The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-01-11

fortune of a surplus revenue he asked to what
purpose the surplus should be applied and ex-
pressed his belief that the patriotism of the
people would prefer the continuance of the inn
posts and the application of the money Ito the
great purposes OF the public education, roads,
rivers, and canals.
Gen Jackson, when he had the like good for
tune, had recommended the distribution OF the
surplus among the States, and bill for that
purpose, introduced by Mr.. Calhoun, had been
made a law. Larger SURPRISES had frequently
been dealt with wisely by Republican admins
trations. being either applied by the executive
authorities to the payment OF the public debt,
or its accumulation having been prevented by
ConGr rs from time to time by the reduction or
repeal of taxes. These simple remedies had
been applied in the administration of each of
Mr.. Clevelands predecessors since the close OF
the war without other matters being neglected
cry of alarm being raised All such re-
auctions of taxes had been made by the Re-
publican party.
The Democrats had now had control of the
House of Representatives since the success of
the mississippi plan" Except for two years.
and had not in that time originated or proposed
Congress in ten years had, by the act OF March,
1883, largely reduced both internal taxes and
customs duties 20 meet the very difficulty whic h
now 80 alarmed the President
Why had not the President followed the eX-
ample Of his predecessors by using the powers
conferred upon the Secretary OF the Treasury
and applying the surplus to the reduction of
tho public debtP Instead OF that, and though
outstanding bonds were redeemable at pleas
ure, his administration had changed the form
OF the debt statement so as to conceal nearly
thirty millions of money as unavailable assets.
and had swelled the surplus for nearly year
until friend and foe alike cried out against it.
IL the President regarded this growing sur
plus as q danger why had he not as soon as
possible brought his influence TO bear upon
Congress to provide for n reduction of taxation
And why had not Congress applied the remedy ?
The XLIXth Congress had lived it's two years
and diod. Mr.. Cleveland was then President
of the United States. The House OF Represen-
tatives contained large majority.of hispoliti-
cal friends. They alone had the initative-the
constitutional power to introduce n bill to re-
duce taxes. Why had not that been done? The
only answer was that n controlling majority of
the Democratic party would not allow bill TO
be reported unless it contained provisions
which lin the opinion of n majority of the mem
bers OF the Housed would greatly injure or de-
stroy domestic production, creating real dis
tress, and reduce wages.
II it had been the desire to reduce taxes with
out reducing American production, the task was
easy; but the enormous powers of the Speaker
of the House were used to prevent even the
presentation OF such BILL and in this the
Speaker had, it was understood, the hearty
sympathy and support OF the President and the
Secretary Of the Treasury.
He (hr. Sherman had called the attention of
the Senate on the 18th or July, 1886, to the pre-
else difficulty and danger of the situation, and
to the readiness of the majority of the Senate
to provide for the reduction of taxes and the APP
plcaton of the surplus, and il IL had not been for
the action of the President and his administra-
ton Including the Democratic majority in the
House of Representatives the taxes would then
have been reduced without endangering domes-
tic industries. Even without reduction OF
taxation the surplus revenue might have been
applied for great national objects but for the
vetoes of the President, for the failure Of the
Secretary of the Treasury to exercise plain dis
cretionary powers conferred upon him by law,
and for the failure of the Democratic House OF
Representatives to make appropriations for
some OF the highest national objects demanded
by the people.
The President had, on what he MIR. Sherman
regarded as q frivolous reason, refused his sig
nature to the river and harbor bill, which
would have appropriated more than 100
for necessary public works. and by his veto OF
the dependent pension bill he had withheld
from Union soldiers appropriations made for
their relief The House. too, had refused 70
provide for n system Of coast defenses, for a
proper increase and building up of the navy and
of the commercial marine, for postal commu.
nication with the South American States, and
for the encouragement and support OF schools
It had also neglected or refused to appropriate
for SA 90 900 OF deficiencies admitted to be due.
or TO pass the Senate bill for refundins to the
several States the direct tax levied ia 1862
Sli,Ot0.0OO.
Had these several appropriations sanctioned
| by tho Senate been made by the House md ap-
proved by the President, and had the residue OF
| the surplus been applied TO tho purchase OF the
public debt, the condition of the Treasury,
Witch now so alarmed the President, would
not have existed, the public debt would have
| been greatly reduced and improvements oil
Will importance TO American commerce would
Dc IN course OF construction.
The President has cast doubt upon the power
! of tho Secretary OF the Treasury to enter the
| market and purchase bonds. He spoke of IL rs
! "preteEse" or n "supposition.' But the second
| section Of the sundry civil bill Of March 3, 1881
gave the Secretary Of the Treasury power NJ
| any time TO apply the surplus, or 30 much of il
| as he might consider proper, II the purchase Of
/ redemption of United States bonds, such bonds
| to be cancelled and not 10 constitute part Of
| the sinking fund Tho law had been passed
| at his MIR. SherInan's request, while he was
| Secretary Of the Treasury TO meet the yer!
/ difficulty and 10 operate Mt any time. Under I
| the Secretary Of the Treasury ought to have
| applied the surplus from time 70 time to the
| pur, base redemption Of United states bonds
| Besides, IL the dangers from the surplus reve
i nde were so great and imminent as the Presi
/ dent said why had not the President convene,