The Portland daily press., 1893-12-05

reform is accomplished by wise and care
| full legislation. While we should
staunchly adhere to the principle that
only the necessity of revenue 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 conditions
| have grown up among US which Justice
and fairness call for discriminating care
in the distribution of such duties and
taxation as the emergencies of our gov
eminent actually demand.
! Manifestly, if we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reform one of its
most obvious features should be reduc-
ton in present tariff charges upon the
necessaries of life. The benefits of such
reduction would be palpable and sub
stantial, seen and felt by thousands who
would be better fed and better clothed
| and etter sheltered. These gifts should
be the willing benefactions of a govern
ment whose highest function is the pro-
motion of the welfare of the people. Not
less closely related to our peoples pros
perity and well being is the removal of
restrictions upon the importation of the
| raw materials necessary to our manufac-
turers. 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 materials as those USED by their
competitors 1t is quite obvious that the
enhancement of the price of our manu-
featured products resulting from this
policy not only confines the market for
these products within our own borders,
to the direct disadvantage of our manu-
f1nf1lrnrG a leo thnI,r nno RI
our citizens. The interests of labor are
certainly, though indirectly, involved in
this feature of our tariff system. The
sharp competition and active struggle
among our manufacturers 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 employees and distress in the home of
our workingmen. Even if the often dis
| proved assertion could be made good
that lower rate of wages would result
from free raw materials and low tariff
| duties the intelligence of our working
men leads them quickly to discover that
their steady employment. permitted by
free raw material is the most important
| factor in their relation to tariff legisla-
| ton.
The Wilson Bill.
| A measure has been prepared by the
appropriate congressional committee
embodying tariff reform on the lines
herein suggested which will be promptly
submitted for legislative action. 1t is
the result of much patriotic and unset
fish work, and believe it deals with it's
subject consistently, and as thoroughly
as existing conditions permit. l am sat
/ isfied that the reduced tariff duties pro-
vided for in the proposed legislation, ad-
ded to existing internal revenue taxation,
will in the near future, though perhaps
not Immediately, produce sufficient reve-
nue. to meet the needs of the govern
ment.
The committee, after full considera-
ton, and to provide against a temporary
deficiency which may exist before the
business Of the country adjusts itself to
new tariff schedules, have wisely en-
braced in their plan few additional in
ternal revenue taxes, including small
tax on incomes derived from certain cor
porate investments. Such assessments
are not only absolutely just and easily
borne, but they have the further merit of
being such as can be RENTED without
| unfavorable business disturbance when
ever the necessity of their imposition no
| longer exists.
In my great desire for the success of
this measure cannot restrain the sug-
| gestion that its success can only be at
tanned by means of unselfish counsel on
the part of the friends of tariff reform
and as a result of their willingness to
subordinate personal desire and ambi-
lions to the general good. The local in
terests affected by the proposed reform
are 80 numerous and so varied that if
all are insisted upon the legislation en-
bodying the reform must inevitably fail.
| In Conclusion.
In conclusion my intense feeling of re-
sponsibilty impels me to invoke for the
manifold interests of a generous and
confiding people the most scrupulous
care, and to pledge my willing support
to every legislative effort for the adj
vancement of the greatness and prosper
| ity of our beloved country.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Washington. De-
cember 4, 1898.