Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-09-10
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annually collecting at our custom house
and by means of our internal revenus tar
alton, many millions in excess of all legiti
mate public needs. As a consequence
there now remains in the national treasur,
. surplus of more than one hundred an;
thirty millions of dollars. No better evi
dence could be furnished that the people ar,
exorbitantly taxed The extent of tn,
superiuous burden indicated BY this sur
plus will be better appreciated when it /
suggested that such surplus alone repre-
sents taxation aggregating more than on,
hundred and eight thousand dollars in /
county containing fifty thousand inhabi
tsnts.
Taxation has always been the feature O
organized government tile hardest Il
reconcile with the popular iCeas Of sreedou
and happiness. When presented 10 a di
rect form. nothing will arouse popular dis
content more quickly and profoundly thai
unjust and unnecessary ta RATION Oul
farmers, mechanics, laborers, and all ou
citizens, closely scan the slightest increas,
in the taxation assessed upon their land
and other property. and demond good rea
sons for such increase. And yet they seen
70 be expected, in some quarters. to regard
the unnecessary volume of insidious ant
indirect taxation visited upon them by ou
present rate OF tariff duties with indiffer
ence If not with favor.
The surplus revenue now remaining iI
the treasury not only furnishes conclusiv,
proof Of unjust taxation, but its existence
constitutes q separate and independent
menace to the prosperity of the people.
This vast accumulation of idle fund.
represents that much money drawn from
the circulating medium of the country,
which is needed in the channels Of trade
and business.
It is great mistake to suppose that the
withdrawal and boarding by the govern.
ment Of the currency of the people are moi
of immediate importance to the mass oi
our citizens and only concerns those en-.
gagged in large financial transactions In
the restless enterprise and activity which
free and ready money among the people
produces is found that opporti nifty for ls.
Dor and employment and that impetus to
business and production which bring in
their train prosperity to our citizens in
every station and vocation. New ventures,
new investments in business and manu-
facture, the construction Of new important
works and the enlargement Of enterprises
already established, depend largely upon
obtaining money upon easy terms with fair
security, as all these things ase stimulated
by an abundant volume of circulating me
dium. Even the harvested grain OF the
farmer remains without q market unless
money Is forthcoming for its movement and
transportation to the seabOard. The first
results of q scarcity of money among the
people is the exaction of severe terms fo,
its use. Increasing distrusts or timidity is
followed by q refusal to loan OF
advance on any terms investors re
fuse all risks or decline ali secu-
rites, and in a general fright, the
money still in the hands of the people il
persistently boarded. II is quite apparent
that when this perfectly natural, if not in.
evitable stage is reached. depression in ali
business snd enterprise will, as a necessary
consequence. lessen the opportunity fo,
work and employment. and reduce salaries
and the wages OF labor. Instead, then, OF
being exempt from the influence
and effect of an immense surplu.
lying idle in the national treasury
our wage workers 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
provice against it, but il will find those
depending upon their daily toll for bread
unprepsred. helpless and defenseless. Such
q statement of affairs does not present
case of idleness resulting from disputes be
tWcCu b1c uAku Au0 hib etupiOyCf,
but il produces an absoluts and enforced
stoppaee of employment and wages
In reviewing the bad effects Of this accu.
mulatsd surplus and the scale OF tariff
rates by which il is produced, we must moi
overlook the tendency towards gross scan
dalous public extravagances which con
gested treasury induces, nor the fact that
we are maintaining. without excuse, in q
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 variance with all
rules Of good finance; some are delusive.
some are absurd and some betray by their
reckless extravaganza the demoralizing in
Tuence of q great surplus of public money
upon the Judgment Of individuals.
While such efforts should be made as are
consistent with public duty and sanctioned
by sound judgment, to avoid danger by the
useful disposition of the surplus now re-
in the treasury, it is evident that
If its distribution were accomplished ah-
other accumulation would soon take its
place, If the constant flow of redundant
were not checked at its source by
: reform in our present tariff laws
We do not propose to deal with these
conditions by merely attempting % satisfy
the people of the truth Of abstract theories
nor by alone urging their assent to political
We present to them the propos-
ition that they are unjustly treated in the
extent of present federal taxation, that as
= result . condition of. extreme danger ex-
ista and that il is for them TO demand 4