Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-07

tenance is exacted through the form of ia J
alton than is necessary to meeet the ju,
obligations of the government and the e,
pense of its economical administration
such action becomes ruthless extortion ant
a violation of the fundamental principle
of free government. The indirect name
in which those eXactions are made has
tendency to conc eal their true character an
their extent, But we have arrived alta
STAGE OF sUPERFLUoUs REVENUE
Which has aroused the people to a realiza
tion of the fact that the amount raised pre-
fessedly for the support of the government
is paid by them as absolutely, If added Il
the price of the things which supply thei
daily wants If it was paid at fixed period
into the hands of the tax gatherers. Thos,
who toll for daily wages are beginning II
understand that capital, though sometimes
Wanting its importance and clamoring fo
the protection and favor of the government
Is dull and sluggish. TIL touched by the
magical hand of labor it springs into ac
tivity, furnishing an occasion for fedora
taxation and gaining the value which
enab es it to bear its burden, and the labor
ing man is thoughtfully inquiring whether
in the circumstances and considering the
treasury, as he supplies his daily wants, he
receives his fair share OF advantages
There is also a suspicion abroad that the
surplus of our revenues indicate abnormal
and exceptional business profits which un-
der the system which produces such sur
p.us, increase wit out corresponding bene-
fit to the people at large. The vast accumu-
lations of few among our citizens whose
fortunes are rivaling the " ealth of the most
favored in anti-democratic nations. are not
the natural growth of a steady, plain and
industrious republic; our farmers too and
those engaged directly and indirectly IN
supplying the
PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE.
See that, day by day, and as often as the
daily wants of their household recur, they
are forced to pay excessive and needy tax
alton, while their products struggle in for
eigu markets with the competition of ma
tions which. by allowing freer exchange
OF productions than we permit. enable their
people to sell for prices which distress the
American farmer. As every patriotic citi-
zen rejoices in the constantly increasing
pride of our people in American citizen
ship, and in the glory of our national
achievements and progress, a sentiment pre-
walls that the leading strings useful to ma
tion in It's in ancy, may well. to great ex-
tent, be discarded in the present stage of
American ingenuity. courage and fearless
self-reliance; and for the privilege of in
dulging in this sentiment with true Ameri-
can enthusias N, our citizens are quite will
ing to forego the idle surplus in the public
treasury, and all the people know that the
ports is to-day, in time of peace, but little
less, while upon some articles of necessary
consumption it is actually more than
W supposed by the grievous burden will
lingly borne at time when the Govern
Inent needed millions to MAINTAIN, by war,
the safety ana integrity OF the United
States, II has been the policy of the Gov
ernment to collect the principal part of its
revenues by tax upon imports, and no
change in this policy is desirable, but the
nj al ffairs 20 pStr n n,lr r
people to demand tnat, by revision of our
revenue laws, the receipts of the Govern
ment shall be reduced to the necessary ex-
pense of its economical administration.
and this demand should be recognized and
0beyed by the peoDle's representatives in
the legislative branch OF the Government
in reao justing the burdens of Federal taxa
alton. A sound public policy requires that
such of our citizens as have built up large
and important
INDUSTRIES UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS
Should not be suddenly and to their injury
deprived of advantages to which they have
adopted their business, but if the public
good requires it they should be content
with such consideration as shall deal fairly
and cautiously with their interest. While
the just demand of the people for relief
from needless taxation is honestly ans
wered, reasonable and timely subn. ission
BILE without disastrous shock to any inter
est and cheerful conception sometimes
averts abrupt and needless action after the
outgrowth OF impatience and delayed JUS
tice. Due regard should be also accorded
ON any proposed read diustment to the inter
ests of American labor so far as they are In
vOlved. We congratulate ourselves that
there Is among us no laboring class fixed
within unyielding bounds and doomed un-
der all conditions to the inexorable fate of
daily foil We rprOgniZn in labor n chief
factor in the wealth of the republic and we
treat those who have it in their keeping as
citizens entitled to the most careful regard
and thoughtful attention. This regard and
attention should be awarded them. Not
only because
LABOR is THE CAPITAL OF OUR WORKING MAN,
Justly entitled to its share of government
favor and for the further and not less i'm
portant reason that the laboring man, sur
rounded by his family in his humble home,
as consumer. is vitally interested in all
that cheapens the cost OF living and enables
him to bring within his domestic circle ad-
ditional comforts and advantages. This re-
lation of the working nan to the revenue
laws of the country, and the manner in
which IL palpably Influences the question
OF wages should not be forgotten in the JUS
tenauce of the supply and protection OF
we'll paid labor, and these considera ions
suggest such an arrangement of govern
ment revenues as shall reduce the expenses
of living while /. does not curtail the op
portunity for work nor reduce the compen
sation of Americal labor and injuriously
affects its condition and the dignified place
it holds in the estimation of oul
people, but our farmers and agri'
culturists, those who from the soil
are perhaps more directly and plainly con
cerned than any other of our citizens in q
just and careful system of federal taxation
Those actually engaged in and more re
motely connected with this kind OF wors
number nearly one-half OF our population
None labor harder or more continuously
than they. Noenactments limit their hours
of toll and no interposition of the Govern
ment enhances to any great extent the
value of their products, and yet for many
of the necessaries and comforts of life
whicn the most scrupulous economy ena
bles them to bring into their homes and fol
their implements of husbaudry, they are
Obliged to pay a price largely increased b!
an unnatural profit which by the action o
the Government is given to the more
favored manufacturer. l recommend that
keeping in view all these considerations
the increasing and unnecessary surplus o
the national income annually accumulat
ing, be released to the people by an amend
ment to our revenue laws, which shall
cHEApEN THE PRICE OF THE NECESSITIES OF
LIFE,
And give freer entrance to such imported
materials as by American labor may b.
manufactured into marketable commodi
ties. Nothing can be accomplished, howev
er, in the direction of this much needed re
form unless the subject is approached in
patriotic spirit and devotion to the Interests
of the entire country, and with willing
ness to yield some thing for the public good
The sum paid on the public debt during tn,
fiscal year ending June 30tn. 1856, was $44,
55l, ,O4S36. During the twelve months end
ing October 81, 1886, three per cent. bond
were called for redemption amounting t.
1927 2S3, ,lO0 of $50, ,643 200 was so called to an
swerth requirements of the law relating Il
the Sinking Fund, and $46,6S9, 300 for the
purpose of
REDUCING THE PUBLIC DEBT
BY application of part of the surplus IL
the Treasury that object. OF the bond
thus called, slO2, ,269, ,45O became subject
under such call, to redemption prior to No
vember 1886. The remainder. amounting
to $25, ,Ol3 $50, matured under the calls afte
that date, in addition to the amount subjec
to payment and cancellation prior to No
= alsn haf h