The Portland daily press., 1886-12-07

hllScel Ia n g OAS
expen ditures,
including build
tngS, Hight
houses and col
leeting the rev
enue. e........... 47,0Se. .6s3.04 54,72s, ,05G.21
For the current year to end June 30, 1887,
the ascertained receipts up to October 1, 1886,
with such receipts estimated for the remain
der OF the year, amOut to S356,OO0,O0O. The
expenditures aScertained and estimated for
the same period are S266, 100000, indicating
an anticipated surplus at the close of the
year Of S90,000O00
The total value Of the exports from the
United States to foreign countries during the
fiscal year is stated and compared with the
preceding year as follows
Foreign ending June 80, 1885. s665. .9G4 $50
Foreign ending June 80, 1SS6...... 72G, ,662, ,04B
Foreign merchandise 1886 .......... 1850 3Ol
Foreign merchandise 18S5.......... 1896 800
IO,d IO,d 1881. ...-...................... 42,94Zl9l
GOlu 1850: ........-....+...-...-.. o,417, ,592
SiNer iooe '''..'.'' '.'.'....'...... z951l ,zl9
Silver 1885 5........................... 33763,633
The value of some of our leading exports
during the last fiscal year, as compared with
the value Of the same for the year imme-
diately preceding, is here given, and furnish
es information both interesting and sugges-
tive:
For year ending For year ending
June, S0,1ss5. June, 80, 1886.
manufactnres. .s219,s45,57e ssls7oe,o4o
man1faetures' w. so,424,eos 247e7. .so5
Breadstufis s. 81 12S, ,s46, ,55S lGo,47o,s21
Our imports during the last fiscal year, as
compared with the previous year, were as
follows: 1886 $685., 1886 1856; 1885 $780,
5SO,053.so; silver, 1886, S17,s5O,3O7; 1885,
Sl6,550y627.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
In my last annual message to the Congress
attention was directed to the fact that the
revenues Of the government exceeded its
actual needs, and II was suggested that legis-
lative action should be taken to relieve the
people from the unnecessary burden of taxa
ti0n thus made apparent. In view Of the
pressing Importance Of the subject deem IL
my duty to again urge Its consideration
The income Of the government by its in
creased volume and through economies in its
collection is now more than ever in excess of
public necessities. The application Of the
surplus to the payment of such portions of
the public debt as Is now at our option, sub
ject to the extinguishment If continued at
the rate which has lately prevailed would
retire the class Of Indebtedness within less
than one year from this date. Thus a con-
tlnuatlOn OF our present revenue system
would result in the receipt of an annual in
come much greater than necessary to meet
government expenses, with no Indebtedness
upon which it could be applied We should
then be confronted with vast quantity OF
money, the circulating medium of the peO-
pie, boarded in the treasury when it should
be in their hands, or we should be drawn in
to wasteful public extravagance with all the
eorrupting national Generalization which
follows in its train. But it is not the simple
existence Of this surplus and its
threatened attendant evils, which fur
nish the strongest argument against our
present scale Of Federal taxation. Its worst
phase is the exactiOn Of such q surplus
through perversion of the relations between
the people and their government, and dan
gerous departure from the rules which limit
the right Of Federal taxation. Good govern
ment and especially the government OF which
every American citizen boasts, has forits OBJ
iects the protection of every person within
its care in the greatest liberty consistent with
the good order of society, and his perfect Sc.
curity in the enjoyment OF his earnings with
the least possible diminution for public needs.
