Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-31
THE WAY TO thrift REFORM.
Edward Atkinson Says the Mckinley
system is intellectually Dead

GuWuru AthlnSOn, VINO is known the
world over as high authority on every
thing relating to political economy, was
printed in Trelday's New York Times:
In the previous number it has been COM
puted that the present Congress in its sec
ond session may rightly deal with an ex-
cess of revenue above al expenditures of
every kind OF S35,U0O,00 or more.
If in the interval assurance shall be
given that credit will no longer be shaken
by a prospective debasement of the stand.
ard of value through the free coinage of
silver dollars of full legal tender which are
now worth after being melted less than 70
cents, this surplus income or revenue may
be much larger.
1t may be remarked that the revenues al
ready received the present fiscal year fully
warrant the expectation of normal in
crease on liquors and tobacco, while the
customs revenue may be largely in excess
of the estimates upon which the above
computations are made. Ii is almost GER
tain, therefore, that the excess of revenue
from liquors, tobacco, and permanent re-
ceipts in the fiscal years ending June Both,
1888 and 1884, will suffice to cover any in
crease in pensions above the estimate for
the present year. In recent hearing the
| commissioner of pensions testified that
| pensions would reach the highest point
under existing laws in the fiscal year end
ing June Goth, 1894, and after that would
diminish rapidly.
But il will be borne in mind that with
the relief TO domestic industry from the
| abatement of duties proposed to the
amount Of SIS, 900, 900, the duties on manu-
featured goods may also be considerably
reduced; then, with the ensuing prosperity
and the great increase in the export of
farm products, Especially canned fruits
and milk promoted by free sugar and tin
plates,) of which free exports we already
witness the beginning since sugar, sisal,
manila, and some other articles were put
in the free list-our dutiable imports
would be very greatly increased. because
| onr general consumption can always be
| stimulated by a reduction in prices At
the same time wages would rise with the
| greater activity in manufactures, agricul-
| ture and commerce.
Under these conditions substantially all
the partly manufactured articles which
enter into the processes of domestic indus
try could very soon be added to the free
list.
The alternative would be, after having
put all articles of food and all crude ma
terials into the free list. and having re-
duced the duty on manufactured goods in
| proportion to the reduction on materials
then to adjust the duties by reduction by
percentnSy year by year, until we reached
an equilibrium of expenditure with the
income derived from liquors, tobacco and
dutiable imports OF the nature of luxuries
or of purely voluntary Use.
Another method of tariff reform might
be considered. One-half Of the specified
articles on which duties are now imposed
yield so Insignificant revenue that Il put
into the free list the amount Of tax abated
would not exceed 10 per cent of the total
revenue. This change would greatly pro-
mote commerce, and might diminish the
cost Of collecting customs even more than
one-half.
The way to tariff reform is very plain;
the will is not wanting What is now
needed is concentration upon a definite
and consistent plan of tariff reduction.
The preparation Of such measure is a
very simple matter, provided those who
undertake to frame il proceed upon the
rule that all taxes that the people pay the
government should receive.
There have been three attempts to 70,
form the war tariff of this country, The
present system is intellectually dead: ii
lives only by Wis inertia and through an
underlined fear of change. The tariff
commission appointed by Republican
administration made one futile attempt
The Democratic Congress which reported
the Mills bill made the second effort. The
last Congress brought forth a measure
known as the Mckinley bill which is The
scorn and contempt in its dutiable list ever
of majority, or NJ least of large minority
of those who voted for it.
The movement of the people is slow but
sure. Every great reform in this country
has passed through the same sequence OF
! blind and misdifected effort until at last
when the time has arrived, the true leader.
have taken their places and the reform
!. has been ACCOMPLISHED
The will of this people now is the ia IN
lion shall be reduced that revenue meas
/, ures shall be so framed that the govern
ment shall receive all the taxes that IL,
people pay; that the civil service shall b,
: faithful service, and without regard tt
! party politics.
The Supreme Court of the nation ha
defined the principle of taxation,by which
I Congress must in the end be governed. II
Loan Association VS.. Topeka, Jastic
Miller established the limits Of taxation ia
: terms that admit OF no evasion, go Wal
lace, 655).
''lhe power to tax is therefore III
strongest, the most pervading of all tn
powers of government, reaching directl,
or indirectly to all classes of the people
' This power can as readily be employee
A against one class of individuals and ii
favor OF another so as to ruin one elias
and give unlimited wealth and prosperitt
: TO the other, II there is no implied lfmita
i ton OF the uses for which the powers ma
4, be exercised. 10 lay with one hand III
i power OF government on the property d
/ the cltl2en, and with the other to bcstow
, upon favored individuals to aid priyat
e enterprises and build Up private fortune.
I is none the less a robbery because it
- done under the forms Of law and is Gale
! taxation. This is not legislation II is
= decree under legislative forms"
I The huge abundance with which thi
y country is endowed, coupled with tn
q continental system Of absolute free trad
n among the several states, over a wide
/ area and among Il greater number 4
!, people than ever enjoyed such rights 81
. lore, has saved us from any disaster ik
that in which the protective system culm
>, mated in Great Britain in 1910.
I net signs are not wanting of very fall.
distribution Of products, NOTWITHSTANDING
4 the rapid accumulation of wealth and II
~ undoubtcd progress which has ensuc1 /
I spite Of the distractions to oommerc
Z Great centres of poverty are found in 81
!. midst, and great classes especially in AYR
= culture, are suffering from causes whfc
!. they cannot define, and which in SON
Il instances they propose to remedy Ii
!. measures which would be worse than til
I disease.
;s The one merit of the Mckinley bill W;
Is its free-trade part The placing of siga
~ il5res, and some other small articles ma
"a the free list has already given an impeti
TO exports which is but an example ,
L what may follow in yet greater meastii
20 when a tariff for revenue Is enacted whic
a shall be 50 framed that all the taxes III.
y the people pay the government will r
=, !. ceve.
&c NEGRoEs SOM ON THE RLocK.
The Missouri yagrant Act in Operation
~ The Sale Causes Indignation Amor
Ill the ColOrcd Element.
q FAYETrE, Mo, March GA sale ind
Is the vagraut act took place IN Favette ~