Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-10
TARIFF AND REVENUE.
President Reaflirms the Statements
He Made "a Year Ago.

1 desire to recur to the statements else
where made concerning the government s
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
of venturing upon some suggestions touch
ing our present tariff law and it's opera
ton.
This statute took effect on the 28th day
of August, 1894. Whatever may. be its
shortcomings as complete measure OF
| tariff reform, it must be conceded that it
has opened the way to freer and greater
exchange of commodities between us and
other countries and thus furnishes wider
market for our products and manu1actur-
ing.
The only entire fiscal year during which
this law has been in force ended on the
3Oth day of June 1896. In that year our
imports increased over those of the previ-
Gus year more than $6,500,000, while the
value of the domestic products we ex-
ported and which found markets abroad
was nearly 100000 more than during
the preceding year.
people of articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful use should only
be increased through tariff charges to an
extent necessary to meet the expenses OF
the government, as we'll as those who claim
that tariff charges may be laid upon SUCH
articles beyond the necessities OF govern
ment revenue, and with the additional pur-
pose of so increasing their price in our
markets as to give American manufactur-
ers and producers better markets and proht
by these opportunities, must agree that
our tariff laws are only primarily JUSTIFIED
as sources of revenue to enable the gov
eminent to meet the necessary expenses OF
it's maintenance Considered as to it's suf-
ficiency in this aspect, the present law can
by no means fall under just condemnation.
During the only complete fiscal year OF its
operation it has yielded nearly 600
more revenue than was received from the
tariff duties in the preceding year. There
was, nevertheless, deficit between our
receipts and expenditures Of a little more
than $25 900, 5000. This, however was not
unexpected.
The Situation Last December.
The situation was such in December
(seven months before the close of the is-
cal YEAR, that the secretary of the treasury
foretold a deficiency of $17,000,C00. The
great and increasing apprehension and TIM
idity IN business circles and the depression
in all activities intervening since that
time resulting from causes perfectly well
understood and entirely disconnected with
our tariff law or it's operation seriously
checked the imports we would have other
wise received and readily accounted for the
difference between this estimate of the
secretary and the actual deficiency, as we'll
as for a continued deficit
could hardly have had a more unfavcrable
period than the last two years for the col
lection of tariff revenue We cannot rea-
sonably hope that our recuperation from
this business depression will be sudden,
but it has already set in with promise
of accelleration and continuance.
believe cur present tariff law, II allowed
a fair opportunity, will in the near future
WELD a revenue which, with reasonably
economical expenditures, will overcome all
deficiencies In the meantime no deficit
that has occurred or may occur need excite
or disturb US.
To meet any such deficit we have in the
treasury. in addition to gold reserve of
100. 900, coo, surplus of more than SIPS
900, 900 applicable to the payment OF the
expenses Of the government and which
must, unless expended for that purpose,
remain useless hoard, CT, il not ex-
travagantly wasted, must in any event be