The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-16
The Morrison Bill from ) rsfty
Standpoint

9G04A41 HsA4AA4 -
That the National Democratic party
Is pledged, in the words Of is platform,
10 sa.tariH for reTenue oniy" win hardly
be disputed, but when we come to adjust
the tariff upon this principle men viii
differ, and have right to differ.
The plain object Of a tariff Of any des-
eription is to raise revenue, and 50 far
a. our Government Is concerned, the
amount Of revenue to be raised in any
one wear should be based on the demands
which may be lawfully made on the
Treasury. The most ultra protectionlst
does not advocate the accumulation OF
unnecessary funds, but on the contrary
ali seem to be agreed that it is unwise,
impolitic and dangerous to the welfare
of the Government that there should be
n the National Treasury immense sums
If idle wealth. Besides this, the power
m tax involved in the power to raise
i revenue. il based on the idea that the
levy of tax is necessary for the sup
| port of the Government, and under the
| quise of a tax for support it is not leglt'
| innate to levy tax for the beneht Oh In
d;y;duals or of classes. But in the ad
;ustment of dues under the principle o.
a tariff for revenue only, Congress hai
the authority to make discrimination
The naming of articles and specifying
the duties to be borne by each is who'll!
, a matter of legislative discretion. II
fact. that discretion must of neeessit'
exist and it has been the custom 0
. Congress to discriminate for so long
e time that it is useless now to talk abou
, it. !,
We do not understand that when To
e Democratic party declared in favor OF
e tarifffor revenue only it declared in fave
Of abolishing wise and just discrimin'
. ton: if so it would have been equivaleI
:. to declaring that neeessaries and lnxurl'
. should bear equal burdens. Such decii
+ ration would not have found supper
e As WI interpret the plank, it Is but IL
: announcement of the purpose for whte
r revenue may be raised and the conder
nation of all schemes to raise revent
for any other purpose.
1t so happens that just now the re
Z enues of the General Government exce'
its necessities, and what to do with Il
- surplus has been food for much rehe
y ton. Obviously the thing to do Is to
=. duce the taxes-that is, upon the theoI
il that it is unwise if not unlawful to
g emulate a constantly increasing 81
plus; for if it be admitted that 1t IS WI
to accumulate unnecessary funds IN l
National Treasury the force of the are
ment in favor of a reduction in the tai
is materially weakened. The Democr
IN ic marty is pledged to reduction OF
tariff. but as to the particular mode
which this reduction is to be acco
G. nlished. there has as yet been no paI
announcement.
It's true that Mr.. Morrison has P
sented a bill to Congress embodying
. own views and the views of distingul
ed Democrats throughout the count
ne Int the effort to make 1t a pal
al measure so as to bind all party N
must be failure, because % the DE
ocratic party has never endorsed
ae particular measure; ~ the Democra
IN members of Congress have never
dorsed it, and (3) IF Democratic CT
n ems had endorsed it, the action OF t
s caucus would be simply persuasive,
eept as to those who agreed before ha
to be bound by it.
IS, The Morrison bill is a step IN the III
s. direction, undoubtedly, because 1t
duees the tariff and consequently
revenue. and in the absence OF a bet
d hill should be supported; but 1t Is
m r;oht and duty of Democrats and Rep
It lieans, too, for that matter, in e.
sidering its details to so ADJUST
!, duties laid as that the. material
q terest of labor and property, shall not
n seriously injured. Some industries
ouire protection and should be protect
Wbv here in Mississippi our legislat
ed have been for number of years exen
IS ing manufacturing establishments II
vs. taxation. This is protection, and
taxation for protection; because
f.ilure to tax manufacturing prope
necessitates the levy of larger tax
by other property. But it is said that
lrt kind of exemption is but an eneouri
ne ment to infant industries; to which
an renly that the term of exemption is
tied because it was thought that
no lection would not be needed at the
= of the term; otherwise there would b
al. been no limit.
- Gross inequalities and injustice in
present tariff have been complained
and the Morrison bill is open to
no. criticism from Democrats that it
AN sumes the present basis of tariff taxa
ma TO be correct, which all along we
me been SAYING was not the fact, it b
ity. common belief that the present
was framed in utter and contempt
ted disregard Of the principle for "
om- Democrats contend. Still its pas
'ek- involves a reduction, and if it sh
n.y. turn out to ne the best measure of
nc and if it be impossible to make it b
by amendment, it should be passed.