Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-09-15

houses for duties upon imported articles ana
paid into the public treasury representmany
the national treasury, are paid by our citi-
zens as the increased cost of domestic pro-
auctions resulting from our tariff laws.
SIN these circumstances, and In view OF I
this necessary effect of the operation OF our
elan for raising revenue, the absolute duty
of limiting the rate of tariff charges to the
of frugal and economical al
of the government seems N De
perfectly plain. The continuance upon
pretext of meeting public expenditures OF
such q scale of tariff taxation as draws from
the substance of the people q sum largely In
excess of public needs is surely something |
which, under government based upon JUS
tice and which finds its strength and useful
ness in the faith and trust OF the people, |
ought not to be tolerated.
UNNECESSARY TAXATION UNJUST.
"While the heaviest burdens incident 20
The necessities of the government are un-
complainingly borne. light burdens become
prieyous and intolerable when not justified
by such necessities. Unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation. And yet this Is our con-
dition. We are annually collecting at
our custom houses and by means OF our
internal revenue taxation many millions In
excess ofal legitimate public needs: AS q
consequence there now remains IN the
national treasury surplus of more than
$3.50, 100000. No better evidence could be
furnished that the people are exhorbitantly
taxed. The extent of the supertiuous bur-
den indicated by this surplus will be better
appreciated when it Is suggested that such
surplus alone represents taxation aggregat.
ing more than S1OS,C00 IN country con-
tanning $4,000 inhabitants.
Taxation has always been the feature OF
organized government, the hardest to rec
oncile with the peoples ideas of freedom
and happiness. When presented In direct
form nothing will arouse popular discomfort
more quickly and profoundly than unjust
and unnecessary taxation. Our farmers,
mechanics, laborers and all our cinzsns
| CLOSELY scan the slightest increase In the
taxes assessed upon their lands and other
| property and demand good reasons for such
| increase. And yet they seem to be expected
| in some quarters to regard the unnecessary
volume Of insidious 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 conclus-
i've proof of unjust taxation, but its exist
ence constitutes separate and independent
menace to the prosperity of the people.
This vast accu mutation of idle funds repre-
sents that much money drawn from the Cir
culating medium of the country which is
needed in the channels of trade and bust
ness.
IMPORTANT TO ALL CLASSES.
| sIt is q great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
mens of the 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 rest.
less enterprise and activity which free and
ready money among the people produces is
found that opportunity for labor and EN-:
ployment and that impetus to business and
production which bring in their train pros
perity to our citizens in every station and
vocation. New ventures, new investments
in business and manufacture, the construc-
ton of new and important works and tht
enlargement of enterprises already estan-
lished, depend largely upon obtaining mon.
ey upon easy terms with fair security, ane
!, all these things are stimulated by an abund
ant volume of circulating medium. Ever
the harvested grain of the farmer re
mains without a market unless money i:
, forthcoming for its movement and trans
portation to the seaboard. The first results
of a scarcity of money among the people Il
the exaction of severe terms for lts use. In
, creas1pg distrust and timidity Is followed
} nv q refusal to loan or advance on an,
terms. Investors refuse all risks and declln
all securities, and in q general fright tn
{ money still in the hands of the people l
persistently boarded.
at is quite apparent that when this PEI
I fectly natural if not inevitable stage !
t reached depression in all business and en-
terprise will, as a necessary conseq9ence
1 lesson the opportunity foc work and EN-
t ploymept, and reduce salaries and the wage
I of labor. Instead, then, of being exemI
: from the influence and effect of the III
: mense surplus lying idle in the nations
: treasury our wage earners and others wh
: rely on their labor for support, are, most
9 all, directly concerned IN the Situation
q NAV provide against it, bat 1t WI
o find those depending on their daily toll fe
9 bread unprepared, helpless and defenseles
8 Such a state of affairs do not present cas-
Q OF idleness resulting from disputes betWee
g the laboring man and his employer, but
: produces an absolute and enforced stoppae
of employment and wages.
DANGERS OF RECKLESS WASTE.
SIN reviewing the bad effects of this acct
n INFLATED surplus and the scale OF tarln rate
by which it is produced we must not over
!. look the tendency toward gross and scand'
- lous public extravaganza which congeste
!. treasury induces in a time OF protoun
= mace substantially the rate of tariff dutit
y imposed in time of war when the necessitl'
. of the government justified the lmpositlo
!, of the weightiest burdens upon the people:
: L o08oSosS~
- the return of this accumulated surplus
70 tie people and the channels OF trade. Son
!. of these devices are at variance with
70 rules of good finance; some are delusiv
some are absurd, and some betray by the
reckless extravagance the dennoraiizing II
), fiuence of q great surplus of public none
= upon the judgment Of iudividuals. Viii
- such efforts should be made as are comp
=, 70 tent With public duty and sanctioned
:. sound Judgment to avoid danger by II
~ useful disposition of the surplus now T
q manning in the treasury it is evident that
= its distribution were accomplished anotb
Accumulation would soon take its place
7, the constant flow Of redundant income vi
y not checked at its source by reform
~ our present tariff laws.
ave do not propose to deal with tho
= conditions By merely attempting to salts
- the people of the truth of abstract theori
q nor by alone urging their assent TO polite
~ doctrines. We present to them the prop
y sitions that they are unjustly treated IN q
extent of present federal taxation that as
~ result condition of extreme danger exist
and that it is for them TO demand RENE.
4 and that defense and safety promised IN q