The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-09-11

| Is suggested SuCn surplus alone repre-
sents taxation aggregating more than
SlOS,OO0 dollars IN country containing
$4,000 inhabitants. Taxation has always
been feature of organized government
hardest to reconcile with the peoples idea
of freedom and happiness when pre-
| sented IN a direct way. Nothing will
arouse popular discomfort more quickly
than unjust and unnecessary taxation.
Our farmers, merchants, laborers and
| all our citizens closely scan the slightest
increase in taxes assessed ON their land
and other property and demand good
reason for such increase, and yet they
seem to be expected in some quarters to
regard the unnecessary volume of lnsld-
ious and indirect taxation visited upon
them by our present rate of tariff duties
with Indifference, if not with favor.
| The surplus revenue now remaining in
| the treasury not only furnishes conclu-
sive evidence of unjust taxation but its
| existence constitutes a separate and IN
dependent menace to the prosperity of
| the people. This vast accumulation of
| idle funds represents that much money
drawn from the circulation of the coun
try which is needed in the channels of
trade and business. 1t is great mistake
to suppose that the consequences which
follow the continual withdrawal and
boarding by the government of the cur
rency of the people are not of immediate
importance to the mass of the people
and only concerns those engaged in
large financial transactions. In the rest
less enterprise and activity which free
and ready money among the people pro-
duce is found that opportunity for la
Dor and employment and that impetus to
business and production which bring in
their train prosperity to the people In
every station in life. New ventures,
new investments in business and manu-
featuring, the construction of new and
important works and the enlargement
of enterprises already established de-
pend upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security; all these
J things are stimulated by an abundant
volume of money IN circulation: even the
grain of the farmer remains without a
market unless money Is Forthcoming Tor
transportation to the seaboard. The
first result of a scarcity of money among
: the people is the eXactlon OF terms for
its use: increasing distrust and timidity
is followed by a refusal to loan or ad-
vance on any terms; investors refuse
, risks and decline all securities, and IN
: the general fright money still III the
} hands of the people is persistently hoard
| ed. 1t is quite apparent when this per
fectly natural if not inevitable stage is
! reached, the depression In all business
and enterprise will as a necessary con-
sequence lessen the opportunity for work
and reduce the salaries and wages of
labor.
Instead of then being exempt from the
I influence end effect of an immense sur
} plus idle in the national treasury, our
1 wage earners, and others who rely on
3 their labor for support, mostly OF all are
directly concerned in the sit ittatlon.
Others, seeing the approach of danger,
5 may provide against it, but it will find
! those depending on daily toll for bread
unprepared, helpless and defenseless
: Such a state of affairs does not present
D a case of idleness resulting from dis
r putes between the laboring man and his
3 employer; but it produces an absolute
: enforced stoppage of employment and
: wages.
In reviewing the bad effects of this ac-
: cumulated surplus and the scale of tariff
! rates by which it is produced, we must
], not overlook the tendency to gross and
!. scandalous public extravagances which
a congested treasury induces, nor
the fact that we are maintaining without
. excuse in time of profound peace sub
. stantially the rate of tariff duties i'm
posed in time of war when the necessl-
ties of government justified the imposi-
. tion of the weightiest burdens upon the
people. Divers plans have been suggest
: ed for the return of this accumulated
: surplus to the people and to the channels
= of trade. Some of the devices are at va
: rance with all rules of good finance;
some are delusive, some absurd and some
betray by their reckless extravaganza the
demoralizing influence of a great surplus
of public money on the Judgment of in
dividuals.
/ While such efforts should be made as
are consistent with public duty and
|. sanctioned by sound Judgment to avoid
danger by a useful disposition of the
> surplus remaining in the treasury, it is
! evident if its distribution We're accom-
!, , plished another accumulation would
soon take place, if the constant flow of
redundant income is not checked at its
! source by reform in present tariff laws.
We no not propose to deal with these CON
, ditions by merely attempting to satisfy
the people of the truth of abstract theo-
ries, nor by alone urging their assent to
q political doctrine. We present to them
the proposition that they are unjustly
treated by the extent of the present fed
eral taxation; that as a result a condi-
ton of extreme danger exists: that it is
! for them to demand the remedy and that
! defense and safety promised i'll the guar
! antees of a free government.
! We believe the same means which are
: adopted to: relieve the treasury of its
present surplus and prevent its recur-
= renee should cheaper to the people the
cost of supplying their daily wants
Both of these objects we seek in part to
gain by reducing present tariff rates on
the necessaries of life. We fully appre-
y ciate the Importance to the country OF
, domestic industrial enterprise. In the
: rectification of existing wrongs their
maintenance and prosperity should be
!, carefully and in a friendly spirit con-
? sidered. Even such reliance on the pres
, ent revenue arrangements as have been
= iavited or encouraged should be fairly
: regarded.
Abrupt and radical changes, which
might endanger such enterprise and In
F juriously affect the interests of labor de-
pendent on their success and continu-
. ance, are not contemplated or intended
2 But we know the cost of our domestic
:. manufactured products is increased and
|, their price to consumers enhanced by @
: duty imposed on the raw material used
in their manufacture. We know that
!, this increased cost prevents the sale of
, our productions at foreign markets in
competition with those of countries which
6 have the advantage of free raw material.
e We know that, confined to home mar
ket, our manufacturing operations are
= curtailed, their demand for labor irregu
! ! lar, and the rate for wages paid uncer
tain.