St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-27

contrary to what L had been taught to
believe"
Before Mr.. Wells vacated his office.
he embodied his views in a tariff bill
tnat passed the senate in 1869, and it is
said to have failed IN the house of rep
resentativeS only by reason of the short
ness of the session. Because of his
ability TO formulate such measure and
his subsequent assiduous study of the
subject, he comprehends more clearly.
perhaps, than any other revenue reform
advocate. what the plan and scope of
the new tariff should be, and how to
adjust its intricate details. He is con-
Structer as well as a critic, ALWAYS Offer
ing a remedy for the evils he condemns.
Therefore his views and forecasts for
the future are OF unusual interest at
this time.
Il think" he unhesitatingly declares.
''that the work of tariff reform by a
Democratic congress should be begun
| Immediately after President Cleveland $
Inauguration, and proceed
Gradually and Tentatively.
All raw or crude, OF partially manu-
featured materials. intended for use
in manufactures, should be placed on
the free LIST. The whole average of
duties should be reduced from the pres
ent rate of 46 per cent to an average
rate not exceeding % per cent. Amer
leans should have the right. which the
citizens OF every other country enjoy, to
buy. sell, own and use ships freely.
THE administration of the tariff
should be greatly simpiified. There
should be no necessity for constant lit
igatI0n between the government and
the people engaged in carrying on trade
and commerce with other countries. the
extent OF which may be judged by the
| fact that some 10000 suits have been
pending between the treasury and our
merchants during the past year. No
man should be left in the customs adj
miniStratioD, who has administered and
interpreted the laws as if he regarded
foreign commerce in the light of a
crime"
1t must not be forgotten that one of
Mr.. Wells noteworthy achievements
was his calculation of the cost OF the
war. He found that taking the money
spent, the diversion of wealth and the
destruction OF industry, the cost or
both sides would reach the enormous
, total of $4,000, 100000. The lives lost,
ne thought, would reach 100, 900. 20
Mr.. Wells contributions to the litera-
ture Of his favOrlte pursuit have been
principally in the form of magazine art
ticles. In 1885 his essay "On Our
Merchant Marine" had wide circula-
ton. 1t was followed two years later
by"A Study of.MeXlco, (Which describes
that country as a land of limited re-
sources and particularly poverty-strick-
en- in regard to fuel and water.
In his Recent Economic Changes"
published in 1890. he reviews the indus
Trial progress Of the last thirty years,
and shows how invention has increased
the efficiency of labor and strengthened
life by multiplying its comforts, at the
same time entaiing immense losses by
sending superseded machinery to the
scrap heap. 1t also demonstrates how
the laborer is benefited by the extensive
stores of capital constantly piing up in
the money centers, where it must be
content to seek investment at lower
rate of interest.
His forthcoming treatise on taxation
will be the browning effort of his career.
1t will include sweeping historical re-
view of the subject. and point out that
political revolutions have commonly
hinged upon the abuses of the power OF
taxation. Therefore the writer will
argue that to prevent this great power
to the building up of manufactures. or
to repreSs vice or crime, is to divigate
from the political freedom which civil
lied nations cherish so firmly. Il. W.P