The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-12-07

TILED spirits and fermented liquors, and
except also the special tax upon the
manufacturers OF and dealers in such ar
tjcles. venture now TO suggest that, unless
il shall be ascertained that the proba-
bic expenditures of the government for
the coming year have been underestimated,
all internal taxes save those which relate to
distilled spirits can be prudently abrogated.
Such course, If accompanied by simpiil-
cation of the machinery of collection, which
would then be easy of accomplishment,
might reasonably be expected TO result i'll di-
mlnishing tho cost of such collection by at
least two millions and a half of dollars, and
in the retirement from office of from l,SoO to
2,0)0 persons. The system of excise duties
has never commended itselfto the favor of the
American people, and has never been resorted
10 except for supplying defclencieS III the
treasury, when by reason of special eXl-
gencics, the duties on imports have proved
Inadequate for the needs of the government.
The sentiment of the country doubtless de-
mauds that the present excise tax shall be
abolished as soon as such course can
safely be pursued. II seems TO me. how
ever, for various reasons, so sweeping
measure as the total abolition of internal
taxes would, for the present, be an unwise
step. Two of these reasons are deserving of
special mention. First, it is by no means
clear that even if the existing system of du-
ties on imports is continued without modlh-
cation, those duties alone will yield sufficient
is estimated that Sl0O,0o0,0O0 will I've required
for pensions during the coming year, and
il may well he doubted whether tho max
imum annual demand for that object has
yet been reached. Uncertainty upon this
question would alone justify, in my judg-
mant, the retention for the present of that
portion of the system of internal revenue
which is least objectionable 20 the people
SoCons, total abolition of excise taxes
would almost inevitably prove serious If
not an inSurmountable obstacle TO Il thor
ough revision of the tariff and 10 any con-
siderable reduction in import duties. The
present tarG syst9m is in many respects
unjust. Ii makes unequal distributions both
of its burdens and its benefits. This fact was
practically recognized by n majority of each
mouse of Congress III the passage of the act
creating the tariff commission. The report
of that commission will be placed before you
nj the beginning of this session, and will, l
trust, afford YOU such information rs TO the
condition and prospects of the various com
morcial, agricultural, manufacturing, min
ing and other interests OF the country, and
contain such suggestions for statutory re
viSiOu,as will practically aid your action upon
this important subject.
The revenue from customs for the fiscal
year ended June ~. 1873, amounted TO Sl31,-
U0l,O0N. 1t has in the three succeeding years
r'ached-iirst $lS6, 6,ooO,000, then S19SOOO,oO,
and finally, as has been already stated, 500,
.
The fiscal year which will end on June 20,
1SS} will doubtless be considerably in eX.
cess of the sum last mentioned. II the tax
on domestic spirits is to he retained II Is
/ plain. therefore, that largo reductions from
/ the customs revenue are entirely feasible.
/ While recommending this reduction,
l am far from advising the
/ Abandonment of the policy of SO disc scr.minat-
! in; in the adjustment of details as TO afford
aid and protection TO domestic labor. But
the present system should be so revised rs 10
/ CQuaiiZe the public burden among all classes
and occupations, anf bring it into closer
harmony with the pre- ent needs of industry.
Without entering INTO minute detail, which
. under present circumstances Is quite unnec-
essay. | recommend an enlargement of the
trae list 81 as 10 include within IL the numer-
CGS or,iCiC, which yield inconsidcr8ble reve-
nu2: Simpl!iCit!on of the complex and
inconsistent schedule of duties upon GER
tain manufactures. particularly those of
cotton, iron and steel; and substantial re-
. dUctlOn of The duties III on those articles, and
. upon sugar, mulaSsCs, silk, wool and wooden
goods. If a general revision of the tariff
shall be found 10 hc impTacticahle Il, this
session, | express the hope that n least some
of the more conspicuous inequalities of the
present law may he corrected before your
final adjournment, One of them Is specially
referred 10 10y the secretary, in view OF re-
cent 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 sugars is
too obvious to require comment.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
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 Mex
leo. They were promptly qUel!cd, and the
quiet which has prevailed in all other parts
l..
ton TO be made 10 the military force
il the region endangered by the hpaches
that there is little reason to apprehond
trouble III the future. Those parts Of
the secTetary's report which relate to
our seQco3st defenses ard their armament
suggest the CrlVest reflections. Our existing
toCuticitions are HotoriCusly inadequate 4
the defense of the great harbors and cite,
for whose protection they were built The
question of providiugsau armament suited
10 our present necessities has been the sub
iect of consideration by n board, whose re.
port was transmitted 10 Congress at the last
session. Pending the consideration o
that report the war department has
taken no steps for the mauufactuT,
or conversion of any heavy can
non; but The secretary expresses the hope
that authority and means to begin that i'm
IOrtant work will soon be provided. ] invite
the attention Of Congress 10 tie proprioty o.
making more adequate provision for Hrmin.
and eQuipping the militia thanis afforded b!
the act of 1905, which is still upon the stat.
ute books, The matter has already been tn,
subject of discussion in the Senate, and a bil
which seeks 10 supply the deficiencies of eX
listing laws Is now upon Its calendar.
The secretary of war calls attention tc
the fact of an embarrassment growing on
of the recent act of Congress making the re
tirement of officers of the army compulsory
at the age of SiNty-four The act of 1873 is still
in force. which limits to four hundred thenum
Der of those who can bc retired for diSabiht,
or upon their own application. The two act
when construed together seem 10 forbid the
relieving. even foI absolute iucapacity, o
officers who do not fall within the purview o
the latter statute, save az such times rs Their
, chance 10 be less than four hundred name.
on the retired list. There are now four hun
, Grei and twenty. Il Is not likely that Con
greSs intended this result, and concur witt
the secretary that the law ought to b.
amended.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
The grounds that impelled me to withhold
my signature from the bill entitled Al
/ Act making appropriations for the construc
ton, repair and preservation of certain
works on rivers and harbors," whicl
became a law near the close of your las
session, prompt me TO express the hop
that no similar measure will be deeme
I necessary during the present session q
ConPess. Indeed, such measure woul
! now be oncn 10 n serious objection in ad
dition 10 that which was lately urged upo
: your attention, i am informed 10y III
secretary OF war that the greater porto
- of the sum appropriated for the variou
, items specified in that act remains W
expended OF the new works which
T authorized expenses have been incurred upo