The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-05
MESSAGE SUGGESTIONS,
President Arthur on Reduction OF Taxes
and Revision of Tariff.

In his message the president concludes his
remarks on taxation and tariff as follows:
First. 1t is by no means clear that even if
the exist ing system of duties on imports is
continued without modification, these duties
will alone yield sufficient revenue for all the
needs or the government. 1t is estimated that
one hundred million dollars will be required
for pensions during the coming year, and it
may b" well doubted whether the minimum
reached. Uncertainty upon this question
would alone justify, in my judgment, the re-
tention, for the present. of that portion Of the
objection to the people.
Second. A total abolition of excise taxes
would almost inevitably prove serious, if not
an insurmOuntable, obstacle to Il thorough re-
vision OF the tariff, and to any considerable re-
ductiOn in import duties.
The present tariff system is, in many re-
spccts, unjust. 1t makes an unequal distribu-
ton. both of its burdens and its benefits. This
fact was practically recognized by majority
OF each house of congress i'm the passage OF the
act ing the tariff commission The re-
port OF that commission will be placed before
you at the beginning of this session, and will,
trust, afford you such information as to the
condition and prospects of the various COM
mcrcial, agricultural, manufacturing, mining
ana other interests of the country, and contain
such suggestions for statutory revision, as will
practically decide your action upon this inpOr-
tant subject.
THE REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS
amounted to Sl37,WO,OC0. 1t has i'm the three
succeeding years reached, first $lS, Cl go then
$l!S,UO,WO and finally, as has been already
stated, S.D,WO,OC0. The income from this
source, for the fiscal year, which will end June
~, lSS},will doubtless be considerably in excess
OF the sum last mentioned. If the tax on do
nestle spirits is to be retained it Is plain that
large reductions from the customs revenue are
entirely feasible. While recommending this
reductiOn,l am far from advising the abandon
ment OF the policy of SO discriminating i'm the
adjustment of the details rs to afford aid and
protection to domestic labor. But the present
system should be so revised as to eQnalize. the.
public burden among all classes and occupa-
tI0nS, and bring il into harmony. with the pres
cnt needs of industry
without entering into minute detail, which
under the present circumstances, is quite I'M
necessary, | recommend an enlargement of the
free list SO rs to include within it the numerous
articles which yield incOnsiderable revenue
and simpliiicatiOn of the complex and incOn-
slStent schedule of duties upon those articles
ana upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool and
wooden goods. If a general revision of the
tarlif shall be found to he practicable ut this
session. express the hope that at least some
Oh the more conspicuous inequalities of the
present law may be corrected before your final
Judgment. One of them is especially referred
10 by the secretary. In view of u recent de-
clslOn OF the supreme court the necessity of
amending the law by which the duties and
standard OF color is adopted as the test OF the
Saccharlne strength of sugars is too obvious to-
require any comment.