The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-04-21
Democratic Visions.

i ~ II ON A S q,
2ssls-ssSsS% Shearman, the
+ ~ well-lxuownfree
"A AN trad er and
lss single. tax advo.
my r. cate. VIII o Is
50 sy.sS ~ writing OPP EN-
-:s.s; - letters TO MIR.
Cleveland n
the subject of tariff reform, op,
poses the placing of a duty on
any article on the free list and
reduces the duty on the re.
mainder 70 Tie point at which
theirim Importation would yield the
most revenueto the Government.
Mr.. Shearlnan is q tariff .for.reve.
nue-only man OF the most pro:
noaneed type. Nootlier sort OF
"a tarltf is defensible at all, he
thinks, either under the Consti.
tuition or under sound principles
I.of political economy. He thinks
that direct taxation would be
better than indirect, but the
direct, 10 the extent Of meeting
all the requirements OF Govern.
ment, is hardly practicable in
this country Therefore tariffs
are necessary, but revenue and
not protection should be the end
sought in framing such laws. Ii
is hard to understand however
how sufficient revenue for the
support Of the UNCONVENTIONAL
be obtained on the plan thus out.
lined. Sugar tea and coffee, on
this scheme, are to remain on the
free list and many other com
modihes, presumably wool, wood
of all sorts, iron ore and the raw
materials OF manufacture in gem
eral. are TO be put there also.
This. Of course, would make d
considerable reduction in the
revenues, which are already too
small to meet governmental exs
penditures. Leading Democrats
say that q revenue from $50, 600,
600 10 $50. 100000 in excess Of
that provided by the present law
will be needed under the existing
average Of annual expenses. Ii
these removals Of duties on raw
materials are made. the def
cheney will be swelled TO the ex..
tent of more than 800, 600, 600.
Howis tfisimmense gap between
income and outgo TO be bridged
overs Certainly not by the plan
which Mr.. Cleveland's mentor
proposes. The .'incidental pro
|.tections which Mr.. Shearman
says will come from even a reye-
nue. tariff will have TO be exceed
!ingly small to admit of such an
increase Of imports as will in
crease the total amount of the
duties $780, 600, 600 a year under
the lower rates proposed to be
levied. Such an increase would
Immediately food the markets
and break down the domestic
manufacturer. Unless home pre-
duction were radically and per.
nanently lessened a market could
not be found in the country for
the vast quantities of foreign
merchandise which would be
needed to put the customhouse
receipts to the required point
The scheme, indeed, is imprac-
ticable. Either an income tax
will have to be levied or sugar
viii have to be put back on the
dutiable list, If anything like the
proposed cuts in the existing
tariff are to be made. So far as
regards the proposition to make
/ a clean sweep of all the duties
which are above the revenue
point, that is absurd, aud will
not be sanctioned by any level;
headed Democrat, Aparty which
should make any such assault as
this on the protective system
would be driven from power by
ageneral popular uprising in the
next election. - Globe Democrat.
II don't agree with your last
editorial, ! said the village sub
scriber, IAN I want my money
back.
THAT last cabbage you sent
Il Il, - ra,,Iia1l tha adft0r s.s1fdntt