Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21

The weakness OF TIE House tariff bill was
in the fact that while 1t pretended to be a
rif-fo--reyenUe-cnly measure il was on
certain lines so much Of a free-trade propo-
sition that it failed to provide fer raising
from customs dudes the necessary revenues,
and compelled a resOr, 10 the populistic in
come TAX to exc out the government re-
ccipts IT was not. how e.er, in accord with
the radical declarations OF the democratic
platforrs. There were enough Of unmistak-
ably protective duties retained in it to faint
IL, if protection is unconstitutional as stig-
matted by the platform. and there was
enough of frec-trado IN it In the shape of
an elongated free Est u compel the imposi-
ton Of that most Objectionable feature of
lree-trIde system, ineqUitable tax upon
incomes The Senate tariff bill IS more Of
fensively protective than the House bill
from the view OF enc standing on the demo-
cratic platform. 1t has the merit Of secur-
ing from the customs duties an adequate
revenue. Ii removes the pecuniary necessity
for an iac-Ele tax without eliminating that
tax Instead of raising the needed addi-
tiCnal revenue by increased taxation of
hurtful Injuries like whisky and beer,
which according to the statistics can easily
endure the enlarged burden, the increases
have been of 4 character to aid the sugar
trust, and to Increase the cost of the poor
mans food and fire. The Presidents tariff
bill with free coal and iron. dutiable sugar
and the income tax as characteristic fea-
lures. is nearer to the democratic platform
than the Senate bill, but not near as the
House bill, and the latter, as already
pointed out. is itself hardly within hailing
distance. II the income tax Is to be
tained there is no revenue need to yield to
the sugar trust. recommended by the
President. In this clash between the House
proposition of free coal, iron and sugar and
an income tax and the Senate proposition of
dutiable coal. iron. sugar and an income
tax, and the Presidents proposition of free
coal and iron. dutiable sugar and an income
tax. there is possibility Of the survival of the
existing law with customs duties which
many republicans themselves believe should
In certain respects be reduced. but which
has the great merit Of lacking the populislic
income tax.
1t is clear that tne democratic party can
not periodically be otherwise than guilty
Of the ''perfidy" OF disregarding certain
radical multiplication declarations of the
recent platform To crystalline the abstract
principles then announced Immediately in
to law would be to work appalling and
disastrous revolution among the Industries
of the republic. and to destroy the demo-
cratic party. To avoid this alternative the
most sensitive political conscience would
hardly revolt at a trifie of perfidy, particu-
larry as 50 many other planks of the vio-
lated platform have already been smashed
into kindling wood
1t ought not to be impossible to frame a
tarin-for-revenue measure. which should
correct the most conspicuous injustices of
the Mckinley act, impose suitable burdens
upon the injurious Injuries. and raise the
revenues necessary for the government
without cursins the republic with an income
tax