St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-23
THE TARIFF.
A Statement Concerning the Questions at
Issue


prehensible middle to many otherwise
intelligent people. We do not remem
Der to have seen the question more
clearly stated than in a recent article
in the Congregationalist which is giveI
below =
What ought to be done with the tar
iff? This has been an increasingly
grave question for several years, and
since the publication of President
Clevelands message, at the assembling
of the present congress, public atten-
ton has been fixed upon it intently
1t will be one of the chief questions
and perhaps the only one of the first
Importance, during the coming presi-
Dental campaign. A clear idea OF
what it involves is therefore desirable
The actual state of things at present
is this. AS nation we are paying
much larger taxes than are needed
More than four thousand different arti-
cles are subject to duty. The existing
laws not only fill the national treasury
but also collect in it an enormous sur
plus, which is just so much money
withdrawn from the ordinary channels
of business. This surplus likewise is
increasing steadily and Swiftly. On
June 30, 1885, it was over than S17,-
$50, 900; on June 80, 1886, it had be-
come more than $40, 405, 900; on June
30, 1887, it had swollen to more $55,-
567 900; and on June 30, 1888, at the
present rate of increase, it will have
reached, including prior denominations,
the enormous amount of $4,000, 900.
The wastefulness of keeping such Il
sum locked up in idleness is apparent
at glance.
But this course is no longer wasteful
only. 1t has become positively and Sc
riously dangerous. There is not
enough money left in circulation
among the people for the proper and
safe transaction of ordinary business,
and already financial panic has been
threatened three or four times, and has
been averted with the utmost difficulty.
The government has come to the res
cue by redeeming it's three per cent.
bOnds-wllich were redeemable at it's
Option-and thus has afforded some re-
lief but-apart from the undesirable
ity of the interference of the United
States treasury in private business,
even for Il good purpOse-nO more of
these bonds now remain to be called
in. The purchase of its other bonds,
which are not yet due, of course in
wolves the payment of very high pre-
MUM, and the legality of such pur-
chases also is open to some suspicion.
Moreover, there is danger lest the
mere fact of such an enormous unused
surplus be made an excuse for the ex
cesses of the anarchists among us. 1t
is clear that some other remedy must
be found, and as soon as possible.
Several such remedies have been
each of which has warm adj
vocates. Some features seem to be
common to most of them, such as the
aim of reducing the amount to be rails
ed by taxation. Yet one suggestion
has been that, instead of reducing this
total amount, so much of it as is super
fiuous be divided proportionately
among the different states, and re-
turned to them. The clumsiness of
this method and the temptation to cor
ruptiOn afforded by it, very properly
have prevented its finding much favor.
it is agreed that the tariff
must be lowered, and, on this assump-
ton, one proposition has been to lower
it horizontally that is, instead of re-
lucing the cost of some articles, g. G.,
Of necessities, largely: and of others,
3. g., of luxuries, slightly, this scheme
would lower the cost of everything by
the same percentage. Naturally, this
is not popular, and little now is said
about it..
Another plan is to reduce the duties
upon imports, and to depend for funds
lpon the returns of the internal rev.
enue, i. e., upon the taxation of the
of tobacco, and of malt
md spirituous liquors. Many strong
y urge this method, and it is that
by President Cleveland
n his recent message. 1t meets with
much opposition, however. Some Oh
ect to it because they wish tobacco,
peer and liquors to be cheap. 1t has
,ven been insisted that these are ne
;essities of life. Others object to it be
;ause they do not wish the duties low
red upon manufactured imports. Our
now are able to charge |
or their own products as much as the |
,uyer would have to pay for similar
articles imported from abroad that is,
he cost here plus the duty, which |
emetimes affords an enormous profit. |
dany among them, also, say that to
educe the duties not only will lessen
heir profits, but will even drive them |
nut of business. Yet more than a few
ately have changed their minds, and
low insist that they should do better
han they are doing now if their raw
could enter this country free
# duty, because the lower prices of
Il. 2 ,a 10
nand. There is opposition also from
many workingmen. They fear that
uless the manufacturers can be assur-
d their large profits, the wages of la
'Or will be cut down. But, on the
ther hand, it is claimed that, even if
wages are lower in amount, the prices
f all necessities of life also must fall
apidly and permanently, so that a
ian will be able to buy more with his
over wages than he can now buy with
is high wages.
Among the various other PROPOSE
ons made, that of chief significance
1vOlves the payment of subsidies in
ONE cases. For instance, the cheap
ming of sugar by the removal of the
uty is recommended, but it is also
to grant the sugac manufac-
lrers a government bounty, nearly,
r quite, equal to the protection which
ley now receive. This is open to the
bjectiOn that all other manufacturers,
'om whose special products the duties
yer should he withdrawn, would at
nee, and with equal justice, demand
Ibsidies. We should pay less for our
agar and other manufactured goods,
ut should be obliged to pay increased
lxes so that the government might
ave the money necessary for the sub
dies. That is, we should take out of
ne pocket just as much as we had put
ito the other.