Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30
CARLISLE AND THE TARIFF
The Secretary of the Treasury Makes an
Official Statement
what He says About His Conferences
With Members of the Senate
Finance Committee.

secretary OF the Treasury Carlisle has
authorized the following statement in reply
10 an inquiry as to whether it were true
that ne had taken part In the conferences
"hich IL mas been said were being held for
the purpose OF agreeing upon certain
amendments to the pending tariff bill:
nave had no conference upon this SUBJ
1ect with anybody except the democratic
members of the Senate committee on a.
nerce, and therefore cannot state of my
own personal knowledge what has occurred
In other conferences that may have taken
place. 1t Is true that effort Is being
ade to agree upon such changes In the
pending bill as will secure for It the united
ard active support of all the democrats in
the Senate. The indications now are that
. this support can and will be secured with
out making radical changes in the rates of
duty, or material alterations in the form
of structure of the tariff schedules as they
were passed by the House OF Represen-
tatives. In fact, 1 regard most of the
changes now under consideration as quite
unimportant, while the remainder are not
of such a character substantially to af-
feet the merits of the bill as a measure for
the reformation of the worst features of
existing legislation upon the subject. / do
not think We ought TO permit differences
of opinion upon mere matters of detail. or
in regard to small increases or reductions
of rates in the bill, as II now stands, to
prevent the redemption of our pledges to
the people. and therefore 1 am in favor of
securing. If possible, without any surrender
of principle and without abandoning any
part of the democratic policy of tariff re-
form, such mutual concessions upon these
points as will consolidate our strength and
pass the measure at the earliest possible
date.
The Proposed Amendments.
$50 far as the proposed amendments re-
late to duties upon important articles Of
consumption now subject to duty. 'he rates
suggested as a basis for adjustment are
all much lower than in the present Law,
while there are only a few instances in
which they are higher than In the bill re-
ported by the Senate committee.
BY far the most important single article
upon which change OF duty Is now pro-
posed is sugar, raw and refined. and il is
strenuously commended by persons interest
ed in the production of this article that
the specific rates already in the bill. as re-
ported by the Senate committee, are high
er than the ad valorem rates which IL is
now proposed to insert. Whether this is
correct or not depends upon the price of
sugar in the foreign markets from time to
time. and therefore 1t is not possible to
make an exactly accurate statement upon
the subject; but / am satisfied that the
difference IL any, between the specific
rates heretofore proposed and the ad va
loren rate now under consideration, Is so
small TO be of no material consequence
either way. At any rate j think the DIFF
ferences OF opinion upon this question,
which have always been troublesome aid
vexatious, should not be allowed to defeat
the passage of the tariff BILL and i be-
lieve this is the opinion of all intelligent
and sincere advocates of revenue reform
-.
substitution OF a more just and equitable
measure In its place are of vital impor-
lance TO the prosperity of the country. and
the people have a right TO expect that all
who are really in favor of a reduction of
tariff taxation will make such reasonable
concessions to each others views as will
certainly accomplish these results. If the
country is to wait for tariff reform until
measure is devised which is entirely ac-
ceptable In all its parts TO every Senator
and Representative whose vote is necessary
TO pass il our promises will never be kept"
The Income Tax.
Are any changes proposed in that part
of the bill which relates to the income
tax?" was asked.
1T is well known" said the Secretary,
that there has been from the beginning
considerable opposition to the proposed
income tax, even among those who have
voted for and supported the bill with that
been based upon the provisions OF the bill
which prescribe the methods OF ascertain
ing and collecting the tax. some of which
are alleged to be arbitrary and inQuisitorial
In my opinion, many of these objectiona-
bic provisions ought to be and can be safe
ly omitted from the bill. and other changes
can be made which the advocates of an in
come tax can consistently accept and which
will at the same time remove the principal
objections of its opponents and secure their
support for the bill. This method OF secur-
ing revenue has never before been resorted
to by the government of the United States
except in time of war. when IL was shso-
lutely necessary TO utilize every means
within its reach, and there are many la
triotic citizens who are not satisfied that
Its adoption as a permanent part of our
system is justifiable in time OF peace when
no great emergency exists. This view OF
the subject could be fairly met. / think
by limiting the operation Of the law 70 a
reasonable period-say five years-so that
Its effect upon the country can be thorough
ly tested. leaving the people to decide here
after in the light OF the experience thus
acquired. whether il shall be continued
or expire by its own terms. The power
TO repeal always exists, and the power to
re-enact can be promptly exercised IL the
majority of the people approve the meas
ure.'