Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

loCs impraticability of many self-consti
tuted guardians. Beneath all the vagarie.
and sublinated theories which are attracted
to II there underiies this reform a sturdy
common-sense principle not only suited tc
this humane sphere. but whose application
our people are more and more recognizing
to be absolutely essential to the most sue
cessful operation of their Government II
not to its perpetuity.
It seems to me to be entirely inconsist.
ent with the character Of this reform, as
well as with its best enforcement to oblige
the Commission to rely for clerical assist
ance upon clerks detailed from other De-
partments. There ought not to be such a
condition IN any Department that clerks
hired to do work there can be spared to
habitually work at another place; and II
does not accord with a sensible view OF
civil-service reform that persons should be
employed on the theory that their labor
Is necessary in one Department when In
POINT OF fact their services are devoted to
entirely different work in another Depart
ment.
earnestly urge that the clerks necessary
to carry on the work of the commission be
regularly put upon its roster, and that the
system OF oblging the commissioners tc
rely upon the services of clerks belonging
ought not to increase the expense to the
government. while it would certainly be
more consistent and add greatly to the eff.
cheney OF the commission.
Extravaganza in Appropriations.
Economy in public expenditure is a duty
that cannot innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with the control of money
drawn from the people for public uses. II
must be confessed that our apparently end
less resources. the familiarity of our people
with immense Accommodations of wealth. the
growing sentiment among them that the
expenditure of public money should in some
manner be to their immediate and personal
advantage, the indirect and almost
stealthy manner in which a large part OF
our taxes are exacted, and a degenerated
sense Of official accountability have led to
growing extravaganza in governmental ap-
prCpriations.
At this time. when depleted public treas
ury confronts US, when many OF our people
are engaged in a hard struggle for the
necessaries of life, and when enforced econ
omy is pressing upon the great mass OF
our countrymen. / desire to urge with all
the earnestness at my command that con-
gressional legislation be so limited by strict
economy as to exhibit an appreciation of the
condition OF the treasury and a sympathy
with the straitened circumstances OF our
fellow-citizens.
The duty OF public economy Is also Of i'm
mense Importance in its intimate and neces-
sary relation to the task now in hand of
providing revenue to meet government ex-
psnditures. and yet reducing the people s
burden OF federal taxation.
Tariff Reform.
After hard struggle tariff reform Is d.
rectly before us. Nothing SO important
claims our attention and nothing so clearly
presents itself both an opportunity and
q duty-an opportunity to deserve the graf
itude OF our fellow-citizens and a duty i'm
posed upon US by our oft-repeated profess
sions and by the emphatic mandate of the
people. After full discussion our country
men have spoken In favor of this reform.
and they have confided the work OF its &C
compishment TO the hands Of those who are
solemnly pledged to 1t.
II there Is anything In the theory of a
representation In public places Of the people
and their desires. II public officers are really
the servants of the people, and II political
promises and professions have any binding
force. our failure to give the relief so long
awaited will be sheer recreancy. Nothing
should intervene to distract our attention or
disturb our effort until this reform is accom-
plished by wise and careful legislation.
While we should staunchly adhere to the
principle that only the necessity OF revenue
tustifies the imposition OF tariff duties and
other Federal taxation. and that they should
be limited by strict economy. we can not
close our eyes 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 taxation
~ the emergencies Of our Government &C
tually demand.
Mantfestly, II we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reform, one of Its
most obvious features should be a reduction
In present tarin charges upon the necessaries
Of life. The benefits OF such a 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 benefac-
lions OF a Government whose highest func-
ton Is the promotion OF the welfare Of the
people.
Raw Materials.
Not less closely related to our people,
prosperity and wen-being Is the removal
of restrictions upon the Importation of the
raw materials necessary to our manufac-
lures The world should be open to our
national ingenuity and enterprise. This can
not De Wnlle Federal legislation. through
the imposition of high tariff. forbids to
American manufacturers as cheap materials
az those used by their competitors. 1t is
quite obvious that the enhancement Of the
price OF our manufactured products result
ing from this policy not only confines the
market 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 competi-
ton and active struggle among our manu-
facturers to supply the limited demand for
their goods soon fill the narrow market to
which they are confined Then follows a
suspension OF work in mills and factories,
. discharge Of employees. and distress in the
homes of our workingmen.
Even II the often disproved assertion
could be made good that a lower rate of
wages would result from free raw materials
and low tariff duties. the intelligence of our
workingmen leads them quickly to discover
that their steady employment, permitted NV
free raw materials. Is the most important
factor In their relation to tariff legisla tion
measure has been prepared by the an
propriate Congressional committee em-
bodying tariff reform on the lines herein