Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-10

| n pcrvoraiun OF the relations between the pc
pnrturo from the rules which limit the right
| Federal taxation. Good government, NJ
especially tho government of which ovei
| American citizen boasts, has for its objects u
the, protection Of every person within It's car
| In tho greatest liberty consistent with the goc
order OF society and his perfect security in II
| enjoyment OF his earnings with the least poss
more OF the peoples substance is cxactC
through the form OF taxation than Is neccssnr
ovOnHn, to meet the lust oSgatt,Sns Of u
administration, such action becomes rlthlc.
cxtortion and a violation OF the iundamenti
principles OF FREQ government. Tho indlrc'
manner In which these oxactions arc made Ia
n tendency TO conceal their true character an
their extent. But wo have arrived NJ stage
supcrhuous revenue which has aroused tn
people to u realization Of the fact that IN
amount raised profcssedly for the support {
the government, Is paid by them as absoutel,
4 added TO the prico OF things which suppl
periods into the hand OF tho tax guthcrcr.
Those who toll for daily wages are begnnln
TO understand that capital, though sometime
vaunting It's Importance and claiming tho pre-
oction and favor Of the government, Is dun an
sluggish, TIL, touched by the magical hand OF ID
Dor, 1t springs into activity furnishing an occG
sion for Federal taxation md gaining the valu
which enables IL to bear Its burden. And tn
nboring man is thoughtfully inquiring whether
In these circumstances, and considering tn
tribute ho constantly phys, into the publ
4
ceiyes his fair share OF advantages.
There is also n suspicion abroad that the sur
plus OF our revenues indicates abnormal an
exceptional business profits which. under tn
system which produces such surplus increase
without corresponding benefit to tho people q
large the vast accumulation of u few among on
citizens, whose fortunes revealing the wealth o
the most favored In nnti.democratic nations, ar
not the natural growth OF n steady, plain an,
industrious republic. Our farmers, too, anl
those engaged In supplying the products OF ngri
ht na nf al
the daily wants OF their households rccur, the!
are forced to pay excessive and needless taxa
tion, while their products struggle in foreigi
markets with the competition of nations which
by allowing frccr exchange of productions
than we permit, enable their people to sell fo
prices which distress the American farmer.
As every patriotic citizen retoices in the con
stantly increasing pride OF our people In Amerl
can citizenship and in the glory OF our nationa
achievements and progress, u sentiment prevail.
that the leading strings, useful to nation In 1t.
in the present state of American ingenuity
courage and fcurless selfreliance. And for tn,
privilege OF indulging this sentiment with tru,
American enthusiasm our citizens are quit,
willing TO forcgo an idlo surplus in the public
treasury.
And all the people know that the average rate
OF Federal taxation upon imports Is today III
time of peace, but little less, while upon some
articles OF necessary consumption II is actually
more, than was imposed by the grevious burden
willingly borne at n time when the government
needed millions to maintain, by war; the safety
and integrity OF the Union.
II has been the policy OF the government to
collect the principal part Of its resources by d
tax upon imports; and no change IN this policy
is desirable. But the present condition oi
affairs constrains our people to demand that by
a revision OF our revenue laws the receipts OF
the government shall be reduced to the ncccs
sary expense of It's economical administration
and this demand should be recognized und
obeyed by the peoples representatives in the
legislative branch OF the government.
In rCnUluStinu the burdens of Federal tnyn
tion sound public policy requires that such Of
our citizens as have built up large and impor
not bo suddenly and to their injury, deprived OF
advantages to which they have adapted their
business: but II the public good requires 1t, they
should be content with such consideration rs
shall deal fairly and cautiously with these de
mands OF the people for relief from needless
taxation is honestly answered. A reasonable
and timely submission to such u demand should
certainly be possible without disastrous shock
to any interest and n cheerful concession some.
times avcrts abrupt action, often the outgrowth
of imputience and delayed Justice.
Due regard should be also accorded In any
proposed readiustment TO the interests OF
American labor, so far as they are involved. We
congratulate ourselves that there is among us
no laboring class fixed within unyielding bounds
and doomed, under NIL condititls TO the mex
orable fate of daily toll. We recognize in labor
n chief factor In the wealth OF the republic and
we treat those who have 1t 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 people, justly en-
titled to It's share of government favor, but fol
the further and not less important reason that
the laboring man, surrounded by his family In
his humble home, is vitality interested in ali
that cheapons the cost OF living and enables him
to bring within his domestic circle additional
comforts.
