Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-07-17
RANDALL's TART r BILL.
The Measure of the Pennsylvania Pro
tecti0nist Defeated

INC McdSure Oh inc T00n0ylv8010 FRO
tectionist Defeated.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jelly 11.-Rspresenta.
tive Morrison's report on the Randall tariff
bill, says that the bill proposes to remove
all internal taxes on tobacco, snuff and CT
report, to $28, 000, 600; on apple, peach and
grape brandy, to 81, 1901 900; on spirits for
nae in arts, variously estimated at from ST.
000, 600 to $15, O00, 900, and believed to be ct
least SIC, GOO, 600, making in the aggregate
of internal revenue taxes to be removed,
$30, 4O0, 600. In an appendix of estimates
submitted with the bill, as part of it, the
reduction of revenue from customs on tariff
to be affected by it, is estimated at $780,
reduction $4S, 700, 600. The enactment Of
the bill into law would leave the govern
ment 81, 0O0, 600 short of the sum necessary
to the administration of the government
and requirements of the public debt, au-
thorized by law, including debts incurred by
the payment of pensops already allowed,
the validity of which we may not question
and the payment of which is enjoined upon
us in the oath We have taken to support the
constitution. The committee therefore re-
port back the bill with the recommendation
that it do not pass. Apparently the bill ia
presented in the belief that a necessity ex-
listed for reduction, not of taxes. bat of
revenues, and that the desired end is reached
both through higher and lower taxes. EST
mates with tho bill are made on this arbi-
trary assumption and are entitled to no res
pect whatever. The report then proceeds to
consider the Randall bill 1t says the esti-
mated and intended effects of the bill are
believed to make plain the metho Is by
which taxation on the basis of Imports and
revenue receipt in 1885 would yield $14 Co.,
600 of revenue and be made to divert that
sum from public purpose to private gain.
The introduction of this bill would be con-
sidered the first avowed attempt in our leg
islative history to empty the treasury by the
use of taxing power. If this measure may
be supposed to have any purpose, relatin g to
the system of finance it points to direct tax
alton, for where internal revenue taxes are
taken off and custom house taxes laid
on so high that the people get the burden,
the monopolists the benefit and the treasury
nothing, new sources of supply will be inev-
table. The measure is not supposed
to foreshadow any such system or to
do more than indicate mind unlearned
in methods and unmindful of the q, 600, 900
of people who do something, some work
teen millions of these earn on an average
not much more than $500 q year, which Is
necessarily consumed in the means of sub
sistence, while substantial savings go to
other ends. Now We are overtaken by and
are in the midst Of our industrial paralysis,
q million workmen are idle for want Of
work to do, and capital in still greater pro-
portion than unemployed labor, lies
dead or unproduotive. Our hills and
mountains are full of mineral wealth, mil
lions of acres of productive lands wait for
the plow, homes for the homeless. Millions
are to be had for the taking. Favored with
plentiful harvests, blessed with health the
only plague which af1icts us Is idleness.
What We need is profitable employment.
There is an apparent puny effort in the bill
through increase of taxation to shut out
goods from abroad. that they may be made
at home. If this effort was 20 successful a.
to prevent the importation of all manufac-
lures, We would have direct taxation, and
three quarters of q million Of men yet un-
employed. Their profitable employment
amounts to nearly the difference by what is
peculiarly known as good and hard times.
The removal of the tobacco tax will furnish
no new employment, neither will its smoke
nor its juices turn a wheel, shaft or spindle.
Wool, hemp, salt and cheap food for toiling
men lie at the foundation Of the great sue
cessful industries. To free these from taxes
will cheaper production without lowering
the price OF labor, and our idle men may be
enabled to make something which may be
sold profitably abroad, with which we are
at home.