The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-12-08


as well as open hostility Of spoilsmen and
notwithstanding the querulous impractica-
bility of many self constituted guardians.
! Beneath all the vagaries and sublmated
theories which are attracted to it there un-
derlies this reform sturdy common sense
principle not only suited to this mundane
sphere, but whose application our people
are more and more recognizing TO be abso-
lutely essential to the most successful oper-
alton of their government II not to its per.
petuity
| 1t seems TO me to be entirely inconsist-
ent with the character of this reform, az
well as with its best enforcement, to oblige
the commission to rely for clerical assist
snce upon clerks detailed from other de-
partments. There ought not to be such q
condition In any department that clerks
hired to do work there can be spared to
babitually work at another place, and It
does not accord with 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 department.
Economy In Expenditure.
Economy in public expenditure is duty
that cannot innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with the control of money
drawn from the people for public uses
At this time, when depleted public
treasury confronts us, when many of our
people nre 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 30 limited by
strict economy as to exhibit an appreciar
tion of the condition Of the treasury and
sympathy with the straitened circum-
stancs of our fellow citizens
The duty of public economy is also of i'm
mense Importance in its intimate and nec-
essary relation to the task now In hand Of
providing revenue to meet government ex-
penditures and yet reducing the peoples
burden Of federal taxation.
Tariff Reform.
After hard struggle tariff reform is di-
rectly before us. Nothing so important
claims our attention, and nothing so clear
ly presents itself as both an opportunity
and duty-an opportunity to deserve the
gratitude of our fellow citizens and duty
imposed upon us by our oft repeated pro-
fessions and by the emphatic mandate of
the people. After full discussion our coun-
trymen have spoken in favor of this re-
form, and they have confided the work of
its accomplishment to the hands of those
who are solemnly pledged to it.
If there Is anything in the theory of
representation in public places of the peo-
pie and their desires, II public officers are
really the servants of the people, and If
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 accomplished by wise and careful
legislation.
While we should stanchly adhere to the
principle that only the necessity of reve-
nue. justifies 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 condi-
tions have grown up among us which in
justice and fairness call for discriminating
care in the distribution of such duties and
taxation 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 reduc-
tion In present tariff charges upon the nee
essaries Of life. The benefits of such a re-
duction would be palpable and substantial,
ScSh ohN ACiO Oy uAousduuS WuO WOulO 10
better fed and better clothed and better
sheltered These gifts should be the will
ing benefactions of a government whose
highest function is the promotion of the
welfare of the people.
Raw Material
Not less closely related to our peoples
prosperity and well 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
cannot be while federal legislation through
the imposition Of high tariff forbids to
American manufacturers as cheap mate
rials as those used by their competitors It
.is quite obvious that the enhancement of
the price of our manufactured products re-
sulting 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-
tion 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 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 be made good that lower rate Of
wages would result from free raw mate
rails and low tariff duties the intelligence
of our workingmen leads them quickly to
discover that their steady employment,
permitted by free raw materials, Is the
most important factor in their relation to
tariff legislation.
A measure has been prepared by the ap-
congressional committee embody-
ing tariff reform on the lines herein sur-
gested, which will be promptly submitted
for legislative action. 1t is the result Of
much patriotic and unselfish work, and I
believe it deals with its subject consistently
and as thoroughly as existing conditions
permit
am satisfied that the reduced tariff du-
ties provided for in the proposed legisla-
tion, added to existing internal revenue
will in the near future, though
perhaps not Immediately, produce sufficient
revenue to meet the needs Of the govern
ment.