The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-07
Folger and Free Trade.

The Secretary of the Treasury in
his report to congress just made pub
lie discusses the revenue question in
very candid and elaborate manner
1t seems that Mr. Folger is still the
pronounced revenue reformer he prov
ed himself in his last report, for he de-
clares that reduction in the revenues
is absolutely necessary and though
he does not recommend an ''immedi-
ate revision of the tariff, he does not
hesitate to declare that ultimately the
just aud expedient method of relief
from taxation and limiting the reve-
nues to the needs of an economical
government, must be found in re-
duction of the duties on imports"
The estimated surplus revenues fer
the current fiscal year are eighty;toe
millions Of dollars. The sinking
fund for the payment of the public
debt will absorb about fifty millions of
dollars, thus leaving an excess of
Mirty,tfue millions. If the present
policy of paying the public debt at the
rate of fifty millions of dollars per an
mum is to be continued the excess Just
mentioned would still occur from year
to year so that at the end of ten years
three hundred and fifty millions of dol
lars would be lying idle in the treas
ury. But this excess is likely to be
much greater, as the pension list will
be gradually reduced and the increase
in the revenues will correspond to the
increase of population and wealth. 1t
is probable that the actual surplus at
the present rate of taxation will aver
age at least one hundred millions of
dollars per annum or fifty millions
more than will be required by the sink
ing fund.
Secretary Folger says: GAS our in,
"terest bearing public debt is $l,312,-
"446,O5O, and about $74O,OOO,OOO of it
"beyond our reach for payment, for
"about nine years and seventeen years
respectively, and may not be brought
Sin by purchase save at heavy rates of
'premium, even if it can le by paying
"those rates, there is forced upon our
attention the question, how shall a
"heaped-up surplus of public money be
"avoided? There ought TO
be a reduction Of taxation" He then
goes on to discuss the manner in which
taxation should be reduced and de-
clares against the repeal of the inter-
nal revenues, especially the tax on
whiskey, and concludes, as already
stated, that the reduction must come
through modification of the tariff
He quotes from the report of the Tariff
Commission TO congress last year in
which it was asserted that "a substan-
''tial reduction of tariff duties is de-
"manded, not by mere indiscrimi-
"nate popular clamor, but by the best
conservative opinion of the country,
"including that which in former times
"has been most strenuous for the pres
''ervation of our national industrial de.
''fences. He further shows by the
report of the Tariff Commission that
the bill recommended by the commits
sioners was intended and expected to
effect a reduction in the revenue of 20
to 25 per cent, and then proceeds to
explain that this intention and calcula-
ton has not been verified, and that on
the contrary the actual reduction is
thirty millions of dollars less than
was expected. He, therefore recon-
mends further reduction in the tariff
on articles of necessity. He does not
declare against immediate Legislation
on the subject but simply says that his
department does not recommend it.
The discussion of the tariff question
has therefore been begun by the re-
publican administration at Washington.
The secretary of the treasury declares
that the question, show shall heaped-
up surplus of public money be avoided'
is forced upon our attention" The
ghost of Banquo will not down. Had
the late republican congress made an
honest and genuine revision of the
tariff with view of effecting proper
reduction in tie revenues, the country
would not now be called upon to face the
question anew. 1t is shown conclusively
by this ieport of Secretary Folger that no
matter who would have been elected
speaker of the house of representatives
the republican administration meant to
introduce the tariff question into con
gress. 1t is, however, matter Tor
congratulatiou that the administration
aud Speaker Carlisle occupy substan-
TALLY the same ground.-Patriot