The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-05
TARIFF REFORM.


taxation.
! TARIFF REFORM.
After hard struggle, tariff reform
is directly before us. Nothing so i'm
portant claims our attention, and moth
/ ing SO clearly presents itself as both
an opportunity and duty-an oppor-
tunity to deserve the gratitude of our
fellow citizens, a duty imposed upon us
by our oft-repeated professions and by
the emphatic mandate of the people.
After a fun discussion, our country
men have spoken in favor of this re-
form, and they have confided the work
! of its accomplishment to the hands OF
those who are solemnly pledged TO it.
; If there is anything in the theory of a
representation in public places of the
people and their desires, if political
officers are really the servants of the
+ people. and if political promises and
professions have any binding force,
our failure to give the relief so long
awaited will be sheer recreancy.
Nothing should intervene to distract
our attention or disturb our effort I'M
til this reform is accomplished by wise
and careful legislation. While we
should staunchly adhere to the principle
that only 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
lis which in justice and fairness call
for discriminating care in the distribu-
ton of such duties and taxation as the
/ emergency of our government actually
demands.
ManifestIy, if we are to aid the PEG
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. The bene-
/ fits of such a. reduction would be
palpable and substantial, seen and
| felt by thousands who would be better
fed and better clothed and better shell
tered. These gifts should he the will
ling benefactors of a government whose
highest function is the promotion OF
the welfare of the people.
Not less closely related TO our peo
pies prosperity and well-being. is the
removal of the restrictions upon the
importation of raw materials neces
sar-y to our manufacturers.
The world should be open to our ma
tional ingenuity and enterprise.
This cannot be while federal legisla'
1 ton. through the imposition of high
tariff forbids to american manufac-
turers as cheap materials as those
used by their competitors. 1t is quite
obvious 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 direci
disadvantage of our manufacturers
but also increases their cost TO oul
citizens. The interests of labor are GER
tainly. though indirectly, involved IL
this feature of our tariff system. Tht
sharp competition and active struggle
lamong our manufacturers to supply the
limited demand for their goods, soor
it'll the narrow market to which they
are confined Then follows a suspen
sion of working mills and factories
a discharge of employees and distress
in the homes of our workingmen. Ever
lif the often-disproved assertion coulC
be made good, that d lower rate o.
wages would result from free raw ma
lterials and low tariff duties, the intel
lligence of our worllingraen leads then
quickly to discover that their steady
employment, if permitted by free ma
terials. is the most important factor
in their relation to tariff legislation.
A measure has been prepared by
| the appropriate Congress committe'
lembodying tariff reform on the line'
herein suggested. which Will b'
promptly submitted for legislative &C
| ton. 1t is the result of much patriotic
land unselfsh work, and | believe /
ideals with its subject as consistently
and as thoroughly as existing condl
lions will permit | am satisfied tina
the reduced tariff duties provided fol
lin the proposed. legislation, added Z
ieXisting internal revenue taXauon, VII
within the near future, though per
haps not Immediately, produce SUI
lfcient revenue TO meet the needs o
the government.
The committee, after full considera
ltion, and to provide against tenn
lporary deficiency which may exist be
Ifore the business of the country ad
ljusts itself to the new tariff schedules
lhave wisely embraced in their plan Z
flew additional internal revenue taxes
Including small tax upon income
derived from certain corporations
THESE new assessments are not onl,
absolutely just and easily borne, bu
lthey have the further means of beint
lsuch as can be RENTED without un
Favorable business disturbances when
lever the necessity of their imposition
Inc longer exists.
In my great desire for the success!
of this measure. I cannot restrain tht
suggestion that its success can only b'
attained by means of unselfich counse
Ion the part of the friends of tariff re
form, and as a result of their willing
ness to subordinate personal desire;
and ambition to the general good. The
local interests affected by the proposed
reform are so numerous and so varied
that if all insisted upon them, legisla'
ton embodying the reform must in
evitably fail