The morning call., 1893-12-05
REFORM THE TARIFF.


Economy IN public expenditure 10 uulS 'hat
cannot safely be neglected oy those ih'fuSted
5 with the control OF The money uId"u Hoih tne
people for public uses. 1t muS' oe cohlesseo
tl,ar our apnarenIly endless resources, The
q fanili.ri,,, of our people with immense accu-
nulat,ons of wealth, The growing sentiment
AIMING tbpm that the expenditure OF money
sheuld be in some manner 20 their immediate
and nersona1 advantage, The indirect and
ain,oer SteaItny manner iii which large part
of GnT taxes are eXacted and a degenerared
seose or official account ability have led TO
growing extravaganza in governmental appro-
l,fiatiOIfS At TINS time, when depleted
3 t,ubltc treasury contronts US, when many
Of our people are engaged in a hard
Struggle Tor the necessaries OF life, and
wien enforced economy is pressing upon
The. great mass of our conntrymen, l de-
sire TO urge with all the earnestness at my
command that Congressional legislation be so
lfm.ted by strict economy as to exhibit al ap-
.pI eIlatiUn OF the condition of the treasury and
Symiathy With the strained circumstances OF
oar fellow citizens. The outy OF public econ
Omy is also OF immense Importance IN It's intI-
Ii;lEe and necessary relation 10 the task now
ir nand of providing revenue TO meet Govern
IAenti expenditures and vt reducing the
peoples burden OF Federal taxation.
After hard struggle tariff reform Is directly
before us. Nothing important claims our
attention ana nothing so clearly presents Itself
as both an opportunity and duty-au oppOr-
tunity to deserve the gratitude OF our fellow
citizens and duty imposed on us by our Oft
date OF the people. Alter fun discussion our
. eQuntrymen have spoken III favor oil this reform,
saud they have confided he work OF It's accom-
piIShment tothe EaudS OF those who are solemnlY
pledged to it. II there is anything in the theory
of a representation III pubic places or the peo-
ple.and their desires, II political officers are
realty the servants of The people, and II poltti-
cal:promises ana professions have any binding
force; our failure 10 give the relief so long
awaited will be sheer recreancy. Moth
ing: should Intervene TO distract our at
. teation or disturb our effort until this le-
foEm is accomplished by wise and careful
LEGISLATION. While we should stanchiy adhere
tu the principle that only the necessity OF reye-
nue. 5ustites the imposition OF tariff duties and
: other Federal taxation and that they should be
hmtted by strict economy, We cannot close our
eyes TO the fact that conditions have grown up
. among US which IN business and fairness call
Tor discriminating care in The distribution of
such duties ana taxation as the emergencies of
sour GOvernment actually demand. Manifestly
Ii we are TO aid the people directly through
tariff reform one OF its most obvious features
should be reduction in The present tarif
charges upon the necessaries OF life. The bene-
fits Of such reduction would be palpable aud
substantial. seen ana felt by thousands who
would be better fed and better clothed and bet
fer sheltered. These gifts should be the wise
benefactiQns OF Government whose highest
fInctiou is the promotion OF the welfare OF the
people,.
= OF less closely related to our peoples pros-
rei iUy and we'll being is the removal of restTic-
ti0us upon the importation of the raw materials
necessary 10 our manufacturers. The world
should be open 10 our national ingenuity ana
enterDrjse. This cannot be while Federal legis-
lal!en through the imposition of high
Tariff forbfds TO American manufacturers
cheap materials as those used by their com.
pei;tors. 1t is quite obvious {that The enhance
nsn5 Of te pflss OF ia act 1csured products cts
lsarket fessssI -cL sprte ALoosfvifhln our own
6sre ,,g.te dsreeures 2yanlage OF our
~. 4. az asls 4 si labor taI are sese eel to
:S s5srLsh iadlrsPily. Involved in tnis
:fe - our tarlf ,,. system; The sharp
s sna % :s,T9y poy 'snffs ne n,sa s@GnE Hul
fir tileiT Z rs e Sn III the rarrow market TO
which they fe3P sn1ned. ano there follows a
suspension. <gpri$ind mills and factories,
;dlscbarg- of essalbye,t.. ana distress iii the
homes Of our workirsf tto. Even IL the often
aisproved assertion cOS1 DC made gooo that
ia vTef rate of wages would result from free raw
. materials and low tariff duties, the intelligence
:0. our Werkingmen leads them quicNly TO dis
cover: that their steady employment. II per-
:filfTged by free materials Is The most important
factor in.their relation 10 tariff legislation.
: -: A mea sure has been prepared by the apprO-
E .prtate- Congress committee einboaying tariff
= reform on the lines herein suggested and which
gfll. be" promptly submitted for legislative
ACTION. II is the result of much patriotic aud
Ifnselfish work, ana believe il deals with its sub
ject as consistently and thoroughly as existing
conditions permit. l am satisfied that the
duced tariff duties provided for In the proposed
LEGISLATION, added TO existing Internal revenue
taxation, will within the near future, though
perhaps not Immediately, produce sufficient
:: revenue 10 meet the needs of the Government.
te provide against a temporary deficiency
Which may exist before the business of The
country adjusts itself to the new tariff sched-
nes. have wisely embraced in their plan few
additional internal revenue taxes. including
. small tax upon incomes derived from certain
corporations. These new assessments are not
: only absolutely just and easily borne. but they
have the further means of being such as can
be femitted without unfavorabe business dis
.Inrbances whenever the necessity for their im.
position no longer exists.
'.:Ihmy great desire for the success of this
measure cannot resist the suggestion that its
success can only be attained by means OF un-
selfish counsel the part of the friends OF
tariff reform and as result of their willingness
:. TO subordinate personal desires aud ambition
TO t1e general good. The local interests affected
: by the proposed reforms are so numerous and
'sovaried that If ali insisted upon the legisa.
'tiou embodying their case the reform must In
evttably fail
In conclusion my intense feeling of responst-
bllity imreIs me 10 invoke for the manifold iu-
. terests of generous and conidng people the
most scEupHlous care, and to pledge my willing
support to- every legislative effort for the ad-
yancement of the greatness and prosperity of
our beloved country.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. Washington, ID. c., De-
cember4. 1898.