Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-13
REVENUE REFORM.
Elk Speaker RandalPs Tariff Views Said
to be Unchanged.
From he Nea0 York TeIe0rdm


WASHINGTON, June 9.-FOr more than
week the familiar form of ex-Speaker
Randall has been missed at the White
House. Those Of his friends who have
Investigated the matter here found out
that the Pennsylvania statesman is con-
fined to his home with his old complaint
govt. MIR. Randal's personal absence
from the White House BY nc means indl-
Gates that his influence there has been
lessened in the slightest degree. He is
still a power with the administration,
for which he never loses an opportunity
of saying good word. There is no get
ting around the fact that the administra-
ton just suits Mr.. Randall, and it is not
giving any stretch to the imagination to
say that Mr.. Randall suits the admins
tration.
In the innermost circles of the Demo-
cratic party the eX-Speaker's recent de-
claration of views concerning the tariff
constitute subject of general comment
and speculation. To a certain extent the
various compilations of the Democracy
prOtectiOnists, revenue refOrmers and free
traders-are unit in support OF the theo-
ry that there ought to be a REIMBURSEMENT
and realignment OF the customs duties.
Mr.. MorrisOn's friends are just as heartily
In favor OF this project as are Mr.. Ran
dalPs, but when it comes right down to
the settlement upon some specific scheme
which shall prove eminently satisfactory
to the three factions, then the facts lead
in totally different directions. The free
traders stand together for the attainment
OF the one object defined in their name.
To secure that end they are willing and
anxious to strike hands with all who are
in favor OF reducing the customs duties.
The shade of difference between the
free traders and the revenue refOrmers
represent the idea Of reducing the duties
on imports to a minimum, and to practi-
callY allow the internal revenue system to
stand as it is, thus making it the main
source of support for the expenditures OF
the government. Mr.. RandalPs declara-
tlon tor a readjustmeut of the tariff does
not mean that he has been converted TO
the horizontal reduction scheme which he
defeated in the last Congress. He is as
bitterly opposed TO that idea as he was
two years ago. Neither is it to be sup
posed that he will allow a successful as
sault to be made upon the iron interests
OF his own State II he can help it. 1t Is,
perhaps, to be lamented that he is not
willing to enter into a more specific decla-
ration as to the result which ne desires to
attain and the methods by which he hopes
to accomplish them. A readiustment of
the tariff might mean an increase of the
duties on imports, although, of course, it
is conceded that Mr.. Randall has not that
idea in view.
1t mightmean an equalization of the du-
ties, which is considered here to be the key
to his declaration. The third possibility
is that Mr.. Randall means to clear the
way so he will be received as a fuil-fedged
tariff refoTmeT on the first Monday In De-
cember next. This is jeered at by the
Morrison men, who say that the eX-Speaker
1. g k,.a
Ways and Means Committee as long as
the majority of the House supports their
views. The protect nists, on the other
hand, laugh quietly over this suppOsitiOn,
and content themselves by simply re-
marking that ''Sam knows what he is
about" In the general guessing which is
going on as to exactly what course the
aforesaid 'Sam" intends to pursue in the
Forty-ninth Congress so far as the tariff
is concerned. one fact ought to be remem-
bered and given its full and significant
prominence. Mr.. Randall has declared
himself, and so far as his public utter
ances show has never Tecanted from the
position, that he is in favor of making
sweeping reductions in the war taxes
which are levied and collected through
the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Any effort in that direction will meet
with his hearty and instant support, as
VuS leCOIus Vi the next Congress VIII
show, unless the opinions of the shrewd-
est politicians here are all at sea. Moth
ing can be palmer than the fact that those
who really desire to embrace The principle
of revenue reform cannot afford to inter-
tere with the workings of the internal
revenue system. Certain sums of money
must be raised for the support of the
government every year. The two great
sources have been and are the duties upon
customs imports and the internal revenue
taxes. TIE cause of the vast surplus to-
day is the simple fact that both Of these
sources have been pouring money into the
Treasury at faster rate than the running
expenses of the government could con-
sumo. The people demand some sort OF
relief; whether Mr.. Randall will be able
TO provide the remedy is matter on
which the next Congress will be called
unOu To nags its Indictment