The herald., 1893-12-05

ucReucThJeu e0ut6 OI OluClAl hCCuuuth-
bility, have led to growing extravaganza
in governmental appropriations.
At this time, when depleted public
treasury confronts us, many Of our peo-
pie are engaged in hard struggle 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 my
command that congressional legislation
be 80 limited by strict economy as to
exhibit 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
haud of providing revenue to meet the
government expenditures, ald yet re-
duc,ng the peoples burden Of federal
taxation.
TARIFF REFORM ON DECK.
After hard struggle tariff reform is
directly before us. Nothing 30 import
ant claims our attention and nothing so
clearly presents itself as both sn oppor-
tunlty and g duty; an opportunity to de-
serve the gratitude of our fellow clti-
zene duty imposed on US by our Oft
repeated professions and by the en-
phatic mandate OF the people.
After full discussion our countrymen
have spoken in favor OF this reform,
and they have contided the work of its
accomplish ment to those who are sol
emnly pledged to it. If there is any
thing in the theory OF representation
in public places OF the people and their
desires, if political officers sre really
the servants of the people, and If politi-
cal promises and Profession have any
binding force, our failure to give the re-
lief go long awaiting will be sheer recre-
ancy. Nothing should intervene to dis
| tract our attention or disturb our effort
until this reform is accomplished by
wise and careful legislation.
While we should stsunchly advert to
the principle that only the necessity of
revenue justifes 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 which in justice and fairness
call for discriminating care in the diHtri-
button of such duties and taxation as
the emergency of our government actu-
ally demand.
Manifestly if we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reforms, one of
its moet obvious features should be q
reduction in the present tariff charges
upon the necessaries OF life. The bene-
fits of such reduction would be pa,pa-
BILE and substantial, seen and felt by
thousands who would be be tier fed and
better clothed and better sheltered.
Not less closely related to our people,
prosperity and well-being is the removal
of the restrictions upon the importation
of raw material necessary to our manu-
facture. The world should be open to
our national ingenuity and enterprise.
This cannot be while federal Legislation
through the imposition of high tariff
forbids to American manufacturers as
cheap materials as those used by their
competitors. 1t is quite obvious that
the enhancement OF the price of our
manufactured products resulting from
this policy, not only confines the mar
kets for these products within our own
borders, to the disadvantage of our
manufacturers, but also increases their
cost to our citizens.
The interests of labor are certainly,
though indirectly. involved in this fea-
ture 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 con-
fined. Then follows suspension of
the working mills and factories,
discharge OF employees and
men. Even if the often disproved as
ho 10 hat To-
rate of wages would result from free raw
materials and low tariff duties, the in
telligence OF our workingmen leads them
quickly to discover that their steady
employ ment if permitted by free mate
rials, is the most important factor in
their relation to tariff legislation.
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
A measure has been prepared by tha
appropriate congress committee, en-
bodying tariff reform on the lines herein
suggested, which will be promptly sub.
mitted for legislative action. 1t is the
result OF much patriotic and unselish
work and believe it deals with its SUBJ
ject as consistently and thoroughly as
existing conditions permit. l am salts.
fed that the reduced tariff duties pro-
videi for in the proposed legislation,
added to the existing internal revenue
taxation, within the near future, though
perhaps not Immediately, will produce
sufficient revenue to meet the needs of
the government.
The committee, after full considera-
tion, and to provide against temporary
deficiency which may exist before the
business of the country adjusts itself to
the new tariff schedules, s have
wisely embraced in their plan few ad-
ditional internal revenue taxes, in
cluding small tax upon incomes de-
rived from certain corporations. These
new assessments are not only absolutely
just and easily borne, but they have the
further means of being euch as can be
remitted without unfavorable business
distur Dances whenever the necessity for
their imposition no longer exists.
In my great desire for the success of
this measure, cannot rest in the sug-
gestion that its success can only be at
tanned by means Of unseltish counsel on
the part of the friends of tariff reform,
and as result of their willingness sub
ordinate personal desires and am mbition to
the general good. The local interests
affected by the proposed reforms are SO
numerous and so varied that if all in
sisted upon the legislation embodying
the reform must inevitably fail.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion. my intense feeling
of responsibility impels me to
invoke for the manifold interests