The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-09-26

the government must continue to be met by
tariff duties collected at our custom houses
upon imported goods, and by internal reye-
nue. taxes assessed upon spirituous and malt
liquors, tobacco and oieomargarine. sup
pose 1t IS needless TO explain that all these
duties and assessments are added to the price
OF the articles upon which they are levied,
and thus become a tax upon all those who
buy these articles for use and consumption.
1 suppose, too, it is well understood that the
effect OF this tariff taxation is not limited TO
the consumers of imported articles but that
the duties imposed upon such articles permit
a corresponding increase In price To be laid
upon domestic productions of the same kinds
which increase, paid by all our people as con-
suIners of home productions and entering
every American home, constitutes form of
taxation as certain and as inevitable as
though the amount was annually paid into
the hand of the tax gatherer.
These results are inseparable from the
plan we have adopted for the collection of
our revenue by tariff duties They are not
mentioned TO discredit the system, but by
way of preface to the statement that every
million OF dollars collected Mt our custom
houses for duties upon imported articles and
paid into the public treasury represent many
millions more which, though never reaching
the National treasury, are paid by our citi-
zens as the increased cost of domestic pro-
+ in these circumstances, and in view of
this necessary effect of the operation of our
plan for raising revenue, the absolute duty
OF limiting the rate of tariff charges TO the
necessities OF frugal aud economical adj
ministration of the government, seems to be
perfectly plain. The continuance, upon a
pretext of meeting public expenditures, of
such scale of tariff taxation as draws from
the substances of the people "A SUN largely in
excess OF public needs, is surely something
which, un'ier u government based upon JUS
tice and which finds its strength and useful
ness i'll tire faith aud trust OF the people,
ought not TO be tolerated. While the heaviest
burdens incident To the necessities of the
government nre uncomplainingly borne,
light burdens become grievous and intolera-
bic when not Justified by such necessities
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation
And Yet This is our condition We are an
nually collecting at our custom houses and
by means OF our internal revenue taxation,
many millions in excess of all legitimate
public needs. As consequence there now
remains in the National treasury a surplus
Of more than S130,n00,0J0 No better evil
dence could be furnished that the people are
exorbitantly taxed. the extent of the SUI
perluous burden indicated by this surplus
will be better appreciated when it is sug-
geste4i That such surplus alone, represents
taxation aggre2ating more than SlOS, 900 in
"A County catlI',in2 80, ,Jo0 inhabitants. Tax
alton has always been the feature of organ
lied government, tho hardest to reconcile
with the peoples ideas of freedom and hap
piness When presented in n direct form
nothing will arouse popular discomfort more
quickly and profoundly than unjust and un-
necessary taxation. Our farmers, mechuu
icS, laborers and all our citizens closely scan
the slightest increase i'll the taxes assessed
up IL their lnnds and other property, and de-
IuNnd good reasons for such increase, and yet
they seem to be expected, in some quarters,
to regard the unnecessary volume of insidi
Gus and indirect taxation visited upon them
by our present rate OF tariff duties with in
difference if not with favor.
THE surplus revenue now remaining in
tho treasury not only furnishes conclusive
proof of unjust taxation, but its existence
constitute separate ard independent
menace to the prosperity of the people,
This vast accumulation of idle funds repre-
sents that much money drawn from the cir
culating medium of the country, which is
needed iii the C iannels of trade and business
1t is great mistake to suppose that the CON
quences which follow the continual with
drawal and boarding by the government of
the currency of the psople are rot of imme-
diate Importance to the mass Ut our citizens
aud only concern thoso engaged in large
ffnanci 4 transactions. In the restless en-
terpriSe and ectivity which free and ready
money ar.Ong the people produces, is found
thaF opportunity for labor and employment
and tnat impstuS to business and prodac-
Uion, which bring in their train prosperity
to our citizens in every station and voca-
ton. New ventures, new investments in
business and manufacture, the construction
of new and important works, and the
enlargement of enterprises already estab-
lished. depend largely upon obtaining money
upon easy terms with fair security; and all
these things are stimulated by an abundant
volume of circulating medium. Even tho
harvested grain of the farmer remains with
out market, unless money IS forthcoming
for its movement and transportation to the
seaboari.
'The first results OF a scarcity of money
among the people is the exaction of severe
terms for its use. Increasing distrust and
timility is followed by refusal to loln or
advance on amy terms. Investors refuse all
risks, and decline NIL securities. and in a
general fright the money still in the hands
of the people is persistently hoarded. 1t is
quite apparent that when this perfectly
natural. If not inevitable stage is reached,
depression in all business and enterprise
will, as necessary consequences, lessen the
opportunity for work and employment and
reduce salaries and the wages OF labor. In
stead, then, of being exempt from the in
fuence aud effect OF an immense surplus
lying idle in the National treasury, our
wage earners and others who rely upon their
labor for support, are most of all directly
concerned in the situation. Others, seeing
the approach of danger, may provide against
it, but it will find those depending upon their
daily toll for bread unprepared, helpless and
defenSeless. Such a state of affairs does not
present case of idleness resulting from dis
putes between the laboring man and his en-
ployer, but it produces an absolute and en-
forced stoppage of employment and wages
''1n reviewing the bad effects of this ac
cumulated surplus and the scale of tariff rates
by which it is produced, must not over
look the tendency toward gross and scan
dalous public extravaganza which a con-
gested treasury induces, nor the fact that we
are maintaining, without excuse, in time
of profound peace, substantially the rate of
tariff duties imposed in time of war, when
the necessities of the government justified
the imposition of the weightiest burdens
upon the people. Divers plans have been
suggested for the return of this accumulated
surplus to the people and the channels of
trade. Some of these devices are at vari-
ance with all rules of good finance; some are
delusiye; some are absurd and some betray
by their reckless extravagance the demoral-
izing influence of great surplus OF public
money upon the judgments OF individuals.
While such effofts ahof1ld hf Tnada aS ara