The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-30
rx.sENAroR MCDONALD TALKS.
Cleyeland's Administration Sound - The
Tariff Question.

New York Herald May 25l
Elk senstor Joseph <. Mcdonald, of Indi-
ana, who 10 n the city rs attorney 10 a law
suit ate hearty dinner ct the 81. Dennis
Hotel last evening, and after lighting a cigar
said 10 Herald reporter who called on him:
II am here on private BUSINESS and do not
care to talk upon political matters. Bat /
may say that like our people in Indiana /
have always held President Cleveland in the
highest esteem az man OF brains, con.
science aud nerve, who will do his duty.
His administration has been SD far sound,
safe and conservative, and will con-
tinue 90. / think he is giving the
country TO understand two things-hrst,
that he will make no appointment of per-
sons unfit for office, however strongly they
may be recommended. and second, that he
will not permit persons 10 stand around with
Government commissions in their pockets
without anything 10 do. He will not toler
ate Cfiicial idleness."
do you expect any discussion or agita-
ton of the tariff question:"
"Unquessionsbly the subject OF tariff re-
form will come sooner or later. How much
it may engage the attention OF the coming
Congress do not know. The logic OF events,
however, will necessarily enforce that
"Wby do you think sop
eve have reached point in most of our
manufactured productions wnere we are
more than able TO supply tho whole market
and yet on account of the cost of msnufsc-
turing them under the preseut tariff, wa are
unable to soil them IN foreign markets to
any extent"
This necessarily causes ssgnation in bu.
sinss
"And the remedy?'
"This only cen be remedied by either re.
form Of the tariff with view of securing
raw material at cheaper rate for our maui
IL cturers or by reciprocity treaty with for.
eien countries or by the Joint operation of
Government addresses itself to tbnse ques.
tons the sooner that evil called 'overproduc-
ton will be removed
DO you think the Democratic party will
attempt 10 do this"
Undoubtedly the Democratic party will
stan6 for tariff reform. Now the only war.
rant for imposing tariff under ths Consti.
tuition IS for raising revenue for National
purposes, but, like every other taxing power,
the branch OF Government invested with
that authority is allowed the selection OF
the articles on which that tax is to be i'm.
posed
Then, what is, in your opinion, the true
theory of taxationW
1.-The true theory OF taxation is to make
the taxation as equal as possible upon those
who are taxed taking iuto consideration
their condition in life and ability TO pay. A
tariff 10 called voluntary tax. III Is not 90
ia its practical operations as TO all
articles OF prime necessity, and can only be
said TO be true of the tariff imposed upon
luxurss. The result OF that principle is that
a tariff ought to be highest on luxuries aud
lowest on necessaries OF life and the necessi-
ties of trade"
do Won think the present administration
will attempt such reforms as you nave sug-
gestedP'
~ think the present administration will
| be found endeavoriDg 10 formulate policy
| in accordance with these general doctrines I
have stated to you--to make the necsssaries
OF life and raw material cheap, 80 as to
cheaper the cost of living and give our Ia
| BOXERS something to do and at the some time
| supply the Government with a reasonable
revenue. That's about the whole PROPOSE
| ton"