Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-22

as to try to prejudice them against Pro-
The Finances OF the Government under
Republican Administration have been
Most Ably. Honestly and Economi.
cally Conducted.
The turning of the rascals out, and the e1-
animation of the books proved by unimpeach-
able testimony the perfection of Republican
methods and the honesty of Republican adj
ministration. Senator Allison, chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations in the SEN
ate, only few days since, demonstrated by
the records that the expense of Mr.. Cleve-
lands four years of administration will e1-
coed those of the preceding administration
by the enormous sum of S95, 900, 900, or
nearly $24 100000 per annum. In other
words, Democratic administration coming to
power, with all its promises of economy and
reform, costs the people $27.40 per hour
more than the Republican administration
The Republicans may at least be trusted to
manage surplus, without endangering in
dustral interests.
Senator Sherman in a speech in the Sen
ate, January 4, 1888, in reply to the Presi-
dents message, says; "A larger surplus rev.
enue has frequently from time to time been
wisely dealt with by Republican adminstra-
tons. 1t has either been applied by the ex-
ecutive authorities to the payment of the
f,tIhl dab ,ta -
prevented by Congress, from time to time,
by the reduction or repeal of taxes. In the
administration of each of MIR. Cleveland's
predecessors since the close of the war this
simple remedy has been applied without neg
lecting other matters or raising a cry of
alarm. All these reductions of taxes have
been made BY the Republican party. The
Democratic party has had the control of the
House of Representatives since the success
of the Mississippi plan, except for two years,
and during that time never originated or pro-
posed reduction of taxes. The only Re-
publican Congress for ten years did, by the
act approved by President Arthur on the Sd
of March, 1888, largely reduced both inter-
ual taxes and custom duties to meet the very
difficulty which so alarms the President
Now, in the third year of his administration,
he tells you that on the LIST of June, 1885,
within three months after he took the oath of
office, there was surplus of SIS zoo, 900,
and that it increased at the rate of over a
million week Why did he not then follow
the examples of his predecessors by using the
powers conferred upon the Secretary of the
Treasury to apply this surplus to the reduc-
although outstanding bonds were redeemable
at pleasure, his administration changed the
form of the debt statement, so as to conceal
nearly thirty millions of money as unavailing
assets, and swelled the surplus for nearly
year, until friend and foe alike cried out
against it.
On the 18th day of July, 1886. called the
attention of the Senate to the precise diff
Guilty and danger of the accruing surplus
revenue and the readiness of the majority of
the Senate to provide for the reduction of
taxes and application of the surplus. But
for the action of the President and his adj
ministration including the Democratic ma
jority in the House of Representatives, the
taxes would then have been reduced without
endangering domestic industries.
do not attribute to either of these great
officers the intent to produce these results
Again, sir, agree, as stated by the Pres
ident that unnecessary and extravagant ap-
preparations ought not to be made to avoid
surplus of revenue. No money should be
collected from the people except to meet the
requirements of the Government properly and
economically administered. The true remedy
is in the reduction of revenue; but this re-
duction should be made so as to give the
greatest relief to the people of the United
States.
The highest surplus revenue estimated by
the President is $50, 600, 900 a year And
even this estimate is based upon a continu-
ance of the narrow policy of neglect of the
defences of the country, of the improve
ments of our rivers and harbors, of our Just
obligations to Union soldiers, of growing H.
literacy in hearty half the States, and the in
creasing burdens of local taxation in all the
States
To show that the Republican party is not
especially fond of taxation, the following is
quoted from Mr.. Mckinley: 1.-The Demo-
cratic party since 1886, though in control of
the House of Representatives eleven years at
that time, has reduced taxation only little
over Sc ,000, 900, while in the eleven years Of
Republican control, We reduced taxation
more than 1862 200, 600"