New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-23
MR. ELKINS ON THE TARIFF.
A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR PROTECTION
Urging TOTAL ABOLITION OF INTERNAL TAXES

The Offices Of S. B. Elkns who as meihpcr Vi 'ho
Republican National Executive Commute was ico's
nized as a principal manager OF the csmPa's" %
1854 ara I'm Cyrus w. Fieids Washington 3uiiding al
ths foot of broadway. They on the nhth noor
In tho ccIrer thai cverooS tho b'Ue'y in' VIZ
everchanging panorama Of New-York Bay ana haroor
and the mouth of the Hudson River with 'no s"o"
c,as bpls 81 New-Jerscy as a background Hero ne
manages the extensive railroad ana mining intoresls
with which he is connected and in which no has ac
cuupiatcd n large fortune. Here he is sought by
politicians, wire-pullers and statesm n HIS homc
is I'm Fifty ighthst., whore he has library IN whch
the works political economy, labor and finance arc
numerous and well-thumbed Mr. Elkins has been
most widely known as a political manager-a manipu-
Iator of men. He is more than that college Bred
nj student who has devoted many OF the best
hours OF his life TO tho problems OF government and
humanity. His address at tho University OF MISSOURI
three years ago the labor question gave the public
the first glimpse OF this side of his werounded char
acter and marked him as one Of the advanced thinkers
of the day An Interview herewith appended indicates
that Mr.. Elkins has also closely studied the tariff
question. In some respects his opinions differ from
those recently expressed by Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Elkns
was found the other day I'm his Office, whore the fol-
lowing conversation took place:
THE PROBLEM OF REDUCING THE SURPLUS.
Z" Have you given the subject of reducing the sur
Plus in the Treasury and preventing its accumulation
Ia tho future much attentiOnl7
"Yes, have. l don't think, however, can add
anything the subject
What conclusions have you reached?'
The result OF my thought and study on tho sub
1ect leads mo to believe that the Internal Revenue
should be abolished entirely. This would reduce
taxes about 500 100000 per annum save the expense
of their collection, abont 100000, and dispense with
the services of 1000 clerks and officers. have been
in favor Of this for ten years The internal tax is
tax, which has been invoked except In case
OF emergency when the emergency has passed away
the tax has been abolished II Objectionable and has
always boon regarded odious and nquIsItoria and
against the spirit of free Institutions. Nearly
quarter OF century has passed since the war. Tho
question is, not how to raise money, but how to
prevent its accumulation in the Treasury. Tho Gov
ernmont does not need tho Internal Revenue tax.
The only for it were the necessities of the
Government. These necessities furnished the only
foundation In law for imposing it,"
A CHANGE THAT AFFECTS FEW WAGE FARMERS
How do you reconcile taking the tax of whishey,
alcohol and spirits and leaving customs duties on
clothing and other necessarles Of life7"
in Now-York City, over 10000 persons are en-
ployed In manufacturing clothing From all reports
the wages paid low, especially to women. TAX
ing of tho Government tax on whishey would throw
out Of employment Taking 1t of clothing
would, In order to wages padin Europe. reduce
to tho starvation limit the wages Of 10000 persons
In this city alone IL not destroy their Of live
Ilrood and ruin those dependen: upon them The
price of cheap clothing then would be want and tears.
We better afford to pay present prices. The Cow
spirits, the only reason for imposing 1t is that by
doing II may to restrict reduce their man
ufacture and sale This is a police power, however,
and docs not belong to the General Government. but
TO tho States. The restriction prohibition of the
sale and manufacture Of wblSkey, spirits and alcohol
Is a state and Federal power. This is the rule
laid down IN the recent decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States by Justice Harlan, In the Kansas
case. Under the Constitution, the general Govern
has power to enter into the business of look
ing after tho morals of the people
THE STATES MUST LEVY WHISKEY TAXES.
The taking oft the tax by tho general Govern
ment does not mean free whskey nor does II mean
THAI whskey, alcohol spirits Will escape taxation.
On the contrary 1t makes the way clearer for tho
States to deal with the question and Impose State
taxation. The States need the taxes whskey.
If the people Of the States could levy and collect the
tax imposed by the general Government on
whskey and appropriate It to pay expenses this would
enable them to that extent TO reduce State taxation
What tho people need is relief from the burdens of
State county and municipal taxes. Indirect or Gus
toms is not burdenSome Therefore, the
taxing OFF Of the tax by the general Govern
ment would indirectly aid the people OF the
States the payment of ali other taxes in Illinois
the license fee for selling liquor has been raised to
las increased from 100000 TO s4,oo0,0vo and tho
number OF saloons has been reduced about oneh ,
Government is recognition Of the right to man.
advanced thought and to the best Temperance element
Of the country. This element favors abolishins the
Don't you think there should be some re-adjust-
This is an Indefinite question; but, in a general
way, think there should be. would favor placing
on the free list everything substantially decided In
would make the duty on tin.plate two and one half
tircy. 1t is said duty of two and one half cents
6 bound on T0gd ESS len to
1887 to S233, 100000, would still increase it. If
after this the revenue should continue too abundant
] would increase the duties all articles manufac-
,ured and raw materials produced in this country l
grease duties, and to decrease, the revenue Is
to increase duties duty may be prohIbitoly and
not Increase tho cost of the article on which 1t Is
FREE RAW MATERIALS NO RELIEF
Don't you think il raw materials put
the free list It would stimulate our manufacturing
interests 2"
at is a question what materials Coal
and iron materials in the ground; but
when the labor is put them to get them
out Of the ground and at the mouth Of the mines.
think they to be materials and nearly
approach manufactured articles Wool on the sleeps
back may DO material. but when cut off. washed
and baed ready for market it becomes manufactured
article. Putting what is Called raw materials on
about 1000 600 1t would probably stimulate and
favor tho manufacturing Int ess on the seaboard,
great water ways: but as against this the dis
elimination would DO so great against the inland
factories that 1t would result in their destruction
The inland manufacturing establishments would have
pay the freight from tho seabOard raw
materials to their respective localities. and in case
OF a VI Gwen nso HllcS, thlo "O"iu
amount, according to the rate of freight. to from
S. 90 to SO per ton This would be In the nature
of a the Inland manufacturer. while the fac
tories the sraboard and water ways would pay
nothing This would be taxing the inland factories
out existence for tho benefit of those on the sea
board. In sense would such policy be national;
It would local and in the interest Of cert ain sec
lions. But the question becomes even more serious
II raw materials TO come In free OF duty, TO that
extent they dlspIace tho raw materials pro-
duoed this country. This would lead 10 throwing out
OF employment many thousands OF coal and iron ore
miners and largely reducing wool and other pro
ductlons In tho country OF tho 2.4OO counties IN
the United States. all but 36 arc engaged In sheep
huSbandry.
PROTECTION GAINING GROUND ABROAD
I'm Notably