The National tribune., 1883-03-08
Not as Bad as it Might BE.

Republic.
Not as Bad as 1T Might BE.
The passage by Congress on the very last
day of the session, and almost without dis
cussion, of the tariff and internal revenue
bill can only be explained on the supposi-
tiOn that it was a political necessity. The
bill itself was not thoroughly acceptable to
either party. Protectionists and Free Traders
were both divided in sentiment as to the
equity Of its provisions, and, although the
vote by which it was adopted was mainly
q party one, it was not exclusively so. A
number of Democrats voted with the ma
jority, and several Republicans were recorded
with the minority. Indeed, it may be said
with truth that the vote as taken was not q
the naked question of whether or not any ac-
| ton whatever on the subject of the tariff and
the revenue should be taken by the expiring
Congress. But for the fact that the Democrats
will have majority in the next Congress, the
Republicans would doubtless have permitted
the measure to 90 over without action. 1t
was the apprehension that in that event the
Free Traders would control the revision of
the tariff and seriously impair, if not en-
tirely eliminate its protective features, that
led them to compromise their differences
and give q formal support to what was ad-
mittedly hastily contrived and defective
measure. This was unquestionably the
| dominating reason for their action, but it
was not the only one. With the question of
tariff revision was bound up the question Of
internal revenue reduction, and it was the
OpiniOn-an erroneous one, as we believe
of the Republican leaders that to adjourn
without making some provision for the re-
duction of the internal revenue taxes would
create public dissatisfaction and imperil the
future of the party That they should have
held to that belief is not surprising, consid-
ering the gross misrepresentation of the
state of popular feeling that the newspaper
press has been guilty of during the past few
months, although, as we have frequently
pointed out, the question has never been
made an issue at the polls.
But explanations of this sort are not cal
culated either to justify or excuse. The fact
remains that by the passage of the tariff bill
Congress has very materially reduced the
revenues of the Government, and to that
extent impaired the chances of a fuller recog-
milton of the soldiers claims by its successor.
The exact extent of the mischief which has
mated. According to the published esti-
mates, the decrease of revenue resulting
from the abatement of internal revenue
taxes will be in the neighbOrhOod of $35, ,000,-
600 yearly, and the loss by the reduction OF
duties will bring the total up to $7O,O00000.
1t is possible however, that the modifica-
ton of the tariff will have the effect of slim
ulating importation, and in that event the
net loss to the Treasury will be somewhat
less than this. As it is, however, $70,000,-
600 is an immense revenue to be cut off at
a single stroke and the worst Off is that at
least half of it will go into the pockets of
monopolists and not benefit the general pub
lie in the least. 1t will be rich plum for
the patent medicine proprietors, for instance,
but consumers of patent medicines will be
none the better off,
1t is an old saying, however, that things
are never so bad but that they might be
worse, and we perhaps should be thankful
that the revenue taxes were not wiped out
entirely, as the more rabid enemies of the
soldier desired. The receipts of the Govern
ment will still be some seventy millions in
excess of ordinary expenditures, and so long
as this surplus exists the poverty of the
Treasury cannot decently be urged as
pretext for ignoring the demands of our ex-
soldiers. The Government can still afford
upon pensions and bounties as mere gratui-
ties and refuse to recognize the existence of
any binding contract with the soldier-to
equalize the bounties and make suitable
provision for the maintenance of those who
suffered martyrdom in Southern prisons,
and whether it is compelled to do so or not
depends upon the determination, the per-
sistence, and the concert of action with
which our veterans prosecute their claims.
A great battle remains to be fought, but
victory is certain if they will but stand
shoulder to shoulder with THE TRIBUNE
in the struggle.
American Farms.
According to the last census, the number