New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-13
TILE PCZZLE EOR DEMOCRATS.

About two months and 4 half from this time
the Republican Administration will turn over
TO the Democrats Treasury with probably
more than 5000, 600 surplus, which would
haye been much larger but for Democratic OK
tlavagarce il the last Congress. The Admin
i,traticn recommends that the present Congr IS
make no ATTEMPT II change the revenue laws,
but leave that task to the new Congress Just
chosen by the people. This recommendation
must be approved by men Of ali parties, since
it would be foolish and in a measure dl>couIte-
Gus TO enter upon most responsible laDof
which has Just been intruSted to other HANDS.
If rho coming President considers the present
tariff an into!crable burden, he can bring to-
gcther The now Congress from the people with
in about three months to deal with the matter.
Evidently he begins TO see the difficulties of
the task; But these will not vanish or lessen
il ferrcd. Every day of experience under the
present tariff will make it more difficult 10
satisfy people about each change proposed.
Personal habits. the customs OF business men,
the growth of villages and OF establishments,
will make it increasingly announcement to the
people to have the existing order OF things
overturned. In the hope that tariff revision
will not disturb them, whoever else may be
disturbed, men of all industries arc making
their preparations to meet the increasing needs
of the country. ard if change is to be made
vii! find il more costly the longer it is deferred.
The regular long session never succeeds in get
ting a general tariff bill through until mid
summer, and between that time and the cleo
tons of November, 1894, there will be time
for voters to learn only where the new law
hunts and not where IL may help
The problem is to raise at least as much
money as the Government now raises, for The
Demcc atic House does not consent to cut down
expenditures. Nor is it proposed by Demo
Gratis. or likely to be, that the internal taxes
on whiskey. beer and tobacco shall be IN
creased. About the same amount that IS now
raised by customs duties must therefore be
raised by some Democratic duties. The exist
ing law viii yield in 1894, it is officially est
mated. about S21 0 900, 900, and, If 1t Is 10 be
altered, for every million taken off there must
he a million added. This may be done by
adding duties on some articles, or by so re-
ducing the duties that the larger imports shall
Weld a larger revenue. The latter is the mode
which Mr.. Springer. present chairman OF the
W avs ana -MSdUS tDuIiIiitit'i p"oh'i! "N'N
Gates. He would take off duties on wool and
other raw materials, which now yield many
millions. but he would cut down the duties on
voolcn goods so far that the greatly increased
impotqt.ors would yield lager revenue than
the present duties. BY an easy calculation it
is found that imports of woolens would have
TO be increased about threefold to answer his
purpose No duty on wool, lower duties on
uo9lens, and three yards imported where one
comes in now-that is the essence of Mr..
Sprngcr's plan. Instantly it is attacked with
bitterness by Democratic journals which have
been among the most Jealous for tariff reform.
That sort of thing, they say, would ruin the
cause and the party.
Put where are the additional millions to
come from, men and brethren, if you do not
secure larger importations? In answer, an
other set Of refOmers proposes TO restore the
duty on sugar That, with repeal Of the
bounty, would add revenue enough to permit
removal of duties on raw materials. SO the
farmer who now gets the benefit Of the duty
on wool, ard the miner who gets the benefit
of a duty on ore. must lose that benefit and
at tie same time pay cents per pound more
for his sugar This is the other end Of the
dilemma. How it would work ont in votes
the next Congress is expected to learn But
the problem is a difficult one and the Congress
which is to handle it had better be called to-
rethcr quite carly.