The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-17
GOVERNMENT BY COMMISSION

Every now and thea there coHfss a sus-
gestion that "the teriff question ought
to be taken out of politics" Mr.. Hanna,
we believe, is the latest Of the nesY poll
teal leaders to advapce that opinion. 1T
is as wise suggestion as to propose that
the people disfranclEise themselves ana
turn over the important question of taxa
ton to commission. What assurance
would the people have that tariff com
mission would be honester and fairer than
the chosen representatives of the people?
Where are the perfect unbiased men who
would compose it? And whence its au-
thority to execute its will?
In nine cases out Of ten the man who
is most insistent upon removing the
question Of public taxatiOn from the
whole body Of the taxpayers is a man
who would advocate monarchy here in
place Of the Republic. 1t is mild way
of expressing n belief that the people
are not fit to legislate, and need to give
the work into the hands Of some body
not responsible to the people The grow
ing power Of wealth TO control elections
has the tendency to false a doubt as to
the capacity Of the people for self-govern-
ment But thoughtful men see that the
only hope is in a better exercise of the
right of suffrage, anil that the danger
lies rather in the appeintive officers than
in the elective.
The people often vote burdens on them
selves, but they have the power to re-
move them at will. Commissions would
always be so constituted that here would
he no hope Of escape from the burdens
5hey would impose Herein lies the chief
difference between a government by tax
payers and government by tax-eaters
Senator PETER, too: has n scheme to
settle the currency question by taking
it out OF politics. Has plan is that the
President shall appoint n commission
composed OF q Democrat, National
Democrat, a Republican and a Populist
and that these four shall select q fifth
member. This commission shall study
the general subject OF finance in refer
enee TO its practical relations to business.
Admitting that Congress should abdi-
cate its function in favor Of such com
mission, it is safe to predict that the
President would pack it with men sharing
his views. or that the commissioners
would never be able :to agree upon the
fifth man, thus preventing the organiza-
tiQn of the patent currency adjuster.
just so long as people pay tax, the
question Of taxation will hold a promi-
nent, If not the leading, place in the pO-
litical discussions Nest revolutions have
sprung out Of tax differences. The pow
er to tax il the highest power conferred
W hen the people surrender that power to
any irresponsible commission, they viii
not be fit to govern themselves. And just
so surely rs the currency is manipulated
to the enrichment Of those who expand
or contract it for personal profit the
money question will be RENTED to no
commission but the People will continue
to battle for an American system Ii
Senator PETER could secure the commits
sion he would find that Cleveland or
Mckinley would appoint commission
OF gold men who woalld make report
extolling the gold standard, and he would
then have to appeal TO the people to de-
stroy the commission.
We already have toe much government
by committees and commissions. The
people must take fir.ner hold if there is
to be better and justet laws.