Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-12-02
1amcaster fr,teIItgencer.
Secretary ncUuIiscl's clear View.

Secretary ncCullech's Clear View.
= The treatment By the secretary Of the
treasury Of the question Of taxation and
Che tariff, is very clear, concise and able.
Secretary NcCulloch is one Of the mcst
distinguished financial authorities in the
world, and the manner in which he ham
dies the questions considered In his re-
port confirms bis title to be thus e.
teemed. We think that the position he
takes upon the tariff issue IL sound.
He considers tbat the present manu-
featuring depression is the result Of over
production ; which is clear enough. He
further considers that since our manu-
featuring facilities are In excess of the
requirement Of the country, the way out
Of the trouble Is to obtain foreign outlet
for them which also is clear enough, II
It is admitted that we make more than
We consume now, or are likely to con
sumo In the near future. That this is the
case now is indisputable and whether
or no the demand of the country is going
70 soon grow up to its facilities for sup.
ply, which is very doubtful, it is at least
certain that foreign market, in addition
to the home market, would be a very
desirable thing for our manufacturer
TO have.
Mr.. McCulloch proposes that a com.
mission of:members..of the House shall be
formed to inquire into the practieability
OF obtaining market in foreign coun q.
tries for our manufacturers, by a modi.
hcation of the import duties which now
close them to us; which commission
shall consider two things as settled
namely, that the revenue to be raised
shall be only such as is required for the
expenses OF the government; and second
that the manufacturing industries
are not to be put in jeopardy. The
legislation to be recommended must
be in their interest, which is the inter
est of the whole country. The aim
in amending the tariff will be
to secure an outside market fol-
our products, and that is surely one with
which manufacturers should be in sym.
pathy. We have great advantages over
other countries for manufacturing, in
the possession OF the important raw
materials, the best machinery. the best
mechanical talent and the best workmen,
When we have the best workmen We also
have the cheapest, In industries demand.
ing skill in manipulation. Europe has a
lower priced labor ; but low.priced labor
is not necessarily cheap labor. 1t is
often the dearest. We now send a great
many manufactures abroad, and the
quantity may be greatly increased by
legislation that will enable us to get
cheaper materials, and that will give
our products free entrance to foreign
ports. Weobviously need free raw ma
terial to start with and the secretary
urges Congress to at once enact that
such materials shall be admitted free of
duty.
He also recommends the abolition of
the internal revenue tax on tobacco, and
on alcohol used for manufacturing pur-
poses. He states that since 1856 Great
Britain has not taxed alcoholic spirits
that have been mixed with wood naphtha,
which are called methylated spirits. So
heated they are said to be unfit for use
as beverage, and in this case no one
can object to the removal of the tax.
Alcohol used in manufactures and med
icines, certainly should be az cheap as
pos ible and no reason for its taxation
can be urged save its use as beverage.