St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-05
TARIFF REFORM.
His Great Desire for the Passage
of the Wilson Bill.


Of the Wilson Bill.
Economy in public expenditure is a
duty that cannot innocently Re neglected
by those iptrusted with the control of
money drawn from the people for public
uses. 1t must be confessed that our APP
parently endless resources, the familiar
ity of our people with immense accu-
mutations of wealth, the growing senti-
ment among them that the expenditure
of public money should in some manner
be to their Immediate and personal ad-
vantage. the indirect and almost stealthy
manner III which a large part of our
taxes are exacted, and degenerated
sense of official accountability have led
to growing extravaganza in govern
mental appropriations.
AT this time, when depleted public
treasury confrOnts us. when many of
our people are engaged in a hard strug-
gle for the neceSSaries of life. and when
enforced economy is pressing upon the
great mass of our countrymen. | desire
to urge with all the earnestness at nv
command that congressional legislation
he so limited by strict economy as to ex-
hibit an appreciation of the condition of
the treasury and sympathy with the
strained circumstances of our fellow
citizens.
The duty of public economy is also of
immense Importance in its intimate and
necessary relation to the task now in
hand of providing revenue to meet gov
eminent expenditure and yet reducing
the peoples burden of immoderate tax
alton.
After hard struggle tariff reform is
directly before US. Nothing so impor-
tant claims our attention, and nothing so
clearly presents itself as both an oppor-
tunlty and duty-an opportunity to
deserve the gratitude of our fellow citi-
zens, duty imposed upon us by our
oft-repeated professions and by the en-
pllatlc mandate of the people. After
full discussion our countrymen have
spoken III favor of this reform, and they
have contded the work of its accom-
pllshment to the hands of those who are
solemniy pledged to it. If there is any
thing IN the theory of representation
III public places of the people and their
desires, If public officers are really the
servants of the people, and if political
promises and professions have any bind
Ing force, our failure to give the relief
SO long awaited will be sheer recreancy.
Nothing should intervene to distract our
attention or disturb our effort until
this reform is accomplished by wise
and careful legislation. While
we should stanchly adhere to
the principle that only the necessity
of revenue justifies the imposition of
tariff duties 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 in which justice and
fairness call for discriminating care in
the stribution of such duties and tax
c I'M 0rflnr MI of
ment actually demand. Manifestly, if
we are to aid the people directly
through tariff reform. one of its most
obvious features should be reduction
III present tariff charges upon the nee
essaries OF life. The benefits OF such a
reduction would be palpable and SUBJ
stantial, seen and felt by thousands
who would be better fed and better
! clothed and better sheltered. These
gifts should be the willing benefactions
OF government whose highest func-
! ton is promotion of the welfare OF the
people. Not less closely related to our
peoples prosperity and well being is
the removal of restrictions upon the
importation of the raw materials nee
eSSary to our manufactures. The world
| should be open to our national ingenu-
lty and enterprise. This cannot be
while federal legislation through the
imposition of high tariff forbids
| to American manufacturers as cheap
material as those used by their compet-
| itors. 1t is quite obvious that the en-
hancement of the price OF our manu-
featured products, resulting from this
policy, not only confines the market for
these products within our own borders,
to the direct disadvantage of our manu-
| facturers, but also increase their cost to
our citizens. The interests of labor are
certainly, though indirectly, involved in
| this feature of our tariff system. The
sharp competition and active struggle
among our manufacturers to supply the
limited demand for their goods soon fill
the narrow market to which they are
| confined. Then follows suspension of
work in mills and factories; discharge
of employees and distress in the homes of
our workingmen. Even if the often
disproved assertion could be made
good, that lower rate of wages would
| result from free raw materials and low
tariff, the intelligence of our work
ingmen leads them quickly to discover
| that their steady employment permitted
by free raw materials is the most i'm
portant factor in their relation to tariff
legislation.
A measure has been prepared by the
appropriate congressional committee
| embodying tariff reform on the lines
herein suggested. which will be
| promntIv cuhmItfed for legislative ac-