The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-12-07
TARIFF REFORM.
The President Wants Tariff Reduction at
Once.

The President Wants Tariff Reduction at
Once.
At this tine. when depleted public treas
ury confronts US. 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 ur % with all the earnestness
at my command that congressional legislation
be SO limited by strict economy as to exhibit
an apprecia ton of the condition of the treas
ury and sympathy with the strained ,ircrm-
stances Of our fellow citizens.
The duty Of public economy is also of i'm
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 Peep e's burden of
federal taxation.
After Hard Struggle
tariff eform is directly before us. Nothing
so important aims our attention and moth
ing 80 clearly presents itself as both an oppor-
tunity and a duty-an opportunity to deserve
the gratitude of our fellow citiz Ms, duty i'm
posed upon US by our oft repeated professions
and by The emp g. ic mandate of the people
After full discussion our countrymen have
spoken in favor of this reform and they have
confded the W, rk of its accomplishment in
the hands of those who are
solemnly Pledged to 1t.
resentation in public places of the people and
their desires; if public officers are really the
servants of the people, and its 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 OF disturb
our effort until this reform is accomplished by
wise and careful legislation.
Discriminating Care Necessary.
principle that only the n cessity of revenue
justif1es the imposition of tariff du.i les and
other federal taxation, and that they should
be limited by strict economy we can not clio ~
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 it we ar. to aid the people di-
rectly through tariff reform one OF its most
obvious features ould be a reduction in the
present tariff charges
Upon the Necessaries IF 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 sheltered. These gifts
should be the willing beneta:1ions of gov
eminent whose hi CHEST function is the pro-
motion 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 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 u-ed by their compe itors.
1t is quite OBVIOUS that the enhancement of
tue 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
competition 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, a
discharge of employees, and distress in the
homes of our workingmen. Even if the often
disproved assertion could be made good that a.
lower rate of wages would result 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 uy free raw materials is the
most important factor in their relation to
tariff legislation?
Wilson Bill Commended.
A measure has been prepared by the appro-
pirate congressional committee embed wing
tariff reform ON the lines herein sug sested.
which viii be PROMPTLY submitted for iep,sla-