The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-30
EX-SENATOR MCDONALD.
CIeveland's Administration sound-Refor,n OF
the Tariff.

New York Herald
Ex-senator Joseph E. Mcdonald, of Indiana.
who is in this city as attorney in law suit said
to Herald reporter who called on him: ~ a,o
here on private business and do not care to talk
upon political matters. But may say that like
our people in Indiana, have always held Presi
dent Cleveland in the highest esteem as a man
of brains, conscience and nerve, who will do his
duty. His administration has been so far sound
safe and conserv alive, and will continue so. /
think be is giving the country to understand
two things--frst, that he will make no appoint.
ments of persons unfit for Office however
strongly they may be recommended; and second,
that he will not permit persons to stand around
with government commissions in their pocket
without any work to do. He will not tolerate
official idleness."
DO you expect any discussion or agitation Of
the tariff question:
.Unquestionably the subject of tariff reform
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"
why do you think so?"
1--WE have reached point in most of our man
ufactured productions where we are more than
able to supply the whole market and yet on ac-
count of the cost of manufacturing them under
the present tariff, we are unable to sell them in
foreign markets to any extent
And the reSultF
This necessarily causes stagnation in bust
ness"
''And the remedy9'
''This can only be remeded by either reform
of the tariff with view of securing raw materials
at a cheaper rate for our manufacturers or by
reciprocity treaty with foreign countries or by
the joint operation of these two instrumental.
ties. The sooner the government addresses it
self to these questions the sooner that evil
called overproduction' will be removed
DO you think the Democratic party will at
tempt to do this"
Undoubtedly the Democratic party will stand
for tariff reform. Now the only warrant for i'm
posing tariff under the Constitution is for
raising revenue for national purposes; but, like
every other taxing power, the branch of govern
ment invested with that authority is allowed the
selection of the articles on which that tax is to
be imposed"
Then, what is, in your opinion, the true the
DRY of taxationN
taxation as equal as possible upon those who are
taxed, taking into consideration their condition
IN life and ability to pay. tariff is called a
voluntary tax. It is not so in it's practical opera
tions as to all articles of prime necessity and
can only be said to be true of the tariff imposed
upon iuxuries. The result of that principle is
that tariff ought to be highest on luxures and
lowest on the necessaries of life and the necess-
ties of trade"
s'Do you think the present administration will
attempt such reforms as you have indicatedF'
II think the present administration will be
found endeavoring to formulate policy in ac
stated to you--to make the necessares of life
and raw material cheap, so as to cheaper the
cost of living and give our laborers something to
do and at the same time supply the government
with q reasonable revenue. That's about the
whole proposition"