Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-01-25
THE NATIONAL REVENUES


people are behind you on that
THE NATIONAL REVENUES.
LETTER FROM HON. S. H. MILLER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IA, 's2
To Hon. j. II, Negley:
DEAR SIR have this day mailed
YOU a copy of Judge Kelley's speech,
delivered at the n. Y tariff convention.
From it you will observe that last year
the revenues of the Government were
in excess of the expenditures about
500, 600, 900, which was sixty million
dollars in excess of the requirements
of the sinking fund.
For the year ending June, 1882, he
estimates that we shall be enabled to
pay not less than $l50,000,O0O of the
debt at the present rate of taxation
which will be SlO0, 100000 in excess
of the requirements of the sinking fund
The question that is being asked by
thoughtful men is: can the people af-
for,. . pay off the debt at the rate of
SI5O, 900. 900 annually, or even at the
rate of 100000, 600? Will not such
drain on the peoples resources be
detrimental to our future prosperity !?
Bear in mind that last year our total
revenues were nearly $400,O00,0OO.
This vast sum, when divided among
fifty millions of people, amounts to
eight dollars per capita. Cautious men
are arriving at the conclusion that our
people cannot continue to pay this sum
annually, and that reduction of taxes
must be made at some point. Where
shall we reduces
The free traders are taking advantage
of this state of affairs, and say, reduce
the tariff duties. 1t is not question
as to whether the tariff duties shall be
increased or not. The question is,
shall thew be reduced If reduction
of taxes is to take place, as seems i'm
minent, at an early day, Ss 9 Panns7l-
vanian, and a friend of the tariff, |
think the reduction should take place
in the internal revenue taxes, and not
our tariff duties. There are only $780,
600, 900 of bonds that fall due during
the next 26 years. This will amount
TO less than $50, D,O90, 900 annually to be
provided for. Will this generation not
do we'll if it pays this vast sum, and
leave like, or little larger sum to our
children? The victory We won at such
cost of life and treasure, was won for
future generations, as well as for the
present. Why should not they bear
paft Of the burden?
commend careful reading OF this
speech, and if you should conclude that
due regard to the best interests of
the people require reduction of taxes,
then you have but one other question
to solve:
Whsre shall the reduction take place?
Shall the reduction be OF internal repe=
nue. taxes, which next year are estima-
ted to exceed one hundred and fifty
million dollars or, shall the reduction
be of tariff duties
l am, very truly yours,
Ga s HcT S. III. MILLER
We are obliged to Mr.. Miller for the
copy of the address of Judge Kelley,
and have given the question involved
as much attention as it has been in our
power to do. There has been no higher
authority in the country on the tariff
question than Judge kelley. His
views have always been accepted as
eminently sound on the protective
principle, particularly here in our State
of Pennsylvania. But, with all our
TesaFd foF bis ebility and opinions, we
confess TO being unable TO agree 10 lis
proposed movement to repeal or lower
the revenues derived to the Govern
ment from the internal taxes. The ar
gument made is, that we now have 10
place to apply the excess Of receipts
over the expenditures of the National
Government. 1t is admitted-and well
known--that we have yet large ma
tional debt to pay. But it is said this
debt is not due; or. that much of it
will not be due for some years yet
that the Government has obtained long
time for payment, and has lost control
over her power to pay in consequence.
This certainly presents an unusual con-
dtion in financial affairs Heretofore,
in the history of men and nations in
debt. the difficulty has been how to
pay; but here the difficulty appears to
be how not to pay. We do not know
any solution for this state of affairs in
the national government other than
what an individual would do under
similar circumstances If an individual
Is in debt. and bis debt is not due, but
he has raised and has the money in
his pocket to pay it, and his creditor
will not receive it simply because it is
not due, that individual generally seeks
some other place to invest his money
in the meantime In other words, are
there no other duties our national gov.
ernment has to do with surplus money
than simply to pay it on the national
debty Are there no educational Qbli-
cations resting on it, of white, colored
or Indian people Nopublic improve
ments to make, or better public build
ings, throughoutthe country ? Ifnone Of
these, then, rather than repeal or lower
the internal taxes on whisky and to-
baeco, another suggestion might be to
increase them. A higher tariff on them
might seriously lessen their production |
and thus lessen the revenue derived |
I herefrnm This niuht settIn he nor