The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-09

W,
redeemabe, and which, under the circum-
stances, cannot fail To command an enormous
premium or the swollen revenues will be de-
voted TO extravagant expenditure, which, as
experience has taught, is ever the bane
Of an overlooking ktreasury' II was
made apparent in the course OF
the animated discussions which the question
aroused at the last session Of congress that tina
policy Of diminishing the revenue by reducing
taxation, commanded the general approval OF
the members Of both houses. | regret that
because of conflicting views az to the best
methods by which that policy should be made
operative, none of its benefits have rs yet been
reapef In fulfllment of what deem my con-
stitutional duty, but with little hope that can
make valuable contribution TO this vexed
question, shall proceed to intimate briefly
my own views in relation to it:
Upon the showing of our financial condition
at the close of the last fiscal year felt justified
in recommending to congress the abolition OF
internal revenue taxes except those upon to-
bacco in its various forms and upon distilled
spirits and fermented liqurs, and except, also,
the special tax upon the manufacturers and
dealers in such articles. venture now to
suggest that unless il shall be ascertained that
the probable expenditures of the government
for the coming year have been underestimate.
all internal taxes save those which relate to
distilled spirits, can be prudently abroSated.
Such a course, If accompanied by slmpli-
fcation of the machinery of collection, which
would then be easy of accomplishment, might
reasonably be expected to result in diminish
ing the cost Of such collection by at least two
millions and half, and in the retirement
from Office of from fifteen hundred to two
thousand persons The system of excise
duties has never commended itself to the favor
of the American people and has never been
resorted to except for supplying deficiencies
in the treasury, when, by reason of special
i,,ap tl,a 1t1ti aan an INN
inadequate for the needs of the government
The sentiment of the country doubtless COM
mands that the present excise tax shall be
abolished as COON such course can safely be
pursued Ii seems to me, however, for vari-
ous reasons, 80 sweeping measure as tho
total abolition of internal taxes would, for the
present, be an unwise step Two OF these rea-
sons are deserving Of special mention
l. IL is by no means clear that even If the
existing system of duties on imports is contin-
ued without modification, those duties alone
will WELD sufficient revenue for all the needs
of the government. 1t is estimated
that sl00,Oo00O0 will be required for
pensions during the coming year. and it may
well be doubted whether the maximum annual
demand SfOr that object has yet been reached
Uncertainty upon this question would alone
Justify, in my Judgment, the retention for the
present of that portion of the system OF inter
nal revenue which is least Objectionable TO the
people. >,
2. total abolition Of excise taxes would
almost inevitably prove a serious, if not
an insurmountabe objection to thor
ough revision of the tariff, and TO any
considerable reduction i'll import duties,
THE PRESENT TARIFF SYSTEM
is. in many respects, unjust 1t makes I'M
equal distributions both of its burdens and it's
benefits This fact was practically recognized
bv majority of each house of congress, in
a. of ha net orc tiup the tariff
mission. The report of that commission will
be placed before you at the beginning of this
session. and will, trust. afford you such ILL
formation as TO the condition and prospect of
the various commercial, agricultural, manu-
featuring, mining and other interests of the
country, and contain such suggestions for
statutory revision, as will practically aid
your action upon this important subject
The revenue from customs forxthe fiscal
year ending June 30, 1879, amounted to $751;
GOO 600 II has in the three succeeding years
reached first slS6,000,00 coo; then sl9s, 600, 600;
and finally, as has been already stated, sly
100000 The income from this source for the
fiscal year which will end on June 80 1883,
will doubtless be considerably in excess of the
sum last mentioned If the tax on domestic
spirits is to be retained, it is plain, therefore,
that large reductions from the Gus
toms revenue are entirely feasible.
While recommending this reduction
1 p
policy of so discriminating in the adjustment
Of details o. to afford aid and protection to
domestic labor. But the present system
should be SO revised as to equalize the public
burden among all classes and occupations,
and bring it into closer harmony with the
present needs Of industry. Without entering
into minute details, which, under present
circumstances, is quite unnecessary, recon-
mend an enlargement of the free list 30 as to
include within it the numerous articles
which yield inconsiderable revenue, SIM
plification of the complex and incon-
| sistent schedule of duties upon certain manu-
features, particularly. those OF cotton iron and
steel, and a substan tial reduction of the duties
upon those article and upon sugar, molasses.
| silk, wool, and WOODEN goods II general re-
vision of the tariff should be found to be i'm
practicable at this session, express the hope
that at least some of the more conspicuous in
| CAPABILITIES OF the present law may be corrected
before your final adjournment One of them
is specially referred to by the secretary. In
| view of the recent decision of the supreme
court, the necessity Of amending the law by
which the Dutch standard Of color is adopted
as the test of the saccharine strength of sug
ars, is too obvious to require comment
| THE INDIANS.
From the report of the secretary of war it
appears that the only outbreaks of Indians
during the past year occurred in Arizona
and in the southwestern part of New Mexico.
They were promptly quelled, and the quiet
which has prevailed in all other parts of the
has permitted such an addition TO be made tc
| the military force in the region endan
gered by the Apachcs that there is little
reason to apprehend trouble in the future.
| sEAcoAsT DEFENsEs.
Those parts of the secre.ary's report which
| relate to our seacoast detenses and their arma-
ment suggests the gravest reflections Our
| existing fortiticatiOns are VIGOROUSLY made
| quate to the defense of the great harbors and
! cities for whose protection they were built.
! The question of providing an armament suit
| ed to our present necessities has been the sub
| iect of consideration by board whose report
was transmitted to congress at the last session.
| Pending the consideration of that report the
war department has taken no steps for The
manufacture or conversion of any heavy can
non, but the secretary expresses the hope
! that authority and means to begin that I'M
portant work will soon be provided.
THE MILITIA.
invite the attention of congress to the pro-
priety of making more adequate provisions
for armng and equipping the militia than are
afforded by the act of 1906, which is still upon
the statute books. The matter has already
been the subject of discussion in the senate
and bill which seeks to supply the defcien-
cies of existing laws is now upon its calendar.
The secretary Of war calls attention to the
| fact that an embarrassment growing out Of
| the recent act of congress making the retire
| nf nffiaars of the army cOmpulsOry at tho ~