The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07


CANT expenditure, which our expert
ence hasitaught lead from an overflow
ing treasury. 1t was made apparent
in the course of animated discussions
which this question aroused at the
last session of congress, that policy
of diminishing the revenue by re-
ducing taxation commanded the gen.
eral approval of the members of both
houses. l regret that because of con-
fiicting views as to the best methods
by which that policy should be made
operative none of its benefits have as
yet been reaped. In the fultillment of
what l deem my constitutional duty,
but with little hope that can make
valuable contribution to this vital
question, shall proceed to intimate
briefly my own views in
relation to it. Upon the
showing of our financial condition at
the close of last year, l felt justified
in recommending to congress the
abolition of all internal revenue
tax except that on tobacco in its va
rious forms, and upon distilled spirits
and fermented liquors, and except also
a special tax upon manufacturers and
dealers in such articles. i venture
now to suggest that, unless it shall be
ascertained that the probable eXpendi-
lures of the government for the COM
ing year have been underestimate, all
internal taxes save those which relate
to distilled spirits, can be prudently
abolished. Such course, If accom-
panied by aSimplificatiOn of machinery
of collection which would then be of
easy accomplishment, might be reason
ably expected to reduce the cost of
such collection by at least two and a
half millions of dollars, and in the re-
tirement from Office of from fifteen
hundred to two thousand persons. The
system of excise duties has never COM
mended itself to the favor of the
American people, and has never been
resorted to except for supplying def
ciences in the treasury, when by rea-
son of special exigencies duties on
imports have proved inadequate for
the needs of government. The senti-
ment of the country doubtless de-
mands that the present excise tax
shall be abolished as soon as
such a course can be safely
pursued. 1t seems to me, how
ever, that for various reasons so
sweeping measure as the total abo-
lition 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 duties on imports is continued
without modification, those duties
alone will yield sufficient revenue for
all the needs of the government.
1t is estimated that $1OO,OOO,OO0 will
be required for pensions during
the coming year, and it may
be we'll doubted whether
the minimum annual demand for that
object has been reached. The uncer-
tainty upon this question would alone
Justify, in my Judgment, the reten-
ton, for the present, of that portion
of the system of internal revenue
system which is least Objectionable to
the people. Second, the total aboli-
ton of the excise taxes would almost
inevitably prove a serious, if not an
ough revision of the tariff and to any
duties.
THE TARIFF.
The present tariff system is in many
respects unjust. 1t makes unequal
distributions both of its burdens and
its benefits. This fact was practically
recognized by a majority of each
house of congress in the passage of
the act creating the tariff commission.
The report of that commission will be
placed before you at the beginning of
this session, and will, l trust, afford
you such information as to the condi-
ton and prospects of the various COM
mercial, agricultural, manufacturing,
mining and other interests of the
country, and contain such suggestions
for statutory revision as will practi:
cally aid your action upon this impor
tant subject.
CUSTOMS DUTIES.
The revenue from customs for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1879,
amounted to $137,0O0,OOO. 1t has in
the three succeeding years reached,
first, $186,0O0,OOO, then $19S 100000, and
finally, as has been already stated,
$20O,0O0,OO0. The income from
this source, for the fiscal year
which will end on June 30,
1883, will doubtless be considerably in
excess of the sum last mentioned. If
the tax on domestic spirits is to be re-
tanned, it is plain that large reductions
from the customs revenue are entirely
feasible. While recommending this
reduction l am far from advising the
abandonment of a policy of so dis
eliminating in the adjustment of de-
tails as to afford protection to domes-
tic labor, but the present system
should be so revised as to equaliZe
public burden among all classes and
occupations, and bring it into har-
mony with the present needs of in
dustry. Without entering into minute
detail, which under the present cir
cumstances is unnecessary, / recon-
mend the enlargement of the free list
so as to include within it the numer-
Gus articles which yield inconsiderable
revenue. A simplicatiOn of the COM
pick and inconsistent schedule of du-
ties upon certain manufactures, par
ticrJarly those of cotton, iron and
steel, and a substantial reduction of
the duties upon those articles and
upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool and
wooden goods. If general revision
of the tariff shall be found to be i'm
practicable at this session express the
hope that at least some of the more
conspicuous inequalities of the present
law may be corrected before your final
adjournment. One of them is especially
referred to by the secretary. In view
of a recent decision of the supreme
court the necessity of amending the
law by which by the duties, standard
of color is adopted as the test of
the saccharine strength of sugars is
too obvious to require comment.
THE INDIANS.
From the report of the secretary of
war it appears that the only outbreaks
of the Indians during the past year
occurred in AraZona and in the south
western portion of New Mexico; they
were promptly quelled, and the quiet
which has prevailed in all other parts
of the country has permitted such an
addition to be made to the military
force in the region endangered by the
Apaches, that there is little reason to
apprehend trouble in the future.
THE SEA COAST DEFENSES.
Those parts of the secretary's report
which relate to our sea coast defences
and their armament, suggest the gray
est reflections. Our existing fortifca-
lions are VIGOROUSLY inadequate in
defence for the great harbors
and cities for whose protec-
ton they were built. The
question of providing an amount suit
ed to our present necessities has been
subject of consideration by a board
whose report was transmitted to con-
gress 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 cannon, but the secretary ex-
presses the hope that authority and
means to begin that important work