The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-13

LlOQS VI WcalLu, Lue SEOWluS oontluoht
amorg' them that the expenditure of
public money should in some manner be
to their immediate and personal advan'
tage, the indirect and almost stealthy
manner which a large part of our taxes
are exacted aud a degenerated sense OF
oficia. accountability have led to grow.
ing extravagance IN government appro..
priations. at the time when depleted
public treasury confroats us, when many
of our people are engaged in hard
struggle for the necessares Of lite, and
when enkr:ed economy Is
pressing on the great mass
of our countrymen, desire to urge
with all the earnestness at my CON.
mand that congressional legislation be
80 limited by strict economy as to ex.
hlbit an appreciation OF the condition OF
the treasury and a sympathy with the
strained circumstance of our fellow'citi'
zsns. The duty of public economy is
also Of immense importance in its init
mate and necessary relation to the task
now in hand, OF providing revenue to
meet the government expenditures and
yet reducing the peoples burden of
taxation.
After hard struggle tariff reform ls
directly before US. Nothing 80 impor-
taut claims our attention and nothing 80
clearly presents itself as both an op-
portunitY and duty, an opportunity to
deserve th, gratitude of our fellow.c!ti'
zens and duty imposed upon Us by our
oft.repeated professions aud by the en-
phatic mandate Of the people. After
full discussion our countrgmen have
spoken in favor of this reform, and they
have confded the work OF its accomplish.
ment to the hands of those who are
solemuly pledged to it. If there is any.
thing in the theory of a representation
10 publ; places of the people and their
desires, if public offers are really the
servants ofthe people, and it political
promises and professions have any bind.
| ing force, our failure to give the relief
80 long awaited will be sheer recreancy.
Nothing should intervene to distract our
attention or disturb effort until this re-.
form is accomplished by wise and care.
full legislation. While we should staHnch-
| ly adhere to the principle that only the
necessity OF revenue iusli6es the lmposi.
ton OF tariff duties and osher Federal
taxation, and that they should be limited
by strict economy, we cannot close our
ewes to the fact that conditions have
grown up among US which in Justice and
fairness call for discriminating care In
the distribution OF such duties and taxa.
tioa as the emergencies of our govern
ment actually demand. ManifestlY, If
we are to aid the people directly through
tariff reform, one of its most obvious
features should be a reduction IN present
ariff charges upon the necessities OF 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 shel.
tered. These gifts should be the will.
Ing banefaction Of government whose
highest function is the promotion of the
welfare of the people. Not less closely
related to our peoples prosperity and
we'll being is the removal Of restrictions
upon the importation of the raw materl-
ais necessary to our manufactures. The
world should be open to our national
ingenuity and enterprise. This cannot
be while Federal legislation through the
| imposition of high tariff torblds to
American manufacturers as cheap
materials as those used by their competl.
tors. It is quite obvious that the ell.
hancement of the price of our manufac.
tured products resulting from this policy,
not only confines the market for th' Sc
products within our own borders to the
direct disadvantage Of our manufactuE.
ers, but also increase The cost to our
citizens. The interests Of labor are GER.
tainaly, 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 fill
tho barrow market to which they are
confined. Then followsa 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 "a made good
that lower rate of wages would result
from tree raw materials and low tariff
duties, the intelligence of our working
luen leads them quickly to discover that
their steady employment, permitted by
free raw materials, is the most impor.
tant factor IN their relations OF tariff
legislation.
A measure has been prepared by the
ap oroprlate Congressional commission
embodying tariff reform on the lines
herein suggested, which will be prompt
ly submitted for legislative action. Ii
| is the result of much patriotic md un.
selfish work. and I believe it deals with
its subject consistently and as thorough
ly as existing conditions permit. I am
satisfied that the reduced tariff duties
provided for in the proposed legislation,
added to existing Internal revenue taxa
ton, will in the future, thou Oh perhaps
not Immediately, produce suficl ent rev.
enue to meet the needs of ths govern
ment.
The committee, after full considera-
ton, and to provide againsta temporary
deficiency which may exist before the
business of the country adjusts itself to
the new, tali6' schedules, have wisely
embraced in their plan few additional
internal revenue taxes, including small
tax upon incomes derived from certain
corporate investments. These new as
sessments are not only absolutely just
and easily borne but they have the fur
ther merit OF being such as can be re-
mitted without unfavorable business
disturbance whenever the necessity OF
| H. ;..so,;t;on ., n Inn oor ovioto