Catoctin clarion., 1892-01-28
Washington Letter
FRoM OUR REG ULAR CoRREspoNI

ASHlNGTON, ~. u, Jan. 20tn., lSJ5.
At this time it is not altogether Ger
tain how the Mckinley tariff law will
be attacked by the House, the only GER
tainty being that 1t Is TO be attacked
and attacked vigorously. The Demo-
Gratis contend that the Republicans dur.
ing the last Congress not only increased
duties, but they also reduced the rev.
enue and increased the expenditures,
and that now every cent of the revenues
Is necessary to meet the current expen-
dltures and that there is deficit Of
revenues which even very considera.
ble reduction of the appropriation for
the next fiscal year will not make up.
Taking this view Of the case. it is very
clear that any reduction OF the tariff
which does not involve or In connection
with which provision is not made for
an increase in the revenues will only
add to the deficit. This may bo sibly
be avoided by general tariff bill,
which will thoroughly revise and read
lust the tariff schedules. increasing the
revenues by'encouraging certain CHAR.
acter of importation by reduced duty
to produce greater revenue, while ad
mitting raw materials of certain sorts
free OF duty to cheaper the commodities
in common consumption. If the reve-
nues of the government are not now
enough for ordinary expenditures bill
dealing with the single item of wool
and putting that on the free list, would
cut down these revenues by ust
so much as the duties
produce and SO with all other
increases Of the free list, without other
revision of the tariff. A reduction of
duties may increase the revenues by en-.
couraging greater importation, bat an
addition to the tree list alone merely
cuts Oft so much revenue. The plan by
which the Democrats will attack the
tariff is not yet adopted and it Is posi-
bic if not probable, that IA complete re
vision may therefore be necessary.
There never was anybody so pestered
by duns as Uncle Sam. People who
cay that he owes them money are al
ways swarmiug about the Capitol when
Congress Is IN session, while thousands
of such claimants all over the country
are continually clamoriny by letter for
payment. Numerous are the bad debts
recorded against the government, which
has often been accused Of never paying
anything when it Can help doing so.
Unpaid victims haunt the legislative
lobhies from Congress to Congress. pur'
SUING the delinquent debtor with never
dying hope. Some such debts dae from
the nation are handed down by the
creditors from generation to genera
tion-legacies usually productive only
of misery and unbarpiness. Nothing is
more difficult than to get the most just
claim against Uncle Sam through Con-
gress. However fayorably recommend.
ed by ommtaee, the chances are enor.
mousl ly against its ever reaching con-
sderation by the House. Surposing
chat it passes the House, IL miracle it is.
to secure its approval by the Senate and
the Presidents signature. If only this
last be lacking. the claimant must be-
gin at the beginning again in the next
Congress, as if he had never taken step
before. The labor Of Sisyphus, whose
stone always rolled down to the foot of
the hill before he could get 1t quite to
the top, was nothing to this.