The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-12-19

| Economy in public expenditures is
q duty that cannot innocently be neg
leeted by those intrusted with the
control OF money drawn from the peo-
pie for public uses.
After hard struggle, tariff reform
is directly before us. Nothing so i'm
| portsnt claims our attention, and
nothing so clearly presents itself as
both an opportunity and duty; an
opportunity to deserve the gratitude
OF our fellow citizens, and duty inn
posed upon US by our oft-repeated
professions and by the emphatic man.
date Of the people.
After full discussion, our country
men have spoken in favor of this re-
form and they have eonfided the work
of its accomplishment to the hands of
those who are solemnly pledged to it.
Nothing should intervene to distract
our attention or disturb our effort
until this reform is accomplished by
wise and careful legislation.
While we should staunchly adhere
to the principle that only the neces-
sity of revenue justifies the imposition
of tariff duties and other federal taxa
ton, and that they should be limited
by strict economy, we cannot close
our ewes to the fact that conditions
have grown up amongst us which, in
Justice and fairness, call for discrimin-
ating care in the distribution of such
duties and taxation as the emergencies
of our Government actually demand.
Manifestly, if we are to aid the peo-
pie directly through tariff reform, one
of its most obvious features should be
a reduction in the present tariff
charges upon the necessaries Of life.
Not less closely related to our peO-
ple's prosperity and well-being is the
removal Of restrictions upon the inn
portation OF the raw materials neeeS-
sary to our manufactures. The world
should be open to our national inge-
nuity and enterprise.
This cannot be while Federal legis-
lation, through the imposition of
high tariff, forbids to American man.
ufacturers as cheap materials as those
used by their competitors. 1t is quite
obvious that the enhancement Of
the prices of our manufactured pro-
ducts within our own borders acts not
only 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
competition and struggle among our
manufacturers to supply the limited
demand for their goods soon fill the
narrow market to which they are con-
fined. There follows a suspension of
work in factories, discharge of en-
ployees and distress in the homes Of
our workingmen. Even if the often
disproyen 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 to quick
ly discover that their steady employ
ment permitted by free raw materials
is the most important factor in their
relation to tariff legislation.
A measure has been prepared by the
appropriate Congressional Committee
embodying tariff reforms on the lines
herein suggested, which will be
promptly submitted for legislative ac-
ton. 1t is the result of much patri-
otto and unselfish work, and believe
it deals with its subject consistently
and as thoroughly as existing cOndi-
lions permit. | am satisfied that the
reduced tariff duties provided for in
the proposed legislation, added to ex-
listing internal revenue taxation will,
in the near future, though perhaps not
Immediately, produce sufficient reve-
nue. to meet the needs of the Govern I!
ment.