Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1893-12-06
TARIFF REFORM.
The President Wants Tariff Reduction Mt
0nCe.

The President Wants Tariff Reduction Mt
Once.
AT this time when depleted public treas
ury confronts u.s. when many of our people
are engaged in hard st, uggle for the neces-
saries of life and when enforced economy is
pressing upon the great mass of our country
men. desire to urge with all the earnestness
at my command that congressional legislation
be SO limited by strict economy as to exhibit
an appreciation of the con 1ition of the treas
ury and sympathy with the strained .ircum-
stances of our fellow citizens.
The duty of public economy is also of inn
me nse Importance in its intimate and neces-
sary relation to the task now in hand of pro-
viding revenue to meet government expendi-
lures and yet reducing the peope's burden of
federal taxation.
After a Hard Struggle
tariff eform is directly before us. Nothing
so important Claims our attention and moth
ing so clearly presents itself as both an oppor-
tunity and duty-an opportunity to deserve
the gratitude of our fellow citiz ms, a duty inn
posed upon us by our oft repeated professions
and by the emp aiic mandate of the people
After full discussion our countrymen have
spoken in favor Of this reform and they have
confded the work of its accomplishment in
the hands of those who are
Solemnly Pledged toIt.
If there is anything in the tn ory of rep
resentation in public places of the people and
their desires; if public officers are really the
servants of the people, and it's political prom
ises and professions have any binding force,
our failure to give the relief SO long awaited
will be sheer recreancy. Nothing should in
tervene to distract our attention or disturb
our effort until this reform is accomplished by
wise and careful legislation.
Discriminating Care Necessary.
While we should staunchly adhere to the
principle that only the cessity of revenue
justifes the imposition of tariff du,ies and
other federal taxation, and that they should
be limited by strict economy. we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that conditions have
grown up among US which in justice and
fai ness call for discriminating care in the
distribution of such duties and taxation as
the emergencies of our government actually
demand.
Manifestly if we are to aid the people di-
rectly through tariff reform one of its most
obvious features ould be reduction in the
present tariff charges
Upon the Necessaries # Life.
The benefits of such reduction would be
palpable and substantial seen and felt by
thousands who would be better fed and better
clothed and better sIeltere1. These gifts
should be the willing benefactions of gov
ernment whose hi hest function is the pro-
motion of the welfare of the people. Not less
well-being is the removal of restrictions upon
the importation of the raw materials neces-
sary to our manufa turers. The world should
be open to our national ingenuity and enter
prise. This cannot be while federal legisla-
ton, through the imposition of high tariff,
forbids to American manufacturers as cheap
material as those ed by their compe itors.
1t Is quite OBVIOUS that the enhancement of
the price of our manufactured products re-
sulting from this policy not only confines the.
m arket for these products within our own
borders, to the direct disadvantage of our
manufacturers, but also increases their cost to
our citizens.
The Interests of Labor
are certainly Though Indirectly involved in
this feature of our tariff system. The sharp
and active struggle among our
manufacturers to supply the limited demand
for their goods soon fills the narrow market
to which they are confined. Then follows a
suspension of work in mills and factories q
discharge of employees, and distress in the
b ONES of our workingmen. Even if the often
assertion could be made good that a
lower rate of wages would resul from free
raw materials and low tariff, does not the in
telligence of our workingmen lead them
quickly to discover that their steady employ
ment permitted by free raw materials is the
most important factor in their relation to
tariff legislation?
A measure has been prepared by the appro-
pirate congressional committee embodying
tariff reform on the lines herein gsested,
which will be promptly submitted for leg sla-
tive action. 1t is the result of much patriotic
and unselfish work, and believe it deals with
its subject consistently and thoroughly as ex-
listing conditions permit. | an satisfied hat |
the reduced tariff duties provided for in the
proposed legislation, added to existing internal
revenue taxation, will in the near future,
though perha. s not Immediately, produce
sufficient revenue to meet the needs of the
government.
The Tax on Corporations.
The commit ee, after full consideration and
to provide for a tempora y deficiency, which
may exist before tie blsiness of the country
adjusts itself to the new tariff schedules, have
wisely embra- ed in their plan q few addi-
tional internal revenue taxes i1cluding a |
small tax upon incomes derived from certain |
corporate investments. / hese new asses |
ments are not only absolutely just and |
ca lily borne, but they have the further merit
OF being such as can be RENTED without un-
favorable disturbance whenever the necessity
of their i'm position no longer exists
In my great desire for the success of this
cannot restrain the sugs sestion that
its success can only be obtained by means of |
unselfish counsel on the part of the friends |
Of tariff reform and as result of |
their willingness to subordinate personal |
desires and ambitions to the gen raj good. I
The local interests affected by the proposed |
reform are SO numerous and so varied that If i
an are insisted upon the legislation embody- |
Ing the reform must inevitably fail.
In Conclusion.
In conclusion, my intense feeling of re-
impels me to invoke for the /
manifold interests of a generous an confiding |
people the most scrupulous care, and to pledge
my willing support to every legislative effort /
FOR the advancement of the greatness and /
of our beloved country.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Washington. Dec. 4, 1893.