New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-16
Reform CP TO DATE.

REFORA CP ~ OAIE
No doubt a great many possibly majority
of the voters who last November brought in a
Democratic President and Congress, had a nebu-
Ions notion that things were going wrong that
reform was needed that the shortest way TO 1t
was to turn the Republicans out and bring the
Democrats in; and that so soon as that was
done the reforms which Democrats and Mug
wumps had been talking about so gibly would
be simply brought in. set up and got under way
like any ordinary piece of machinery. Up 10
date they have been disappointed. Disappoint-
ed in a most exasporating way. too. For things
have been growing worse instead OF better ever
since the joyous morning when the Democratic
and Mugwump newspapers broke out in hilari-
Gus headlines over the Triumph of Reform. In
the seven months they have had for making
programme since election. and the two and a
half months for getting it under way since the
Inauguration. they have undertaken nothing
whatever in the direction OF the reforms so pro-
fusely promised. Worse even in the only de-
tail of administration in which they have pre-
tended to move at a-the Civil Service-they
have distinctly refrigerated: have debased in
stead of reforming it. The special friends OF
are loud in their complaints Of it, 1t may be
claimed, but We think not, that the foreign
policy Of the Government has been reformed.
1t has been changed we agree. The flag has
been hauled down in Hawaii. In the matter of
reforming the finances nothing has been done
but something has been said and we leave t.
people who have watched the effect of it in
financial centres and business circles for few
weeks past to say whether it has been whole
some and salutary or Otherwise.
Tariff reform remains 10 be undertaken. il
is said that Mr.. David A. Wells, Mr.. Edward
Atkinson and other ardent believers in tariff
for revenue only are diligently al work upon
the details Of bill which will do away with
the last shred Of the &" fraud and robbery" of
Protection. make an end of that "unc 1nstitu-
tional' doctrine, establish dead level Of prices
the world over, make the poor rich and reduce
The rich t. comfortable circumstances and to
slow music usher in the general millennium of
trade and commerce. 1t is understood that they
find some difficulty in arranging their rchcd-
ules So as 20 provide for the necessary expenses
If carrying on the Government without inror-
porating in them some features which To the
genuine Free Trader SAVIOR Of wha, is called
incidental protection, and are consequently OBJ
jectionlble as conflicting with the platform of
the party. In this emergency Democratic states
men of various degrees OF emincnce from all
over the county ae contributing Suggestions
and advice. Southern Democrats are par1icu-
larry fruitful in this regard. Many of them
bring 10 the task of constructing new and
perfect system OF finance the results Of their
in al i.hi nfaip
National credit for the Southern Confederacy
so ample and so vast that at the end of four
years the citizens who enjoyed the benefits Of
their labors had great deal more money than
they knew wha, TO do with. These results they
are pouring into the lap of the Administration
with a liberaiiy that borders on prodigality |
SO far as we have observed they very generally
agree that the most reasonable and practicable |
way to raise the money necessary Ia carry on
the Government and meet the Deficiencies
arising from tariff for revenue only is 10 levy |
an income tax An uncommOny simple and |
easy device. lis adoption will without doubt |
hasten the millennium.
In case ii should not be adopted however. |
one other method OF experimenting the revenues |
occurs to us. II is suggested by the proposition |
who, discussing plans TO pay the Revolutionary |
War debt, urged that to avoid depressing ciii- |
zens taxes should be laid upon the prevailing |
vices. chief Of which were perjury drunken
ness, blasphemy, sander ard infdeliry" OF |
Ihese he counted the tax on swearing aS the |
most beneficial and most productive Here
seems to be hint worth considering Just |
think how tax on swearing say or 10 |
,ents q swear, during the two and a half months
since the Inauguration would have swollen the |
revenues. How the money would have flowed |
into the Treasury from East Fourtcenth-st
in this city from the whole State OF Georgia
from all the barrooms in Washington and from
railroad trains bearing weary pilgrims away
rom the Capital How easy, too, for the Presi-
lent himself to regulate the supply by turning
q on or of at the source. As for instance had |
here been only moderate tax on swearing
when the President issued his late order f.
)ffice seekers which has been described as
reading the riot act enough money might
nave been collected right on the White House
'tlirs to have paid Mr.. Clevelands salary for
Whole year. And people would have paid it
much more cheerfully than they would an in
,0me tax, for the privilege OF freeing their
minds. We are quite well aware that our adj
ice has not been asked, and that il is NOT
likely that our suggestion will be needed for
me reason at least : the Democratic party does
lt propose to levy upon itself all the cost of