When more Of the peoples substance is ex-
acted through the form Of taxation than is
necessary to the just obligation Of the gov
ernment and the expense of its economical
administration such exaction becomes ruth
less extortion and violation of the funda-
mental principles of free government The
indirect manner in which these exactions are
made has tendency to conceal their true
character and their extent But we have ar
rived at stage Of superfluous revenue which
has aroused the people to a realization of the
fact that the amount raised professedly for
the support of the government is paid by
them as absolutely, if added 10 the price OF
the things which supply their daily wants as
If it was paid at fixed periods into the hands
of the tax gatherer. Those who toll for daily
wages are beginning to understand that can
ital, though sometimes yaunting its import
ance and clamOring for the protection and
favor Of the government, Is dull and slug
gish till, touched by the magical hand Of
labor, it springs into activity, furnishing an
occasion for federal taxation and gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burden,
and the laboring man is thOughtfully inquir-
ing whether in these circumstances, and con-
sidering the tribute he constantly pays into
the public treasury as he supplies his daily
wants, he receives his fair share of advan-
tages
There is also suspicion abroad that the
surplus of our revenues indicates abnormal
and exceptional business profits, which, un-
der the system which produces such surplus
increase, without corresponding benefit to
the people at large, the vast aecumulations
Of few among our citizens whose fortunes
rivaling the wealth 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 en-
gagged, directly and Indirectly, in sunni wing
| the products of agriculture see that day by
| day, and as often as the daily wants Of their
households reenr, they are forced to pay ex-
| cessive and needless taxation, while Their
| products struggle in foreign markets with
| the competition of nations which, by allow
ing freer exchange of productions than
we permit, enable their people to sell for
| prices which distress the American farmer.
As every patriotic citizen rejoiees in the con-
stantly increasing pride Of our people in
| American citizenship and in the glory Of our
national achievements and progress, a senti-
ment prevails that the leading strings use
| full to nation in its infancy may we'll
| be to great extent discarded in the present
| stage of American ingenuity, courage and
| fearless self reliance. And for the privilege
| OF indulging this sentiment with true Amer
| ican enthusiasm cur citizens are quite will
| ing to forego an idle surplus in the public
treasury. And all the people know that the
| average rate of Federal exaction upon inn
| ports to-day in time of peace Is but little
| less, while upon some articles Of necessary
| consumption 1t Is actually more than was
| imposed by the griev0us burden, willingly
borne, at time when the government need
ed millions to maintain by war the safety
| and integrity Of the Union. 1t has been the
| policy OF the government to collect the prin-
cipal part OF its revenues by tax upon inn
| ports and no change in this policy is deslr-
able. But the present condition Of affairs
| constrains our people Ito demandthat by are
| vision OF our revenue laws the receipts of the
| government shall be reduced to the necessary
expense Of its economical administration
and this demand should be recognized ant
| Obeyed by the peoples representatives in
| the legislative branch of the government. Ii
readjusting the burdens of federal taxa tior
a sound public policy requires that such O
| ouI Cillltus as nave DUllI up large ana I'M
| pOrtant Industries under present condition:
should not be suddenly and to their injury
deprived of advantages to which they hav,
adapted their business, but if the public
good requires 1t they should be content will
such consideration as shall deal fairly ant
cautiously with their interests, while thu
just demand of the people for relief from
needless taxation is honestly answered. A
| reasonable and timely submission to such
demand should certainly be possible withou
disastrous shocks to any interest and
| cheerful concession sometimes averts abrup
needless action, often the outgrOwth Of i'm
patience and DELAYED justice. Due regar,
should be also accorded in any proposed re
adjustment to the interests of American
labor, so far as they are involved. We con
gratulate ourselves that there Is among us N
lab0ring class fixed within unyieldin
bounds and doomed under all conditions {
the lnexOrable fate of daily toll. We recog
niZe in labor chief factor in the wealth 0
the republic, and we treat those who have
in their keeping as citizens entitled to tn
most careful regard and thoughtful atteH
tion. This regard and attention should b
awarded them, not only because labor IS tn
capital of our workingmen, justly entitle
to its share of government favor, but fo
the further and not less important reaso
that the lab0ring man, surrounded by hi
family in his humble home, as a consumer
vitality interested in all that cheapens th
cost of living and enables him to brin
within his domestic circle additional CON
forts and advantages. This relation of tn
workingman to the national laws of tn