9rous
commercial nations.
The Commissioners believes that he has
already sufficiently indicated the, course ne
would recommend In reference TO the applica
tion of the anticipated surplus to the reduction
OF taxes. In the department. OF internal reve.
OF passengers, the receipts of the telegraph and
express companies, the manufacture OF gas, and
possibly upon sales. would reduce tnat oraacn
sim plest form that can be devised for the col
Lection OF the requisite amount OF M )ney
which the requirements OF the treasury may
L ecessitate.
"In The matter eff the tariff, the Com missioner
trusts that the Government Will notallo " Itself
TO be diverted from the consideration of the
real question at Issue, through any preju Ices
which may be evoked either on behalf of free
trade or protection. There are no considerable
proportion of the people of the United States In
favor OF the adoption OF free trade In the
European sense, even were the necessities OF
Ihe treasury for revenue far less urgent than at
present. There are none worthy TO bear the
name Of an American citizen who desire that
the industry OF foreign countries should pros per
and be extended at the expense OF our own"
The conclusion OF the report is as folio ows:-
"In what has thus been submitted the Com
missioner believes that he has sufficiently in IL
Gated his views in respect TO the tariff. He can
not resist the conclusion that, as IL now stands,
u Is in many respects Injurious and destruc-
tive, and does not afford to American Ind lstry
that stimulus and protection which Is claimed
as It's chief merit He believes that TO grant,
in the main, the advances asked in the bills
now pending before Congress, would be but to
aggravate the very difficulties under which the
country now labors, to impair the revenues and
hinder the return TO specie payments.
I'm fact our present tariff il In many par /.
liculals apparently based upon the old fallacy
that, in the exchange of commodities between
nations, which constitutes commerce. what one
gains the other loses. II needs but q moments
thought TO be convinced that there can be no
permanent trade or commerce unless IL is for
The gain OF both nations; all trade is based upon
the mutually of services and IL IL one of the
evidences OF the progress OF modern thought,
ming to be recognized. This is emInently true
in England, France and Germany, true In China
and Japan, true even in Spain. but not yet re-
cognized In the UDited States, II our laws are
10 be taken az the evidence OF our thought.
"Wtth these feelings and convictions he would
therefore prove untrue 1 to his trust did he not
further general increase OF the tariff, but would
on the contrary, recommend.
FIRST, An enlargement OF the free list
second. A reduction of some rates OF duty.
ana, as an exception, an increase OF a few