New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-10


enced largely by an aroused public sentiment.
That unfortunate contemplated policy was blum
der, and a blunder IS sometimes worse IMAM
crime. 1t was. however, the natural consequence
which might well have been anticipated from that
other mistake in Placing the Department OF state IN
charge OF a Republican statesman. distinguished ana
es.irnable though he may be, whose pubic services
have always been identified In opposition 10 the
Democratic party, who was without sympathy TOT
its traditions and purposes and whose political con-
vlctlons upon the disputed public questions OF the
day. II changed at all, are carefully concealed.
II is to be regretted that the President should not
have been able to find in mis- own party some saie
and honored statesman in whom he ana MS party
could have placed confidence, one OF Democratic
instincts and training whose management OF foreign
affairs would have reflected credit upon the country
and would have avoided the PRONUNCIATION OF that
un-Ameiican pocy-a departure from Democratic
precedents-which sought 10 be forced upon an
unwilling people. In this view OF the situation oui
opponents must accept some share of the RESPONSE
bnity for the blunders committed in our foreign
affairs
REVENUE REFORM.
The duty which now especially confron,s Ms is the
revision of the sum and methods OF Federal TAXA
ton consequent upon transfer of the poitlcai con-
troll of the Federal Government from the custody
where 1t had been lodged for thirty-two years
That revision should be approached with circum-
spection. and with realizing sense OF the chaheeu
Condition of the country since 1887 and 1922 An eA-
IRENE reduction of tariff duties at time wheh me
Treasury swollen with surplus OF sioo'c"'""'
when the country was reasonably prosperous. when
all our industries In motion. and all our WORK.
inrmen were employed assumes a different aspect
and presents different question when PROPOSE .ow
with large and growing Treasury dehcit instead
of a surplus staring us in the face. with our IN
dusries parayzed. our manufacturers 1s l., ne
workngmen idle and following upon the heeIs OF one
of the most disastrous financial panlcS III our HIS
tory: , ,.o ,ho :, would
be criminal folly attempt now month pr,oT
OF the approaching monetary panic. re ConVe,,eu
Congress six months later when the panic was SUD-
On the 4th of March. 1898, the President became
vested with exclusive power to convene ConeIess
in his election. He decided to proong the operation
OF the Mckinley tariff for at least anonst MIN
zeal it is vain to regret In the mean ' en 's NE
monetary panic % r Drvaie industries
but has dried up the public revenues
THE TREASURY DEFICIT.
The size of the Treasury deficit at the close of
the current fiscal year has twice been estimated
by the Secretary Of the Treasury on December
ls he took its measure. on January 10 he took It's
measure. the measure of the same deficit to ac-
cr>e on June 80. 1894 These two measures OF the
same thing. taken twenty-seven days apart: are are
Secretary Of the Treasury Informed Congress or a
deficit for the current fiscal year OF s SsrrDsn 81
the Senate Finance Committee. the same secTe-
s saS% 20 the treasury mus ''''
It may be unjust the Secretary Of the Treas cas-
ury az well as absurd in itself, 10 assume lhat
suggestions in hf annual report. made when ne ne
the de S Of s 6 5d sSa year 10
later that the size OF the deficit is S1So@clo Do,
DENIS The Sn message sst December dealing
said with "exsting conditions" which. in fact have
herein suggested Go-wit. in his message, warrant.
ed by him TO produce sufficient fevenq hs 20 ne es
were underestimate $5O00oC0 Yet the Wilson Dill.
f f5snf high ocias in heir annual
Congress, underwent no material cnahge curing ms s
altered situation. The theory survived its condi-
lions. ..uo,,o, y, ,r,,.,e indus
tries and in the presence OF such paralysis OF az
general business as the Treasury dencii ates Sd a
passed by the House sought to double the dehcit
by dscarding customs revenue ana TO III 'he No'o
with an income tax.
THE PROTEST OF NETWORK.
Against such a scheme--unnecessary nl-tlmea
and mischievous-suddenly sprung upon the coun-
try in the hour OF its distress, un-Democratc IN
its nature and Sociastic in Its tendences-l enter
the protest Of the people OF the State Of New
YET revenuS for the General Government by taxing
incomes Their dissent is practically unanimous
Neither am satisfied that, the people OF the
country agree with the President In desiring me
Transformation in the character Of our Federal raj
proposed plan to establish a sort Of taxation not
now championed by either Of the parties who would
haye 20 Of CENTURY justly believed to be inhibited
then after trial in the war stress den9uncei ~ onG
odlous throughout the Northern States without
distinction of party.
NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE PRESIDENT.
The recommendation Of the Presidents annual
message is cited in justification OF the proposed
tax 1t is as follows
"a measure has been prepared by the appro-
priate Congressional committee embodying tariff
reform on the lines herein suggested which VIII
be promptly submitted Tor leglsarn , ac'o"
wisely embraced in their plan rev ad1ltlonai III
tena reSerTe 'af STo cer coTporate invest
ments In my great desire Tor the success o.
'' It viii strike the thoughtful observer familiar
with the history Of the Government as stta, ,s
and unusual procedure that the President or th'
United States should seriously inform Congress!
OF what OF its own committees has been e a9G,
assumed that Congress already had such iniorma
on unless the s ha nd ose ed IN ts
the committee concurrently with me uansiniss.oi
the distinctions between the functions and pre-
negatives Of the executive ON on the e otbe
do not seem to be always observed The truth ruth Il
that the first information which Congress had o
the alleged details Of the proposed bill was In tn
message itself ., - chic un,roceder,ed ,ro
ceedng was that in fact at the very date OF IN
message to wit. December 4, 1893. neither the ful
members thereof had agreed upon any income "a
other internal he as We
pre2natnre This awkward situation not i'm
nroved by the Presidents expression OF his de
Sire for the success of this measure. being
measure not yet perfected. bill In an inchoat
state ..,.. -, ,..a..,o.,. A.,
But aside from any question or inproprieiy IN
yolved In the recommendation OF "A particula
measure or OF incomplete measure, instead OF
general recomme nda ton OF tarin reform. leavln
"Details TO the discretion of Congress. and Will
concedng that the President In the first sugges
ton OF limited income tax injected the boi ,s
which has now spread until II has developed Int
general income tax. nevertheless the latte
Scheme cannot find any real justification In IN
Presidents message. He does not recommend
General income tax upon all the income OF ind
SiduaIs but only tax upon such limited incom
as NAV be derived from certain corporate invest
Inents'' Secretary Carlisle In his annual report