The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1888-01-13
AN EARNEST APPEAL.
Ehs Last OmciaI Message of Arthur's Sec
rotary of the Treaanrv.

rotary of the Treasury.
So the question still presses: What
legislation is necessary to relieve the
people of unnecessary taxesP In the
recommendation of the President and
those of this department. and the ac-
ton of Congress, and in the expression
of public opinion, there has been sub
stantial concord as to how the needed
reduction of the revenue should be
brought about. 1t has been generally
conceded that the inland revenue taxes
except those upon spirits, fermented
liquors and upon the circulation of the
banks, might we'll be abolished.
But It was also conceded by all that it
was also conceded by all that a sub
stantial reduction should be made upon
nearly all importea articles subjected
TO duties.
To make start in the proposed re-
duction of revenue from imports the
Tariff Commission had been created,
In good faith it undertook the work.
In its report to Congress it said:
Early lin its deliberations the COM
mission became convinced that a sub
stantial reduction of the tariff duties is
demanded, not by a merg indiscrimi-
nate popular clamOr, but by the best
conservative opinion of the country, in
GLIDING that which has in former times
been most strenuous for the preserva-
ton of our National industrial defenses.
Such a reduction of the existing tariff
the commission regards not only as a
due recognition of public sentiment
and a measure of justice to consumers,
but one conducive to the general in
dustrial prosperity, and which, though
it may be temporarily announcement,
will be ultimately beneficial to the spe-
cial interests affected by such reduc-
item Again, the Tariff Commission
er says: Entertaining these views.
the commission has sought to pressnt
q scheme of tariff duties in which sub
stantial reductions should be the dis
tinguishing feature. The average re-
duction in rates, including that FROM
the enlargement of the free list and
the abolition of the duties on charges
and commissions, at which the COM
mission has aimed, is not less on the
average than twenty per cent, and it
is the opinion of the commission that
per cent" And again: ''It has been
the effort of the commission 30 make
the reduction apply to commodities of
necessary general consumption and to
diminish or withhold the reduction
upon commodities of high cost requir-
ing more labor, and which, being con-
sumed principally by the more we&tthy
classes, could bear higher duties, at
the same time supplying revenue and
encouraging the higher arts without
being oppressive to their operation. "
The chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Finance, in explanation of
/ the bill before the Senate last year,
/ which, after various amendments, be-
! came law, estimated at S45, 900, 600
/ the reduction Of the revenue which
would follow the changes in the tariff
| proposed thereby. These intentions
| and calculations have not been Yeri-
| fed.
The question recurs: Shall we now
seek again for that reduction which
was not attained, and is it now advis-
able to attempt a reduction of the rev.
enues for future years to arise from
duties on imports? There was general
agreement that a subs tantial reduction
of the tariff should be made The esti-
mates of the Tariff Commission and oil
the Senate committee show what was
the contemplated reduction. The &C.
tual results so far obtained indicate
that the reduction labored for has not
been effected by the new tariff act Ii
is to be considered, too, that the fail.
ure is not to be charged to the in.
crease of importation keeping up the
amount of customs revenue. The sta.
tistics of our foreign commerce show
that there has not been an increase
chargeable Herewith. AS to the prin.
ciples of reduction, if revision is prac
ticable, there seems to be little disa
greement. The reduction should be
made on articles entering into genera
consumption as nCcessaries-as sugar
mOIasses and the Iike-rather thar
upon luXuries; upon raw materia
rather than upon manufactured, will
due regard to the fostering of domes
tic industries and occupations, espe
cially those not fully established. Ii
the report of this department last yea,
the reduction as applied to the princi
pal classes of dutiable articles wa
considered somewhat in detail and
GdheTinq TO the tie10s there oppressed, {
repetition Of them as atl571eceSs0rg