The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-21

so called. and that is the dutiable one. 1t |
has no compound rates, the duties being |
either an valorem or specific, and the lat |
ter as far as practicable. 1t comprises 24I
classes of articles and 575 articles against
the large number comprised in the present
law. It has no free list as such all arti
cles not enumerated and specifically named
are to be admitted free. In lieu OF the
duties now levied upon the cost ana
charges added to the original cost or value
of the articles imported at place OF produc-
ton or export which has been the source of
80 much litigation between the Govern
ment and the importers, the bill hxee an
allowance of per cent, equally appiicsoie
to all merchandise coming In under the al
valerem principle. 1t levies discrininat,
merchandise imported from, and thu growth
and production of any country which DIS
eliminates against the United States in the
admission of our products to their ports.
There will be q 30 per cent. saving vi ,ooo,-
OOO) in the collectioB Of the revenue. Some
apprehensions have been entertained tnae
the reduced rates proposed will cause ioss
of revenue. There is no necessity for fear
on this account. The removal of the am-
biguities Of the present tariff, and the
easy and speedy liquidatiod OF entries
which will follow will operate as much to
increase the importations as the proposed
reduced rates will cause loss of revenue.
The many obstructions now existing In
entering goods at the custom houses and
| of speedily ascertainipg the amount OF duty
| to be paid will under the new system De
! very much, if not altogether, removed. a
merchant will know in advance the exact
amount Of duty to DO paid, which viii
| facilitate commerce, and the Government
will collect the duty without delay or It'll
CATION Those who are not familiar with
the present machinery used in the coilec-
ton of duties will be slow to believe the
great losses to the Treasury which are con
| stantly occurring in consequence. 1t has
been estimated that the government loses
from 10 to Is per cent. of the amount 1t
should collect. The losses occurring by
evasions of the law, collusion with the
officials, and smuggling will, IT the reforms
proposed be carried out, be much iessened,
and the opportunity for frauds, and the
demoralizing effect upon Government 9TH :
GERS prevented. Mr.. Wood presented q
table showing an estimated gain of So ,663 =
645 revenue under the new bill and contin
Eued.7 But suppose that We shal! admit
whicn l do not-that there will be a ioss
of revenue by this bill, cannot tae Treasury
hear it without detrimentf Is it not time
that taxes be reducedf The present reve.
nue. laws were passed during the war, anc
for the purpose of bearing the large expen
ditures incident to the war. Inc people
submitted to them Oh that ground, but hac
no expectaton that when the war ceased
| THESE EXTRAORDINARY BURDENS
levied to meet an extraordinary crisi
would not cease also. Certainly they hav'
a right to expect that now, when they cal
so i'll afford to endure them, they snail o.
Immediately and considerably reduced.
1t is apparent that there is no necessiS!
} for, their continuance. The Secretary o
the Treasury, in his annual report befor
} quoted, estimates the total requirements Q
the Treasury for the present fiscal yea
k1I Io
and for the fiscal year ending June 81
3 1879, to be $260,6s 1868. which less
r deduction Of $lI 100000 by reduction i
estimates, and $37, l96, ,045 04 for the Slnk
4 ing Fund, will leave 1892 ,492 ISL ga Thee
estimates, though doubtless in excess OF tn
g sums that Congress will grant, may oe taAe 9 q
g as the maximum amounts whlch WILL o
required for each of the periods stated. Il
meet these disbursements the Secretar.
. anticipates the following revenues, namel
4 Il for Is7S, $265, ,5601 1666; apd for
. $500 $50, 600. I think it is time that thl
: myth of an expenditure shoulo Dc elIne
!, ALTOGETHER abolished or held IN aoeyanc
y until the taxpayers of the country get to
y benefit of their overpayments to the Sinh
o ing Fund on this account. No GoyernTer
p in the world owes so little Ia proportlo
. to it's resources ss ours. Our consols etan
= with the first on the London Exchange an
:; the Paris Bourse. We can borrow at g
"a low a rate of interest. if we make the bon
Is long enough, as can England, the credit (
which is the best in Europe. Therefor
; we should provide only for the amour
" REQUIRED for the actual living expenditure
,r which, taken as basis of estimate as state
D by MIR. Sherman, will be an average
7e 'e about s2so, ,ooo, 900 per annum, if we il
10 clude the reduction in interest arising
3, coDeeouence of the fpal conversion of II
,s fve-twenties into the A per cents. II
ep apparent surplus revenue should be m
~ ~ by a corresponding reduction in e1penc
OF lures. The principal opposition to cham
~ y in the tariff emanates from the friends
u, u extreme protection to the manufacture
IN IN interests. Whatever may have been t
70 excuse originally for the Government
VI bounty to the then infant manufactures,
eT T does not now exist and should not be co
,a9al al tinued, because the necessity for it
hS l,s longer remains. The iron and steel int int
a those which would be ruined by any int
eir ference whatever. think, upon caret
"a. examination of the bill 80 far as it atte'