New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-30
WARNER MILLER'S VIEWS.
AMERICA NEEDS A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF Mr.. CLEvRLANp's MES
s,nr-r.p1.yNfxG WHAT THE SURPLUS MEANS

larre and heavy figure may be seen In the hotel cor
riders where he stands weghtly and squaroy on bis
feet and with hand In his pocket and the other
full of papers and letters throws hts broad chest ont
and his head back while he slowly discusses public
and private topics Mr.. Miller Is deliberate of speech
and thoughtful Of expression He was a college pro-
fsssor in his early days, and the habit of the class
room remains with him. AS the pioneer In the man.
ufacture Of wood pulp paper Of the protected in
dusres Of this country, he has had ample opportunity
TO study the direct benefits of protective tariff AS
q member Of the Senate Finance Committee for four
years he the subcommittee to investigate the
customs duties and service, by which no became IN
timatey acquainted with all its workings.
TRIBUNE reporter who sought him ont on satur-
day ask his views on the tariff question, found him
seated at table covered with evidences OF extensive
spondence. His partners arc taking Vacatioiis
this winter and all the business devolves on MN AT
his elbow were books on political economy SOCIALISM,
the tariff, art and history. Speaking ABOUT 'ic aD
sorbing topic OF the day. he said
THE MUCH DISCUSSED SURPLUS
"The principal reason given by Free Traders ior
removing the present tariff is that We have surpns
in the Treasury and are collecting more money IMAM
need for the expenses of the Government IL Dy
no means follows that because We have SURPLUS we
should abolish the by which that surplus was
created, and a fact have no surplus as long as
have debt to pay. The direct question nvo'Veu
-
present system customs taxation than it would be
~ that system we're abolished. That Is the Whole
tariff question in nutshell and practically answers
itself because there Is man In the country SO X
norant that he doesn't know that the condition OF the
people OF this country Is immeasurcably superior 10
the condition of people In any other country.
at is charged by the Free Traders that the present
system of taxation is tariff, and that as twenty
five years have passed away since the FAR 1t should be
abolis he'd as no longer necessary This Is faacons
reasoning because Of the fact that taxation that was
made necessary by the War has not yet ceased to be
necessary. We sti have about 81. 200 100000 or war
debt to pay. the interest which alone amounts To
about S50,000,000 year The annual payments lor
pensions amount $3.50 900 per annum Tho CON
tributions to the sinking fund amount to some
$50 900 900 or $40 100000 more Thus there are cx
penses of Government the present time directly at
ributable to the War amounting to over Sl0oooo'OOo
per annpm So that the that the tariff should be
abolished because the is over falls TO the ground
If any system of taxation may DC called war tax
Is the Internal Revenue system which In all history
has only been levied in times of until the in
debtedness incurred for has been paid off,"
HOW To REDUCE THE TARIFF.
But is there no need for a reduction of the reve
nue?"
at is admitted on all hands that collecting
more money than need for the expenses of gov
eminent. including the expenses have already named
for the interest on the debt. for pensions and
for contributions to the sinking fund The only point
of dispute Is how to reduce the tariff and how much
shall reduce It
How much would you reduce 1t p
During the fiscal year. according to President
CeveIand's message the surplus revenue amounted to
little over $50 600 600 According to the estimates
Of his officers II Is stated that the present fiscal year
viii show a surplus equal to exceeding 800 100000
1t would hardly be wise to reduce the tarf to the
entire amount OF the surplus for the reason that II
the business NJ the country should fall off or If for any
other reason we should have hard times there would
longer be surplus, but instead there would be
deficit. The should not be reduced more than
81 900 600 to S85.O00.000 al the utmost
President Cleveland suggests that because there
Is no complaint to the Internal Revenue system OF
taxation should be left as Is. do not agree with
him. If his plan adopted the revenue reduction
would be made only On the customs duty The reve-
nue. received from the customs duties last year
amounted to 1904 OO0. 00O If reduction of S75ooo,-
600 or 100000 be made from that source II will
be seen that the whole Protective Tariff system would
be broken down. Wisdom would seem to dictate
that the decrease In the revenue should be made both
in tho customs and in the Internal Revenue system.
"If the Internal Revenue tax on leaf tobacco and
spirits for mechanical arts and medicinal purposes
should be abolished at least one half of the surplus
would be disposed Of If the consumers of leaf to-
bacco are not complaining about the tax on II, the
farmers who grow tobacco complaining, and very
bitterly a tax that Is levied their product when
there is need of 1t. Many of our manufacturers
would be aided and benefited If the tax alcohol
which they use In their various processes re-
moved Tho tariff should be carefully revised by the
people in sympathy with It and brought into harmony
with the present condition of the country. II the
tariff were entirely removed or reduced on
the bounty plan people would get cheaper sugar
and the producer would not be injured. and should
be found that bounty gwen to producers was not a
paying nothing out of the Treasury and the people
would of the necessities of life at much
lower than they paying"
PROJECTING YOUNG INDUSTRIES.
How about infant industries needing prOtection?"
The industries of this country longer in
FAINT inducares. The President in his message in
nated that the manufacturers still claiming that
heir industries are in an infantle condition and
have the aid of Government protection. This is not
he all. Only Free Traders who desire to
'dlcule and break down tariff system talk about
,ur infant Industries. The fact is that the value of
)ur manufactures is greater than that of England
my other country. Our manufacturers not now |
asking p election the ground that their Industries
ire undeveloped. Some few products yet |
ully developed, for instance, some high grades OF |
'otton goods and some wooden goods. But regards
Ire vast majority of the industrial products Of the
world the equal Of any other country. The
easOn that the cost Of manufacturing here is much
more than Is in Europe is almost entirely due to
ugh rate of wages. One need not stop to argue
Illustrate this point because President Cleveland al
nits It In his message
what about free raw materall"
"That Is another suggestion of tho Presidents
MESSAGE, that material should be admitted free of
uty to enable manufacturers to produce goods here
IS cheaply they do in Europe lie says that they
Oud then enter the markets Of the world instead OF
eing confined 10 home markets. This Is the stock
rgument of all Free Traders. There is absolutely
Othing in IT, The three principal factors in the prob
EN- of manufacturing are, fist. material second
abOr third, cost of capital. Now, II had
rec material. that is, If mannfaL turers
ured their material at the price as the man
of England any other country of Europe
ge would not be able to into competition with
hem In tho markets of the world so long as We con
inped to the present rate Of wages and so long
Europe. ~ " - "
wages Is the principal factor In manufacturing
n many Industries II Is equal to so and "a ner cent
d the entire cost Of production If 1t costs more fo
produce iron and steel In this country tban,ehroad n