Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-23
Reyenue Resources.

To avoid multiplication OF figures, we
average appropriations for the ten years
including 1878 and 1852. which amounts
10 &l5S, ,SS6, ,O5S per year. For 1888. BY
the Robesonian-K -Keiffer Congress, there
was appropriated S294,2 ,097. These
sums do not include payments Of pTinci-
pal or interest on the public debts, but
merely the current expenses of the gov.
ernment.
These enormous sums Of money, with
the addition Of the debt payments, have
been, directly or indirectly, collected
from the people. In 1881, the last official
figures accessible. $l9S, 159, ,676. O2 was col.
lected from customs, tariff duties; $780,
264, $3.50 from internal revenue, and
$27, 1855, ,23l.04 was derived from the sale
of government property, public lands,
profit on coinage, interest from subsi.
dized railroads, etc. After payment of
the current expenses and $s3, ,569, ,9s9. 96
on the public debt there remained in the
treasury surplus Of $iOO, ,O69. .4O4.9s.
These figures show conclusively that
even with the extravagant expenditure
of the public moneys. the collections are
largely in excess of the wants of the
government and should be greatly re.
duced.
Here is work for the new Congress.
There can be no question but that the
expenditures for the last ten or twelve
years have been most extravagant and
prodigal. Liberal economy can manage
the government with an annual appro-
priation for current expenses of $50, ,000,-
900. Expenses can be curtailed, without
detriment to the public service, every
where and at every point-much can
even be saved in the very collection of
revenues. We have at present in Ohio
twenty.one collection districts. These
can easily be reduced TO four, and re.
duction of two-thirds of the officers
made.
The reduction Of expenditures, how
ever, is comparatively light and simple
work. The reduction of receipts is sur
rounded with more difficulty and will
cause more disagreement. Many jour-
mails and public men advocate complete
abolition of all internal revenue. Fore
most OF this class is Kelley, of Pennsyl-
vania, who advocates this as an excuse
for the continuation of the high protec-
tion duties on imports. I5 may be well
enough to abolish what little remains of
the stamp duties-matches, patent medi
cines, bank checks, &c, but we cannot
conceive how any one can, in good faith,
ask for the repeal of the duties on dis
titled and malt liquors and on cigars and
tobaccos. The producers of the raw ma
terials do not ask it, the manufactures do
not ask it, and upon the consumer, who
is no way compelled to use either, it falls
so light that he cares nothing about it.
There may be many Objectionable features
about the manner of its collection that
should be dispensed with. But from
these sources should be collected at least
a sufficient amount to meet the annual
of the government, and this can
be done without complaint from any
source.
After this comes the-real work for Con-
gress. The regulation of the tariff and
the provision for the gradual and certain
liquidation of the public debt. Let the
duties, as far as possible, be taken from
all the necessaries of life and from mate.
rials used in manufactures, and If neces-
sary increased upon the luxuries, artifi-
cials and "glittering gawgaus." Let all
duties be established on an advalorem
basis and upon a revenue standard. Thus
can the expenses of the government be
met. the public debt liquidated and the
people in no way oppressed.