The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-10
FoR REVENUE ONLY.
Advice for Prot Vr-on-The Dcmocrsus
Doctrine sqtnrcIy r .-~ented- rr.nchery
90 the Party Paitcy DrrouHeed-No Fra
Itst-HIstory Of Protective Legislation,

DoctrtHs EqinrcIy r .rrentcd- ir~Hchevy
60 the Party PSitcy DrnouHeed-No Fr~@
List-HIstory % Frotscuvs Legislation,
Prom re Philadelphia R,,o-L
A strange theory has been advocated among
Democrats to the eTec. that n Democratic
Congress should not restore any Of the duties
which have been rerca cd by the RerubllrGrA
On this doctrine Of which there was no hint
during the tariff reform camnaiCn the Houss
Ways and Means Com mittee las rejected SUN
sources Of large hscal revenues as coffee t,A
and sugar. whilo the duties On these conmodi.
ties should never have boon abolished their
restoration would he in strict accordance with
the principles Of tariff reform. In fact. t. 10
not possible TO conceive OF ~ logical and con.
sistent tariff for revenue only which should
exclude coffee tea. and sugar from ilL
schedules.
In repeating tho duties on these Imports the
protectionists have acted In perfect consist.
ency with their policy Of stripping the Treas
ury Of purely fiscal revenues from customs In
order to strengthen the system OF protective
duties. which puts revenues into the pocke %
few tariff benoilciaries. They began. In 1872.
with coffee and tea these commodities were
objects OF purely fiscal revenue. whilo he
sugar duties were 70 sone extent prote tive
For tho repeal Of these duties there was no
popular demand as there is now no OprositiHu
to their estoration outside OF prOtectionist cir.
clos. Cleatsy discerning tho objects OF the
protectionists Mr.. Samuel y Cox and the rest
OF the Democratic advocates OF tariff reform In
Congress in 1872 spoke and voted against tine
repeal OF the duties on tea aul coffee. as the
Democratic tariff reformers OF 1890 spoke and
voted against tho repeal OF tho sugar duties
In the existing condition Of the finances. ths
argument In favor OF a partial restoration Of
these fiscal duties Is as valid. to say the least
as was tho argument against their repoaL
A duty OF cent pound on all imports q
raw sugar would yield oscal revenue Of $40.
100000, while 1t would afford an incidental
protection" to producers in Louisiana AMI
Nebraska. and at the same time withdraw from
the Sugar Trust the discrimination In its favor.
This duty would DO less than half the rate
which tho people overwhelmingly paid on
sugar before the passage OF the Mckinley tariff.
A duty OF 3 cents pound on coffee IT was )
cents under the original war tariff would yield
a revenue Of $l5.00O.0OO. American consum.
ere are now paying under the Harrison proc.
lamation. q direct tax OF 3 cents q pound on
coffee I'm ported from Venezuela and Colombia.
and an indirect tax on much Of the inferior
coffee that has taken the place OF the coffee Of
those Countries. As both Republicans and
Democrats appear TO have taken very kindly
to the partial duty OF the coffee OF Laguayrs
they would not lie likely to complain Of IN i'm
partial and uniform duty Of cents On all coi-
foe for purely fiscal purposes A duty OF 5
centsa pound on tea ne was Is cents a pound
In 1871 and % cents under the preceding tariff
would bring an additional revenue Of 5000.
900 TO the Treasury.
Thus By partial restoration OF duties these
three articles Of import would bring to the
public ESQ a clear annual revenue OF 0.OOO,-
600 This would more than cover the esti-
mated reduction of revenu es IN the bill Of the
Ways and Means Committee. 1t would solve
the problem OF the finarcsS without resort
to an odious and inQ uisitoriai Ia come tax. aud
without disturbing the internal revenue taxes.
which are now as high as the objects OF taxa
ton will bear. Al the same time this course
would put an end to all Question of increas-
ing the public debt by an issue OF bonds
There are 40 imports upon which the revenues
can be so easily and cheaply collected as
sugar coffee. and tea: and there are none
which can he so lightly borne ny consumers.
AZ the duties would be specific, there could be
no frauds in undervaluatIons: while the whole
annual revenue OF SGJOOO.oOO from them
would flow into the exhausted Treasury.
In repeating the dutiss on these imports
tho Republicans carried their programme Of
protection to its extremc limit. Shall it be
said that the Democrats. when called upon TO
maintain their traditional policy OF u tariN for
revenue only. are wanting in the courage of
the Republicans in behalf Of a bad policy An
absolute party which danes to enforce in leg
islatien the principles for which it has con-
tended ct the ballot box is the only party which
the American people will intrust with their
Government.