The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-03
WHAT WILL HE RECOMMENDS

close OF the fiscal year indicates that one
of the most perplexing problems before
the present administers ton will be the
framing OF appropriate recommen-
dations for the guidance of the
next congress which meets in De-
cember. With a deficit of over a
hundred millions for the last two years
IL is very evident that something must
be done In the way of evolving a scheme
which will provide revenue sufficient 10
meet the needs of the government.
While the receipts from customs for the
last year were larger than those OF the
previous year. yet the reduction Of du-
ties In the last tariff law were in many
instances so sweeping that an additional
increase OF customs for the next year
can hardly make up for the lack of in
crease from other sources of revenue.
With return of better times there Is
little doubt that our imports will increase,
with a corresponding swelling of the
amount paid into the treasury through
the customs houses. But a similar in
crease can hardly be expected from ex-
must be devils I'd to provide enough addi-
tional revenue TO permit of the treasury
department making a clean balance sheet.
The internal revenue receipts from
spirits for last May were nearly two mill
lions less than for the same period last
year. showing conclusively that the dis
tiIlers began Withdrawals In anticipation
Of the increased tax long before the new
law went into effect. 1t is aow general
ly believed that by heavy Withdrawals
from the warehouses enough OF a stock
has been accumulated TO last for a year
to come. The hope. therefore. that large
additional revenue will be derived from
the so-called whisky tax would seem to
be forlorn one.
Allowing for slight increase from Gus
toms, but knowing that little relief can
be expected from the tax on spirits, and
with no courage TO again attempt to i'm
pose an income tax, a very serious prob
lem in governmental financiering presents
itself for solution. 1t would seem after an
examination into the treasury figures that
the administration will be forced to include
in its recommendations an earnest appeal
for an increased tax on malt liquors.
There appears to be no other avenue Of
escape.
Hitherto the Democratic leaders have
insisted that the administration must, if
possible. avoid antagoniZing the brewers
by recommending the extra tax on beer.
Their hope was that the new Republican
house would voluntarily impose the tax
and assume the political responsibility for
1t. while the administration would accept
the revenue and say nothing. But the
falling off in the excise receipts and the
large deficit, now made public, for the last
two years will probably call for heroic
measures in the form of executive recon-
mendations.
The brewers lobby at Washington City
last year was large and powerful one,
for the beer tax. II increased, will almost
necessarily fall on the manufacturers. and
not on the consumers. The same lobby will
probably be in attendance at Washington
City at the opening of the next congress.
and in the absence OF an appeal from the
president might possibly prevent an in
crease in the beer tax. Mr.. Cleveland
probably realizes. however. that this set
Element Of the question of falling revenues
lies with him more than with any other
one man. and in view of the very unsatis-
factory treasury statements Of the last
two years 1t is not unlikely that both he
and Mr.. Carlisle will strongly recommend
that an attempt be made to secure rev.
enues equal 10 our expenditures BY in
creasing the tax on malt liquors.