This relation of the workingman to the reve
nue. laws and the manner in which IL palpably
influences the question OF wages should not be
forgotten In the Iustiiiable prominence given to
the proper maintenance Of the supply and pro
lection of well paid lnbor. And these consider.
ations suggest such an arrangement OF govern
ment revenues as shall reduce the expense OF
living, while 1t does not curtail the opportunity
for work, nor reduce the compensation o.
American labor and injurously effect its condi
tion and the dignified place it holds in the esti
nation of our people. But our farmers ant
agriculturists, those who produce from the soil
the things consumed by all, are perhaps more
plainly concerned than any other of our citizens
in Just and careful system of general taxation
Those actually engaged in and more remotely
connected with this kind ofwork, number nearly
one-half of our population. None labor harder
or more continuously than they. No enactnents
tighten their hours, no interposition of the gov
ernment enhances the value of their products
And yet for many of the neccssarics and com
forts of life, which the most scrupulous economy
enables them to bring into their homes, and fol
their implements OF husbandry, they are obliged
to pay price largely increased by an unnatural
profit which. by the exaction of the government
is given TO the more avoredmanufacturer.
recommend that, keeping in view all these
considerations, the increasing surplus OF ma
tional income annually accommodating, be re
leased to the people by an amendment to oui
revenue laws which shall cheaper The price o
the necessaries of life and give freer entrance tC
such imported materials, as by American labor
may be manufactured into marketable cOmmo
dities.
Nothing can be accomplished, however, in the
direction OF this much needed reform unless the
subject Is approached in n patriotic spirit OF
devotion to the interests of the entire country
and with n willingness to yield something for
the public good.
While on the subject OF tariff and revenue the
President especially directs the attention OF
Congress to the recommendations of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury touching the simplihcation
of the laws relating to the collection OF rev
enues. Less space is devoted to the silver
laestion this year than last, but his opposition
TO compulsory coinage is no less pronounced.
The difference In the bullion price OF the stan
hard dollar-9iJ. cents, when first coined, and
its bullion value "a cents-on the Both of last
November, certainly does not indicate, he says,
that compulsory coinage by the government en-
hances the price of that commodity or secures
in its value.
During the fiscal year ended June 30 1895,
here were coined under the compulsory silver
,oinage act OF 1873, 29S3s,9O silver dollars and
The cost OF the silver used in such coinage was
's3, ,+is 9600l There had been coined up to the
,lose OF the previous fiscal year under the pro
Visions OF the law 2O3, ,SS2 55i silver dollars, and
IN the first day OF December, 1885, the total
AMOUNT of such coinage was s2i713i,5i0. The
iirector OF the mint reports that at the time OF
he passage OF the law of 1873, directing this
coinage, the intrinsic value of the dollars
hus coined was 9ii4 cents each, and that on the
list day Of July, 1886, the price of silver reached
he lowest stage ever known, so that the In
rinsic or bullion price of our standard silver
iOllar at that date. was less than ~ cents. The
price of silver on the Both day of November last
vas such as to make the dollars intrnsically
worth 7S cents each. These differences in value
" the coins represent the fluctuations in the
,rce OF silver, and they certainly do not indicate
hat compulsory coinage by the Government en-
iances the price OF that commodity or secures
In its value.
Every fair and legal effort has been made by
he Treasury Department to distribute this cur
ency among the people. The withdrawal of
United States treasury notes of small denom-
nations and the issuing OF small silver certif-
ates have been resortcd to In the endeavor to
accomplish this result in obedience to the will
md sentiments of the representatives OF the
,eople in the Congress. On the eth day OF No
'embcr, 1896, the people held OF these coins, or
certificates representing them, the nominal sum
II GG,SI3,0ii and we still had S0,i6,3i5 In the
MS against about Sli2, ,s0I 0bj.20 in the
lands OF the people and S12 ,3IG remaining In
he treasury one year ago. The director of the
mint again urges the necessity of more vault
Dom for the purpose of storing these silver
lollarS, which are now needed for circulation by
he people.
He has seen no reason to change the views ex-
PRESSED year ago on the subject of compulsory
'oinage and again urges its suspension on all
he grounds contained IN his former recommeda-
ion rpInfOrrpl the n our iynlI az