New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
MORE REVENUE THE INSTANT NECESSITY.

Some Republicans in Congress have been re-
ported nxious TO avoid any action on the tariff
uuestion this year. on the ground that the people
do not want IT, which is conspicuousy errohe
ous. and ON the ground that no such bill as ought
to he PASSED will be signed by the PRESIDENT
which is an assumption contradcted in direct
and positive terms by the declaration I'D his
ANIMAL Message. Il desire to assure the Con-
"gress that am prepared to cooperate WIN
chem in perfccting any other measure promis-
ling thorough and practical Keller. IN pace vi
the remedy he had suggested. But II the mehi-
bers Of Congress put no faith in the president
word. and really believed a week ago that they
could have a donOthing session, Tor any reason
deemed important by Them they must nave peeh
undeccved by the events Of last week.
The outgo Of gold was partly artificial ana
for effect. but also partly the legitimate result
Of trade conditions. The Presidents message
Of Friday. no matter what It's motive. has MADE
il impossible for Congress. in the discharge ol
IFS duty. 10 refuse or neglect such chahse OF
the revenue laws as will check importations OF
merchandise and exports of gold, and strengthen
nublic confidence by substituting certainty OF
surplus for certainty of deficit 1t would be
possbe. perhaps. for Democratic Congress TO
sbir,, a duty so imperative and plain. but not
for . Rcnublican Congress, and Speaker Reeds
selection of committees makes it evident mat
he sees the peril, and will not be in any degree
RESPONSIBLE for it. When the House acts, as
Mr. Dingley, the chairman OF the ways anu
Means Committee, thinks it may quickly, SEN
ators will have TO take the responsibility upon
themselves, or else place ii upon the PRESIDENT.
II is folly TO suppose that tariff which has
caused imports of merchandise in eleven months
10 exceed in largely fraudulent invOced value
S730 900 900 and in actual value probably more
than $500 900 600 against exports of SI32,OOO,-
ooo has had nothing to do with the outgo Of
goll There is interest to be paid abroad, ut
least SJOOO0OOO and that with the SGO.oO0,oo0
ar S7OOOOOOO undervaluations would make a
balance of more than $l1o0oO,OOO to be met
in foreign countries. The net exports of gold
during the year thus far have been about Ssh
600 900. and of silver over S3O.OOO.OO0. The
correspondence is not accidental. 1t indicates
plainly that the country has TO pay to foreign
countries on current account something over
900 week in specie in order to meet the
mere commercial obligations arising under tar
if which stimulates imports OF some important
classes TO the utmost At the same time as
Con greSSmpn well KNOW, UlS Silile tiIlil !i1hS
a deficit to the Government, and forces the
Treasury 10 look two or three times every year
to the markets of the world for Il loan, in order
to meet current expenses.
II is a waste Of time TO repeat the proofs re-
Gently presented that Secretary Carlisle and the
President are incorrect in their statements in
regard 10 the actual revenue and the cause of
loans already made That there has been
heavr deficit so that the Treasury would have
been absolutely empty Of money this day except
for the amounts obtained by borrowing, must be
perfectly known 10 every member of Congress.
II was admitted by Secretary Carlisle himself,
lust before the first loan made that it was
necessary in order to meet public expenses. Nor
is il at present worth while 10 consider narrowly
whether the existing deficit is a little greater
or a little less Conditions Of business within
the last few weeks. which the action Of the
President himself has done much TO cause, make
il certain that the revenue Is not likely TO in
crease for some time to come. while the neces-
sary expenditures Of the Government II IL Is 10
make any sort Of preparation for possible emer-
gcnces in the future. must be enlarged. 1t
would be a mistake which the people would GER
tanly not forget or pardon if, in such an emer-
gency. Congress should neglect or fail TO pro-
vide without delay an adequate revenue.