The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-06-27
Edward Atkinson. Who Has Been Mt
Work on the Problem Several
Months,
Outlines the Plan Which He Has
Finally Evolved - As a
Starter
He Would Double the Tax ON Beer. To
Cover Immediate Deficits-Balance
of the Plan.

va 1nc taIlA. Inc TASK Is one 10 D un-
dertaken, he says, as soon as the none
tary question can be settled.
In dealing with the reduction of the
tariff, regard must be given, Mr.. Atkin-
SON says, first to make such adequate
additions TO the free list as may do
away with the present disadvantages
under which our domestic manufac-
lures and mechanic arts have SO long
suffered in the relative costs of their
materials, and second, to establish such
lesser rates of duty ON finished products
OF voluntary use as to increase, rather
than to diminish revenue.
Not To BE Rnshed Through.
As to the time required to bring
about reform Mr.. Atkinson says that
the demands upon con gress may make
IL necessary to defer for some months
any great changes that might imperil
the present revenue. In the year 1895
fhe obligation for pensions will fall of
about one-third or one-fourth. It
would, therefore, be desirable that any
great changes in the existing system of
collecting revenue should be deferred
until the last parr of the year 1894, or
subsequently, to the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1884, for which year provision
WILL be made at the ensuing session Of
congress. because in that fiscal year our
maximum expenditure will culminate.
In the meantime the probable excess Of
revenue under existing laws will make
II safe to abate duties on all imported
crude and raw materials at q very early
date in the year 1894.
Free Raw Material.
1t may be assumed that the present
congress would not take final Action
upon q well defined and consistent tariff
net before Jan. |, 1894. This act may
pnit wool. ays stuffs, ores. coal and
other crude OF so-called raw materials''
ON the free list, this change to take ef-
feet in the early part OF the Year 1894.
There should then be an interval of at
least six months before the reductions
OF duties IN finished goods takes effect
in order to give the consumers of raw
material an opportunity to work off ex-
listing stocks without disaster. This
would bring the revenue tariff into com
plete operation in the latter part of the
year 1894. If congress at the COM
ing extra session would DOW
the secretary of the treasury to liqui-
date the first payments allowed on
pension claims by the issue of pension
notes bearing a low rate of interest.
payable on the call of the treasurer, the
only uncertain element would be re-
moved, and the adjustment of the reve-
nue. to prospective expenditures could
then be made in a more prompt and
effective manner.
There Is another very simple way of
bridging over this interval that would
give absolute assurance OF an abundant,
if not a surplus revenue.
Double the Tax on Beer.
In the last fiscal years the consump-
tion of beer amounted to nearly 80. 0O0,-
600 barrels of 81 gallons each, on which
the present tax is 81 q barrel, less S per
cent discount when stamps are bought
in large quantities. If this discount
were not given the gain in revenue
would be about 81, SOC, 900. but why
should not the tax on beer be doubled
at once, 80 as to cover the last incre-
ment of the first payment of pensions,
from June 81 to December 81, 1894, and
thereafter kept at - for perhaps two or
three years, in order to cover the posi-
bility of a reduction of customs revenue
in the transition period.
liz the tax were doubled it would not
exceed 8 per cent or less than half q
cent on each half pint Of beer. The adj
ditional revenue would be from $780,
700, 600 to $S5, DOC, 900 in 1S94-g5.
Beer Floats the. Navy.
Internal revenue from spirits has sus.
tanned the civil service; from tobacco
the army has been sustained, and rev.
enue from beer has morethan supported
the navy. The customs revenues from
spirits, wines and tobacco have more
than covered all average expenditure.
for rivers and harbors, and until very
recently also the construction of vessel,
added thereto.
Upon this experience for IA years
sustained by the figures by nine month
revenue in the presentfiscal year, a rul
may be predicted in the followin,
terms:
The normal cost Of government, in
Guiding average appropriations 70
rivers, harbors, public works and naya
construction, is diminishing per head
These specific sources Of revenue ma
therefore be set apart for the purpose @
meeting all normal expenditures; tn
miscellaneous permanent receipts ar
now about equal to rhe interest on tn
public debt.
Cover All Ordinary Expenses.
These two sources of CON
bined with this year cove. all the REF
ular ordinary expenditures and the il
terest on the public debt, with an Q,
cess which will be nearly, if not quit
equal to the contract obligations fortt
construction Of naval vessels, public in
pr0veInents and for making large CUR
which were entered into by the pr
viOus congress, bat which mature /