The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-08

articles coming TO them nom Wbro0t
for their needful use, should only l.
Increased through taritf changes TO ar
extent necessary to meet the expense;
OF the government, as well as those whC
claim that tarir charges may I've loit
upon such articles beyond the nTcCsst
ties VI the government revenue ant
with the additional purpose ~ 81 in
creRsiug their price IN our markets as C
give American manufacturers and pro
ducers better and more profitable on
Iportunitics, must agree that our tarin
laws are only primarily Justified as
sources OF revenue to enable the gov
ernment TO meet the necessary expenses
of it's maintenance. Considered as %
Its sufliciency in this aspect, the pres
vnt law can by no means fall under just
condemnation. During the only COM
plete fiscal year ~ It's operation it has
yielded nearly $SoOO,OOO more revenue
than was received from tari1 duties In
the preceding year There was never
/ theless a deficit between our receipts
and expenditures OF little more than
i$sS,O00OOO. The situation was such in
/ December. seven months before the
close OF the fiscal year, that the secre-
tary OF the treasury toretold dencien-
cy OF $l1, ,0OO, ,OO0, The great and increas-
ing apprehension and timidlty in husi-
ness circles and the depression in all
activities intervening since that time
resulting from causes perfectly well un-
derstood and entirely disconnected with
our tariff law or its operation, seriously
checked the imports We would have
otherwise received, and readily account
for the difference between this estimate
Of the secretary and the actual def
cheney. as well as for the continued de-
hcit
Indeed. II must be confessed that we
could hardly have had a more unfavor-
able period than the last two years
for the collection OF a tariff revenue,
We cannot reasonably hone that our
recuperation from this business de-
preston win be sudden. but II has al
ready set in with a promise OF Rccel-
Grafton and continuance. believe our
/ present tariff law. II allowed fair op-
portunity, will in the near future yield
a revenue which, with reasonable econ
omical expenditures, viii overcome all
deficiencies In the meantime, no deficit
that has occurred or may occur need
evcite or disturb US. To meet any such
deficiency. We have in the treasury.
hundred millions, a surplus Of more
than one hundred and twenty-eight mil
lions OF dollars applicable to the pay
ment OF the expenses OF the govern
ment and which. unless expended for
that purpose, remain a useless hoard
or II not extravagantly wasted. must
in any event be perverted from the pur-
poses Of its exaction from our people
The payment therefore. OF any deficien-
cy In the revenue from this fund is
nothing more than its proper and legit-
innate use.
The government thus applying a sur
plus fortunately in its treasury to the
payment Of expenses not met by It's
current revenues, is not at all to be
likened to a man living beyond his in
come and thus mourning debt or en-
croaching on his principal. It Is not one
of the functions OF our government to
accumulate and make additions to
fund not needed for immediate expen-
diture. With individuals II Is the chief
object Of struggle and effort The ap-
plioation Of an accumulated fund by
the government to the payment OF it's
running expenses Is a duty.
An individual living beyond his in
come and embarrassing himself with
debt or drawing upon his accumulated
fund Of principal is either unfortunate
or improvident. The distinction as be-
tween government charged with the
duty Of expending for the benefit of
the people and for proper purposes all
the money II receives from all sources,
and the Individual who is expected to
manifest a natural desire to avoid debt
or to accumulate as much as possible
and to live within the income derived
from such accumulations to the end
that they may be increased or at least
remain unlmpaired for the future use
and enjoyment Of himself and objects
Of his love and affection who may sur
vive him is an obvious one.
1t is immeasureably better to appro-
pirate our surplus to the payment OF
justifable expenses than to allow II to |
become an invitation to reckless appro- !
priations and extravagant expenditures. |
l suppose 1t will not be denied that
under the present law our people OBJ
tain the necessaTies Of comfortable |
existence at a cheaper rate than for |
merly. This a matter Of supreme i'm |
portance since 1t is the palpable duty |
Of every Just government to make the |
burdens Of taxation as light as possl- |
BILE. The people should not be required |
to relinquish this privilege Of cheap liv-
ing except under the stress Of their gov
srnments necessarily made and plainly
manifest.
OUR FINANCES.
This reference to the condition and |
Of our revenues naturally
suggests an allusion to rhe weakness
and vices Of our financial methods.
They have been frequently pressed up
on the attention Of congress in previous
executive communications and the lnev-
table danger Of their continued toleraI
lion pointed out. Without now repeat
ng these details, cannot refrain from
again earnestly presenting the necessi-
" Of the prompt reform Of a system
opposed to every rule Of sound finance,
and shown by experience to be fraught
With the gravest peril and perplexity.
The terrible war which shook the
Of our government thirty
years ago brought in its train the de-