Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-19

90
Of the entire amount of duties col.
lected 70 per cent was collected from
the following articles of import; Sugar
and molasses, 90; wool and its manu-.
factures, 15; silk and its manufactures
8; iron and steel and their manufac-
lures, z; cotton manufactures, 6: flax
hemp and jute and their mauufac-
lures. 5.
REVENUE REDUCTIONS RECOMMENDED
The fact that our revenues are in ex.
cess of the actual needs of an economi.
cal administration of the government
jushties reduction in the amount ex-
acted from the people for its support
Our government is but the means
established by the will of free people
by which certain principles are applied
which they have adopted for their ben.
eft and protection, and it is never bet
ter administered and its true spirit is
never better observed, than when the
peoples taxation for its support il
scrupuously limited to the actual
necessity of expenditure and distrlbu-
ted according to just and equitable
plan. The proposition with which we
have to deal is the reduction of the
revenue received by the government
and indirectly paid by the people from
customs duties. The question of free
trade is not involved, nor is. there now
any occasion for the general discussion
OF the wisdom or expediency of a pro-
tective system. Justice and fairness
dictate that in any modification of our
present laws relating to revenue, the
industries and interests which have
been encouraged by such laws and in
which our citizens have large invest
ments should not be ruthlessly injured
or destroyed.
We should also deal with the subject
III such a manner as to protect the in
terest OF American labor, which is the
capital of our workingmen, its stabili-
ty aud proper remuneration furnish
the most Justitiable pretext for pro-
tective policy. Within these limita-
tlons certain reduction should be
made i'll our customs revenue The
amount OF such reduction having been
determined, the inquiry folio VS.,
where can it best be RENTED ,and what
articles can best be released from duty
in the interest of our citizens? think
the reduction should be made in the
revenue derived from a tax upon the
imported necessaries of life. We thus
directly lessen the cost of living in
every family of the land, and release
to the people in every humble home
larger measure of the rewards of fru-
gal industry.
HAWKING.
During the year ended Nov. l, 1885,
one hun dred and iorty-tive nationa
banks were organized with an aggre-
gate capital OF SIG, ,93S, 900 and circula-
ton notes have been issued to them
amounting TO SI,274,910. The whole
number OF these banks in existence on
the day above mentioned was 27,27O.
The very limited amount of circulating
notes issued by national banks COM
pared with the amount the law permits
hem to issue upon a deposit of bonds
Tor their redemption, indicates that the
volume of our circulating medium may
be largely increased through this in-
strumentality.
THE SILVER SUBJECT.
Nothing more important than the
present condition of our currency and
coinage can claim your attention. Since
February, 1873, the government has
under compulsory provisions of law
purchased silver bullion and coined the
same at the rate of more than s. 900
700 every month. By this process up
to the present date 2l5, ,759, 435 silver
dollars have been coined. A reasona-
Bile appreciation of delegation of
power to the general government would
limit Its exercise without express re-
words to the peoples needs