Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-22


thrown ont Of employment what caree
he if the great agricultural masses OF TN
north were IMPOVERISHED because thel
could find no sale for their products IL
this country? What cared ne Tor TIT
mortgages upon the farms. the closing ou
under the sheriff 8 hammer of homes ant
homesteadss His bankers and broker:
could buy them with the money he would
furnish them from the great treasury hi
Controlled. What cared he if the looms
and spipdles and shops were compelled tt
stop humminQ, to become cold and Il
close ups This would give England
chance to market her products, and wouic
make him popular with the dukes ano
princes of English aristocracy.
Yes. the tariff was selected. 1t had ere
ated a notification rebellion In Jackson
time: it was unpopular in the south; the
formation of every Democratic trust couiu
be charged up to il; strikes, drouth, chlhch
bugs, grasshoppers and every disaster coulu
he charged to its account. True. the Dem
ocratic party was not united on Tree traue,
hut the south controls the party, and WIZ
it as his ally, he could crush out the tarlii
Democrats of the north. This was the SUD-
iect selected. and the line of policy soon
began to be developed. The first step was
To ignore the law of 81, and refuse to pur-
chase any more bonds. Then the surplus
began TO pile up at the rate of five and ten
millions a month; fifty millions; sixty
millions; eighty millions; one hundred
millions: one hundred and twenty-five
millions, piling up In the treasury vaults,
taken from the circulating medium OF the
country. taken from the avenues OF busl-
ness. Soon the effects of this contraction
began to be apparent. Business became
stapnant: failures on every hand; strikes
Increased: communism fourished; dyna-
mite shrieked; financial panic was i'm
bending. Then came the meeting OF the
Fiftieth congress and the great free trade
message of the president, heraldec by the
speech of Speaker Carlisle, was given to
the world.
Sneaker Carlisle on the 9th day of De-
cember. 1887. upon taking his place as
sneaker for the Third consecutive congress
said:
"Gentlemen. there has scarcely ever
been a time in our history when the con-
tinued prosperity Of the country depended
so largely upon legislation in congress as
now for the reason that the dangers when
at this time threatened the commercial
and industrial interests of the people are
the direct results of laws which congress
alone can modify or repeal. Neither the
executive department of the general gov
eminent nor the local authorities OF The
several states can deal effectively with the
situation which now confronts US. w hat
ever is done must be done here anu II
nothing Is done the responsibility must
rest here.
1t must be evident to every one who has
taken even partial view of public affairs
that the time has now come when revls-
ion of our revenue laws and reduction OF
taxation are absolutely necessary III order
t. preyent a large and dangerous accumu-
lation OF money in the treasury. Whet her
this ought or ought not TO have been done
heretofore is question which 1t would be
II ,eless now to discuss. 1t is sufficient for
lis to know that the financial condition OF
the government and the private business
of the people alike demanded the prompt
consideration of these subjects and a
speedy enactment of some substantial
measure of relief.
The president in his message to which l
have alluded and which he delivered TO
congress on che 18th of December, 1887,
said:
You are confronted at the threshold of
YOUR legislative duties with a condition
of the national financeswhich imperatively
demands immediate and careful consid-
GRAFTON.
1.-THE amount of money annually exact
ed through the operation of present laws,
from the industries and necessities of the
people, largely exceeds the sum necessary
to meet the expenses of the government
"Our scheme of taxation, by means of
which this needless surplus is taken from
the people and put into the public treasury,
consists of tariff or duty levied upon I'M
portations from abroad, and internal reve-
nue. taxes levied upon the consumption OF
tobacco and splrituous and malt liquors.
1t must be conceded that none of the
things subjected to internal revenue tax
alton by the consumers of these articles,
"a 70. he oil
TO bear the burden without hardship to
any portion Of the people"
1.-THE constitution provides that the
president shall, from time to time, give to
the congress Information of the state of
the union 1t has been the custom of the
executive. in compliance with this provis-
ion, to annually exhibit to the congress, at
the opening of its session, the general CON
dition of the country and to detail, with
some particularly, the operations of the
different executive departments. 1t
would be especially agreeable to follow
this course at the present time, and to call
attention to the valuable accomplishments
of these departments during the last fiscal
year. But am so much impressed with
the paramount Importance of the subject
10 which this communication has thus far
been devoted that / shall forego the addi-
ton of any other topics and only urge
upon your immediate consideration the
state of the union rs shown in the present
consideration of our treasury and our gem
eral fiscal situation, upon which every
Element OF our safety and prosperity de
Ponds"
If these alarmiSts were sincere in their
advice and notes of warning it might nat
urally be expected speedy attempt would
be made by the president, the speaker and
their party in power TO reduce this surplus
in the treasury by applying it on the in
debtedneSs of the government, and thus
get it into circulation and revise the tariff
so as to stop the flow of more money into
the treasury than was needed. Here was
q good working Democratic majority in
the house, and that body alone could insti-
tute such legislation. The senate of the
United States could do nothing under the
institution until some measure was passed
and sent TO II by the house
Let us appeal to the Record and see
what remarkable haste was made.
The Elfteth congress met on the 9Th of
December, 1887. and on that day the speak
er was elected and swornin. The commit
tees of the house were not appointed for
thirty-one days-on the 9th of January.
lsSS | have already shown that no action
WAS taken in the house in regard to the
surplus until March !. Now, how was il
with the tariff bill? That was not re-
ported TO the house until April Il, 1855,
although
THE COUNTRY WAS THREATENED
with financial panic. All business inter
sstS were stagnated. Although there was
the utmost need of immediate action if
the president and the speaker were to be
believed. Yet no action WAS taken in rc-
gard TO the surplus until congress had
been In session three long months. and no
tariff bill was reported to the house until
four long months zone hundred and twenty
days had gone 10y. But" some one saws
the Republicans may retard actions" Not
30; the committee on WAYS and means wa,
appointed by the speaker He a0no;pro3