The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1893-01-11
THEY'RE In A BAD BOAT.
BUT THREE WAYS OPEN TO
DEMOCRACY.
How the Administration Can Increase the
Revenue and Ward or Deficit-The
Monetary Confersnce-British Farmers
liepudiate Free Trade.
A Problem tor Democrats.

Three ways of increasing the rev.
snue and OF warding off deficit are
open 10 the Democracy. First, a
iuty can be placed on sugar, coffee
and tea; secondly, an income tax can
De created: and thirdly, duties on
manufactured goods and on the raw
materials Of manufaC ture can he re-
luced. The first plan would yield
from $4,000, 900 10 $50, 900, 600 of
'cvenue. AS much or more, depend
ing on the rate and scope Of the tax,
could be gained by the second scheme.
There is much uncertainty as TO how
The third scheme would operate and
the amount of revenue it would bring
in. says the Globe Democrat. A cut
If duties TO what is vaguely under
stood as the revenue rate would
increase importation sufficiently
to materially enlarge the GUS
tom house receipts, bat the
Democrats would not dare make a
cut of that sort. The utmost gain
perhaps in the revenues from any re-
ductiOn in duties which could have IL
chance Of adoption in the next Con-
gress would be from $40, 600, 900 to
$50, 900. 900. OF course decrease in
expenditures would lessen the neceS-
Sity for an increase in receipts, but
the economists" Of the Democracy,
Judging by their management OF af-
fairs in the House in the present
Congress, will hardly go far in THIS
direction. The natural tendency in
all growing countries is toward an
expansion in governmental eXpendi-
lures, and the total in this country,
even in the next three or four years,
is not likely TO be brought much be-
low the present figures.
An increase in the revenue, there
fore, 10 some degree, appear; TO be
Imperative, but any method which
can be proposed for doing this Will be
sur to encounter opposition from
some quarters. The placing OF a
duty on sugar, coffee, and tel would
be an exceeding unpopular m I'VE, for
it would bring about an immediate
increase in the price of these com
IN pditics, and harmfully affect all
=
articles OF general necessity, nObOdy
could escape the burden, and the bur
den would be as heavy absolutely on
the poor Us on the rich. In this re-
spect it would be far more election
able than the income tax. In theory
the income tax is ideally just. 1t
compelS men to pay to the state in
proportion TO the means which the
state has enabled them 10
acquire and which ii defends
them in maintaining. In practice,
however, it has been found to be I'm
equal and unjust. 1t is necessarily
inQuisitorial to an offensive degree,
and it puts bounty on trickery and
penalty on honesty by permitting
the dishonest to eyadc much of their
obligations and to thus increase the
burdens OF their honest neighbOrs.
\ reduction of duties on the raw ma
tei ials of manufacture would encOun.
ducerS, and a cut in the finished prod
uctS would call out the opposition
of manufacturers and lead TO the
lobbying which in the past was SO de-
moraliZing to lawmakers and dis
gra 'cful 20 the country. If, rs now
appears probable. the Treasury in the
coming fiscal year will find itself I'M
able to meet its current obligations a
task calling for the highest qualitic'
of state SmInship will confront the
DcmOcrGcr.