Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-11

snggeeted that sucn surplus aiono iePAS
ssnts taxation a~ggregatipg more han one
hundred and eight million dollars In d
~conntry containing so. 900, 600 inhabitants;
Taxation has al ways been the feature OF
oryanized Government; the hardest 10
r~seonciIs with the peoples ideas Of free
dim and happiness. When presented IN a
diract form nothing will arouse popular
S;sconteut more quickly and profoundly
than unjust and unnecessary taxation,
Our farmers, mechanics, laborerers, and
ali our citizens, closely scan the slighfes'
increase in the taxes assessed upon their
lands and Other property, and yet they
seam to be expected, in some quarters, 70
regard the unnecessary volume OF lnsidu'
ons and indirect taxation, visited upon
them by our present rate OF tariff duties,
with indifference if not with favor.
THE SURPLUS DANGER.
The surplus revenue now remaining 10
the treasury, rot only furnishes conclusive
proof of unjust taxation, hut it's existence
constitutes a separate aud independent
menance to the prosperity Of the people.
This vast accumulation OF idle funds rep
resents that much money draw from the
circulating medium Of the country which
il needed in the channels of trade and
business.
II is a great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
ment of currency OF the people are not OF
immediate importance to the mass OF our
citizens, and only concerns those engaged
in large financial transactions.
In the restless enterprise and activity
which free and ready money among the
people produces is found that opportunity
for labor and employment, and that i'm
petus to labor aud employment, which
bring in their train prosperity TO our citi-
zens in every station and vocation.
A BURDEN ON INDUSTRY.
New ventures, new investments in bust
ness and manufacture, the construction OF
new and important works aud the enlarge
ment of enterprises already established,
depend largely upon obtaining money upon
easy terms with fair security; and all these
things are stimulated by an abundant vol
uIne of circulating medium. Even the
harvested grain of the farmer remains with
out a market unless money IL forthcoming
for it's movement and transportation 20 the
seabnard.
The first result of a scarcity of money
among the people il the exsction OF severe
terms for its use.
Increasing distrust and timidity is fol-
lowed by a refusal to loan or advance on
arv terms. Investors refuse all risks and
all securities, aud in q general
fright the money still in the hands OF the
is persistently boarded.
T5 is quite apparent hat when this per-
ftctly natural, if not inevitable, stage is
reached, depression 10 all business and en-
will, a. a necessary consequence,
lessen the opportunity for work and eu-
and reduce salaries and the wages
of labor.
TIRE LABORER SUFFERS.
Instead, then, OF being exempt from the
influence and effect of an immense surplus
Wing idle III the national treasury, our
wage earners and Others who rely upon
labor for support, are most of all directly
concerned in the situation. Others seeing
the approach of danger, may provide against
it, bat it will find those depending upon
their daily toll for bread uDprepared,
helpless and defeDceless. Soch o state OF
affairs does not prevent q CASE OF idleness
resulting from disputes between The labor
ing man and his employer, but il produces
an absolute and enforced stoppage of en-
ployment and wages.
In receiving the bad effects of this ac-
surplus, and the scale of tariff
rates by which it is produced, we must
not overlook the tendency toward gross
and %scandalUus public extravaganza, which
A congestsd treasury induces, nor the fact
that we are maintaining without excuse,
n u time of profound peace, substantially
the rate Of tariff duties imposed
IN TIME OF WAR,
when the necessities Oi the government
justified the imposition of the weightiest
burdens upon the people. Divers plans
nave bsen suggested for the return Of this
surplus TO the people, and
the channels of trade. Some of these de-
vices are at variance with all rules of good
Some are delusive, some are alb
,urd, and some betray by their reckless ex-
~.ravagaDce the demOraliziug influences OF
4 great surplus OF public money upon the
Judgment of Individuals.
While such efforts should be made AZ
ire consistert with public duty and sane
toned by sound judgment. to avoid DAN
yer by the useful disposition of the sur
plus now remaining in the treasury, it is
that if its distribution were &C
another accumulation would
soon take it's place, if the constant flow Of
income was not checked at its
source by reform in Ii present laws.
UNJUST TAXATION.
We do not propose to deal with these
conditions by merely attempting to satisfy
he people Of the truth of abstract theories.
nor by alone urging their assent TO polit-
cal doctrine, We present to them the
propositions that they are upinstly
in the extent # present federal
taxation, that ~ a result a condition OF
extreme danger exists, and it is for them
10 demand a remedy and that defense and
safety promised in the guarantees of their
governments.
WE PROPOSE TO MAKE LIVING CHEAPER.
We believe that the same means which
are adopted to relieve the treasury
of the present surplus and pre-
vent its recurrence, should cheaper to our
the cost OF supplying their daily
Both Of these objects We seek 10
part to gain by reducing the present tariff
upon the necesssries of life. We
fully appreciate the Importance to the
of orr domestic industrial
enterprise, In tie rectiication of existing
wrongs, their maintenance and prosperity
should be carefully snd in a friendly spirit
considered. Even such reliance upon pres
ent revenue arrangements as have been in
gited or encouraged should be fairly and
Justly regarded. Abrupt and radical
changes which might endsnger such enter
prises and injrriously affect the interests
Of labor dependent upon their success and
continuance are not contemplated or i'll
THE TAX GRANTS oUR MARKETS.
But we know the cost of our domestic
manufactured PRODUCES is increased and
their price to the sui enhanced by
the duty imposed upon the raw material
used IN the manufacture. We know
that this increased cost prevents
the sale Of our productions at foreign
markets, in composition with those