The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-01-11
TO roRrUNEH
AN oBJEcT LESSON ON TARIFF.

81 xs.,s:
An 0BJEcT LESSON ON TARIFF.
When Chairman Wilson o. the ways
aad means committee, who Is the author
OF the Wilson bill now before the national
congress, makes a talk on the tariff sub
Jet he has many anxious and interested
listeners. In speech in the house on
Monday last he said many things, sup
porting his statements with official figures.
that should be reproduced In every school
district 10 the land. The American peo-
pie have given this administration definite
Instructions regarding the tariff question,
be said. The bill about to be considered
presents q scheme Of tariff reform to be
dealt V)h according TO che deliberate
iudgme3 Of the house. Covering 30 wide
field 81 legislation and dealing with so
many Subjects, the bill must necessarily
represent in its details some compromise
Of opinion. Any bill passed by congress
Under the present conditions. at least,
must necessarily represent snch com.
promise The great commercial distress
which has come upon the country, para
lying % many industries aud throwing
10 many thousands out Of employment.
has made the task Of reform more difficult,
while it has made the necessity for reform
more imperious than ever. At what time
could taxes be lessened with greater JUS
tice apd greater humanity than the time
whep thousands are struggling for the
Bne necessaries Of life, and when could
we, with greater timeliness and benefit,
strike some Of the letters from production
and trade than when production is sup
pressed by burdens and trade hampered
BY restrictions The third difficulty is
the emptiness Of the treasury. We are
called upon to reduce taxes at time
when the government income 10 running
30 low that the revenues have ceased to
meet the expenditures. I believe could
not better consume the time Of the house
than by giving the story OF the depleted
treasury and placing the responsibility for
the present straits where the responsibility
justly belongs. During the four years Of
the last administration We were plunged
headlong from an OVERLOOKING treasury to
q bankrupt treasury, and that, too, with
ont any lessening Of the burdens Of taxa
ton upon the people, but rather by a
most substantial and oppressive increase
ROT taxes.
Wilson then gave figures showing how
the surplus revenue has been dissipated
since the secretary Of the treasury, under
CleyeIand's frst administration, turned
over . balance Of sls5, 100000. Continu
ing, the gentleman from West Virginia
said the Mckinley bill reduced the inter
nal revenue taxes on manufactured TO-
bacco, abolished the special taxes on
manufacturers Of tobacco and wiped out
tho duties on raw sugar, which for the
past year had been our chief revenue-pro
ducinR article on the customs list. Both
these tares were in just and proper
sense revenue taxes, and neither should
have been touched 80 long a. the rates Of
duty upon clothing and other articles OF
consumption were 20 enormously oppres-
sive. The tobacco taxes were reduced
under the theory that tobacco had become
necessity for the poor as well as the
rich, but new and heavier taxes were laid
on the wooden clothing Of the poor man.
Sugar was untaxed to give American
workingmeu free breakfast table, but
new taxes we're placed on cups and sauc-
srs, plates and dishes. coffeepots, knives
and forks, food and table covers. In
word, the workingman was relieved from
The taxes paid the government in order
that he might be made to pay much
greater taxes to the beneficiaries Of the
Mckinley bill. These released taxes
would have yielded us in internal revenue
since their omission more than $50. 0O0,-
600, and would have saved US from any
danger Of treasury deficit. The mag
niicent surplus turned over by the CIeve-
land administration was thus scattered.
A large portion was used to purchase at
high premiums bonds not yet due. Prior
to 1880 the Democratic secretary Of the
treasury. Mr.. Fairchild, estimated sur
plus revenue Of $lO4, 000, 600. The first
report OF his successor, Secretary Win
dom, showed surplus revenue OF $I05,.
100000. When Mr.. Fairchild left his
lseat at the heed Of the treasury depart
{ment, be turned over to his successor, Mr..
NWindom, an available cash balance, stat
ed IN the present form oithe treasury state
menf. Of over SIS. 900, 900. How was
that disposed Of? Immediately by the
purchase Of bonds not yet due. Imme-
diately by going into the market and
buying up bonds at premium Of from
70 5 per cent on the bonds Of 1901, and
from n to 20 per cent on bonds of 1907.
Between March 4, 1889, and Oct. /, 1889,
Secretary Window purchased with that
surplus $66, 1854, 900 Of bonds at the premi-
nms have mentioned. In the Rrst nine
months Of the fiscal year 1891, between
June 3o,Is90, and the date Of bis report,
he had purchased and redeemed s9s, 0OO,-
600 more OF bonds, paying, in their pur-
chase, $io,0O0.0o0 Of premiums and an
ticipating interest by the payment Of
$4,000. 900.
But even this did not dissipate the sur
plus, and the Fifty-frst congress was
Obliged to try its band upon it. II re-
funded the direct tax to the states. This
was pure gratuity, but has taken out Of
the treasury over $4,000, 900. Next came
tho sugar bounty act, under which gums
2.so0uslas 70 si1 10000 hsysbesu paid