The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-07

principle that only the necessity of
revenue justifies the imposition of
| tariff duties and other federal taxation
and that these sh ould be limited by
strict economy, we cannot close our
eyes to the fact that conditions have
grown up among Us which in justice
and fairness call for discriminating
care in discrimination of such duties
and taxation as the emergencies Of our
government fully demand. Mani
fest,y if we are to aid the people
through tariff reform one of
| his most obvious features
would be reduction in the present
| tariff charges upon the necessaries of
life. The benefits of such reduction
would be papAble and substantially
seen and felt by, thousands who would
be better fed and better clothed and
the willing benefactions of a govern
promotion of the welfare of the peo-
pie. Not less closely related to our
peoples prosperity and we'll being is
! the removal of restrictions upon the
importation of the law materials, nee
essary to our manufactures. The
world should be open to our national
ingenuity and enterprise. This can
not be while federal legislation thu ough
the imposition of high tariff forbids to
| American manufacturers rs cheap ma
terials as those used by their competi-
tors. 1t is quite obnoxious that the
enhancement of the price of our
manufactured products, resulting from
this policy not only confines the
market for these products within our
own borders to the direct disadvantage
of our manufacturers. but also increase
| their cost to our citizens. The inter
ests of labor are certainly though in
directly involved in this feature of our
tariff system. The sh ,ro competition
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 follows suspension OF work in
mills and factories, discharge of en-
ployees and distress in the homes OF
our workingmen. Even if the often
disproved assertion could be made good
that a lower rate of wages
would result from free raw material
and low tariff duties. the intelligence
of our workingmen leads them quick
ly to discover that their steady EN-
ployment permitted by free raw ma
terials is the IMPORTANT factor in their
relation to tariff legislation.
A measure has been prepared ny
the appropriate congressional COM
mittee embodying tariff reform on the
lines herein suggested, which will be
promptly submitted for legislative
action. 1t is the result of much patri-
otto and unselfish work, and believe
it deals with the subject as concisely
| = blxr hn in
tions will permit am satisfied that
the reduced tariff duties provided for
in the proposed legislation, added to
existing internal revenue taxation,
will, in the near future, though per-
haps not Immediately, produce suffi-
cent revenue to meet the needs of the
government.
The committee, after full considera-
ton and to provide itself against tenn
porary deficiency which may exist
before the business of the country ad
iusts itself to the new tariff schedules,
have wisely embraced in their plan a
few additional internal revenue taxes,
including small tax upon incomes
derived from certain corporate invest
ments. These new assessments are not
only absolutely just and easily borne,
but they have the further merit of
being such as can be remitted without
unfavorabe business disturbance
whenever necessity of their imposition
no longer exists.
In my great desire for the success of
this measure, | cannot restrain the
suggestion that it's success can only be
attained by means of unselfish counsel
on the part of friends of tariff reform
and as a result of their willingness of
, subordinating personal desires and
ambitions to the general good. The
, local interests affected by the proposed
. reform are so numerous and so varied
| that if all are insisted upon the leeisla-
tion embodying the reform must inev
itably fail.
, In conclusion my intense feeling of
a responsibility impells me to invoke for
the manifold interests of generous
q and confiding people the most scru
= pulous care and to pledge my willing
support to every legislative effort for
f the advancement of the greatness and
= prosperity of our beloved country.
v GROVER CLEVELAND.